Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. Skin for skin ] That is, A man will part with all he has in the world to save his life; and he will part with all by piecemeal, till he has nothing left on earth, and even be thankful, provided his life be spared.
Thou hast only destroyed his property; thou hast left him his life and his health. Thou hast not touched his flesh nor his bone; therefore he is patient and resigned. Man, through the love of life, will go much farther: he will give up one member to save the rest; yea, limb after limb as long as there is hope that, by such sacrifices, life may be spared or prolonged.
This is the meaning given to the passage by the Targum; and, I believe, the true one; hence, ver. 6, the Lord says, Save his life.
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 ויען6030 השׂטן7854 את853 יהוה3068 ויאמר559 עור5785 בעד1157 עור5785 וכל3605 אשׁר834 לאישׁ376 יתן5414 בעד1157 נפשׁו׃5315
