Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 3. To destroy him without cause. ] Thou wishedst me to permit thee to destroy a man whose sins have not called for so heavy a judgment.
This seems to be the meaning of this saying. The original word, w[lbl leballeo, signifies to swallow down or devour; and this word St. Peter had no doubt in view in the place quoted on verse 7 of the preceding chapter: "Your adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may DEVOUR; zhtwn, tina katapih, seeking whom he may SWALLOW or GULP DOWN. See the note on 1 Pet. v. 8.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - How well is it for us, that neither men nor devils are to be ou judges! but all our judgment comes from the Lord, who never errs. Jo holds fast his integrity still, as his weapon. God speaks with pleasur of the power of his own grace. Self-love and self-preservation ar powerful in the hearts of men. But Satan accuses Job, representing his as wholly selfish, and minding nothing but his own ease and safety Thus are the ways and people of God often falsely blamed by the devi and his agents. Permission is granted to Satan to make trial, but with a limit. If God did not chain up the roaring lion, how soon would he devour us! Job, thus slandered by Satan, was a type of Christ, the first prophecy of whom was, that Satan should bruise his heel, and be foiled.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 יהוה3068 אל413 השׂטן7854 השׂמת7760 לבך3820 אל413 עבדי5650 איוב347 כי3588 אין369 כמהו3644 בארץ776 אישׁ376 תם8535 וישׁר3477 ירא3373 אלהים430 וסר5493 מרע7451 ועדנו5750 מחזיק2388 בתמתו8538 ותסיתני5496 בו לבלעו1104 חנם׃2600
