Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. Can a man be profitable unto God ] God does not afflict thee because thou hast deprived him of any excellency. A man may be profitable to a man, but no man can profit his Maker. He has no interest in thy conduct; he does not punish thee because thou hast offended and deprived him of some good. Thy iniquities are against justice, and justice requires thy punishment.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Eliphaz considers that, because Job complained so much of his afflictions, he thought God was unjust in afflicting him; but Job wa far from thinking so. What Eliphaz says, is unjustly applied to Job but it is very true, that when God does us good it is not because he is indebted to us. Man's piety is no profit to God, no gain. The gains of religion to men are infinitely greater than the losses of it. God is Sovereign, who gives no account of his conduct; but he is perfectl wise, just, faithful, good, and merciful. He approves the likeness of his own holiness, and delights in the fruits of his Spirit; he accept the thankful services of the humble believer, while he rejects the proud claim of the self-confident.
Original Hebrew הלאל410 יסכן5532 גבר1397 כי3588 יסכן5532 עלימו5921 משׂכיל׃7919
