Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. How hast thou helped him ] This seems a species of irony.
How wonderfully hast thou counselled the unskilful and strengthened the weak! Alas for you! ye could not give what ye did not possess! In this way the Chaldee understood these verses: "Why hast thou pretended to give succour, when thou art without strength? And save, while thy arm is weak? Why hast thou given counsel, when thou art without understanding? And supposest that thou hast shown the very essence of wisdom?"
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Job derided Bildad's answer; his words were a mixture of peevishnes and self-preference. Bildad ought to have laid before Job the consolations, rather than the terrors of the Almighty. Christ knows ho to speak what is proper for the weary, Isa 50:4; and his minister should not grieve those whom God would not have made sad. We are ofte disappointed in our expectations from our friends who should comfor us; but the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, never mistakes, nor fails of his end.
Original Hebrew מה4100 עזרת5826 ללא3808 כח3581 הושׁעת3467 זרוע2220 לא3808 עז׃5797
