Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. But save his life. ] His body thou shalt have permission to afflict, but against his life thou shalt have no power; therefore take care of his life. The original, rm wpn naphsho shemor, may be translated, keep his soul; but the word also signifies life; yet in the hands of the destroyer the life of this holy man is placed! How astonishing is the economy of salvation! It is so managed, by the unlimited power and skill of God, that the grand adversary of souls becomes himself, by the order of God, the preserver of that which the evil of his nature incessantly prompts him to destroy!
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 יהוה3069 אל413 השׂטן7854 הנו2005 בידך3027 אך389 את853 נפשׁו5315 שׁמר׃8104
