Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 6. I abhor myself ] Compared with thine, my strength is weakness; my wisdom, folly; and my righteousness, impurity.
"I loathe myself when thee I see; And into nothing fall." Repent - I am deeply distressed on account of the imaginations of my heart, the words of my tongue, and the acts of my life. I roll myself in the dust, and sprinkle ashes upon my head. Job is now sufficiently humbled at the feet of Jehovah; and having earnestly and piously prayed for instruction, the Lord, in a finishing speech, which appears to be contained in chap. xl. 1-14, perfects his teaching on the subject of the late controversy, which is concluded with, "When thou canst act like the Almighty," which is, in effect, what the questions and commands amount to in the preceding verses of that chapter, "then will I also confess unto thee, that thy own right hand can save thee." In the fifth verse of the fortieth chapter, Job says, "ONCE have I spoken." This must refer to the declaration above, in the beginning of this chapter, (42.) And he goes on to state, chap. xl. 5: "Yea, TWICE; but I will proceed no farther." This second time is that in which he uses these words: after which he spoke no more; and the Lord concluded with the remaining part of these fourteen verses, viz., from chap. xl. 7-14, inclusive. Then the thread of the story, in the form of a narration is resumed at chap. xlii. 7.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Job was now sensible of his guilt; he would no longer speak in his ow excuse; he abhorred himself as a sinner in heart and life, especiall for murmuring against God, and took shame to himself. When the understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of grace, our knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before, as the sight of the eyes excels report and common fame. By the teachings of men, God reveals his Son to us; but by the teachings of his Spirit he reveal his Son in us, Ga 1:16, and changes us into the same image, 2Co 3:18 It concerns us to be deeply humbled for the sins of which we ar convinced. Self-loathing is ever the companion of true repentance. The Lord will bring those whom he loveth, to adore him in self-abasement while true grace will always lead them to confess their sins withou self-justifying.
Original Hebrew על5921 כן3651 אמאס3988 ונחמתי5162 על5921 עפר6083 ואפר׃665
