Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. Thou castest off fear ] Thou hast no reverence for God.
And restrainest prayer ] Instead of humbling thyself, and making supplication to thy Judge, thou spendest thy time in arraigning his providence and justifying thyself. When a man has any doubts whether he has grieved God's Spirit, and his mind feels troubled, it is much better for him to go immediately to God, and ask forgiveness, than spend any time in finding excuses for his conduct, or labouring to divest it of its seeming obliquity. Restraining or suppressing prayer, in order to find excuses or palliations for infirmities, indiscretions, or improprieties of any kind, which appear to trench on the sacred limits of morality and godliness, may be to a man the worst of evils: humiliation and prayer for mercy and pardon can never be out of their place to any soul of man who, surrounded with evils, is ever liable to offend.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-16 - Eliphaz begins a second attack upon Job, instead of being softened by his complaints. He unjustly charges Job with casting off the fear of God, and all regard to him, and restraining prayer. See in what religion is summed up, fearing God, and praying to him; the former the most needful principle, the latter the most needful practice. Elipha charges Job with self-conceit. He charges him with contempt of the counsels and comforts given him by his friends. We are apt to thin that which we ourselves say is important, when others, with reason think little of it. He charges him with opposition to God. Elipha ought not to have put harsh constructions upon the words of one wel known for piety, and now in temptation. It is plain that thes disputants were deeply convinced of the doctrine of original sin, an the total depravity of human nature. Shall we not admire the patienc of God in bearing with us? and still more his love to us in the redemption of Christ Jesus his beloved Son?
Original Hebrew אף637 אתה859 תפר6565 יראה3374 ותגרע1639 שׂיחה7881 לפני6440 אל׃410
