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Selected Verse: Job 29:11 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Job 29:11	Strong Concordance	When the ear [0241] heard [08085] me, then it blessed [0833] me; and when the eye [05869] saw [07200] me, it gave witness [05749] to me:
	King James	When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
blessed--extolled my virtues (Pro 31:28). Omit "me" after "heard"; whoever heard of me (in general, not in the market place, Job 29:7-10) praised me. gave witness--to my honorable character. Image from a court of justice (Luk 4:22). the eye--that is, "face to face"; antithesis to ear--that is, report of me.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

blessed--extolled my virtues (Pro 31:28). Omit "me" after "heard"; whoever heard of me (in general, not in the market place, Job 29:7-10) praised me.

gave witness--to my honorable character. Image from a court of justice (Luk 4:22).

the eye--that is, "face to face"; antithesis to

ear--that is, report of me.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
When the ear heard me. - A personification for "they who heard me speak, blessed me." That is, they commended or praised me. And when the eye saw me - All who saw me. It gave witness to me - That is, the fixed attention to what he said and the admiration which was shown by the eyes of the multitudes, were witnesses of the respect and honor in which he was held. Gray has a beautiful expression similar to this when he says, "He reads his history in a nation's eyes."

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
11 For an ear heard, and called me happy; And an eye saw, and bear witness to me: 12 For I rescued the sufferer who cried for help, And the orphan, and him that had no helper. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart rejoice. 14 I put on justice, and it put me on; As a robe and turban was my integrity. Thus imposing was the impression of his personal appearance wherever he appeared; for (כּי explic.) the fulness of the blessing of the possession of power and of prosperity which he enjoyed was so extraordinary, that one had only to hear of it to call him happy, and that, especially if any one saw it with his own eyes, he was obliged to bear laudatory testimony to him. The futt. consec. affirm what was the inevitable consequence of hearing and seeing; העיד, seq. acc., is used like הזכּיר in the signification of laudatory recognition. The expression is not brachylogical for ותּעד לּי (vid., on Job 31:18); for from Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:13, we perceive that העיד with the acc. of the person signifies to make any one the subject of assertion, whether he be lower or higher in rank (comp. the New Testament word, especially in Luke, μαρτυρεῖσθαι). It was, however, not merely the outward manifestation of his unusual prosperity which called forth such admiration, but his active benevolence united with the abundant resources at his command. For where there was a sufferer who cried for help he, relieved him, especially orphans and those who had no helper. ולא־עזר לו is either a new third object, or a closer definition of what precedes: the orphan and (in this state of orphanhood) helpless one. The latter is more probable both here and in the Salomonic primary passage, Psa 72:12; in the other case ואשׁר אין־עזר לח might be expected. Job 29:13 The blessing (בּרכּת with closely closed penult.) of those who stood on the brink of destruction (אובד, interiturus, as Job 31:19; Pro 31:6), and owed their rescue to him, came upon him; and the heart of the widow to whom he gave assistance, compensating for the assistance of her lost husband, he filled with gladness (הרנין causative, as Psa 65:9). For the primary attribute, the fundamental character of his way of thinking and acting, was צדק, a holding fast to the will of God, which before everything else calls for sympathizing love (root צדק, Arab. ṣdq, to be hard, firm, stiff, e.g., rumh-un sadq-un, according to the Kamus: a hard, firm, straight spear), and משׁפּט, judgment and decision in favour of right and equity against wrong and injustice. Righteousness is here called the garment which he put on (as Psa 132:9, comp. Isa 11:5; Isa 59:17), and right is the robe and turban with which he adorns himself (comp. Isa 61:10); as by Arabian poets noble attributes are also called garments, which God puts on any one, or which any one puts on himself (albasa). (Note: In Beidhwi, if I remember rightly, this expression occurs once, Arab. 'l-tdrr‛ blbls 'l-tqwy, i.e., "clothing one's self in the armour of the fear of God.") Righteousness is compared to the לבושׁ (corresponding to the thob, i.e., garment, indusium, of the nomads) which is worn on the naked body, justice to the צניף, a magnificent turban (corresponding to the kefije, consisting of a thick cotton cloth, and fastened with a cord made of camel's hair), and the magnificent robe (corresponding to the second principal article of clothing, the ‛abâ). The lxx, Jer., Syr., and Arab. wrongly refer ויּלבּשׁני to משׁפטי of the second half of the verse, while, on the contrary, it is said of צדק, per antanaclasin, that Job put this on, and this in turn put Job on, induit; for וילבשׁני, as the usage of the language, as we have it, elsewhere shows, does not signify: it (righteousness) clothed me well (Umbr.), or: adorned me (Ew., Vaih.), also not: it dressed me out (Schlottm.), but only: it put me on as a garment, i.e., it made me so its own, that my whole appearance was the representation of itself, as in Jdg 6:34 and twice in the Chronicles, of the Spirit of Jehovah it is said that He puts on any one, induit, when He makes any one the organ of His own manifestation.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

11 For an ear heard, and called me happy;

And an eye saw, and bear witness to me:

12 For I rescued the sufferer who cried for help,

And the orphan, and him that had no helper.

13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me,

And I made the widow's heart rejoice.

14 I put on justice, and it put me on;

As a robe and turban was my integrity.

Thus imposing was the impression of his personal appearance wherever he appeared; for (כּי explic.) the fulness of the blessing of the possession of power and of prosperity which he enjoyed was so extraordinary, that one had only to hear of it to call him happy, and that, especially if any one saw it with his own eyes, he was obliged to bear laudatory testimony to him. The futt. consec. affirm what was the inevitable consequence of hearing and seeing; העיד, seq. acc., is used like הזכּיר in the signification of laudatory recognition. The expression is not brachylogical for ותּעד לּי (vid., on Job 31:18); for from Kg1 21:10, Kg1 21:13, we perceive that העיד with the acc. of the person signifies to make any one the subject of assertion, whether he be lower or higher in rank (comp. the New Testament word, especially in Luke, μαρτυρεῖσθαι). It was, however, not merely the outward manifestation of his unusual prosperity which called forth such admiration, but his active benevolence united with the abundant resources at his command. For where there was a sufferer who cried for help he, relieved him, especially orphans and those who had no helper. ולא־עזר לו is either a new third object, or a closer definition of what precedes: the orphan and (in this state of orphanhood) helpless one. The latter is more probable both here and in the Salomonic primary passage, Psa 72:12; in the other case ואשׁר אין־עזר לח might be expected.

Job 29:13

The blessing (בּרכּת with closely closed penult.) of those who stood on the brink of destruction (אובד, interiturus, as Job 31:19; Pro 31:6), and owed their rescue to him, came upon him; and the heart of the widow to whom he gave assistance, compensating for the assistance of her lost husband, he filled with gladness (הרנין causative, as Psa 65:9). For the primary attribute, the fundamental character of his way of thinking and acting, was צדק, a holding fast to the will of God, which before everything else calls for sympathizing love (root צדק, Arab. ṣdq, to be hard, firm, stiff, e.g., rumh-un sadq-un, according to the Kamus: a hard, firm, straight spear), and משׁפּט, judgment and decision in favour of right and equity against wrong and injustice. Righteousness is here called the garment which he put on (as Psa 132:9, comp. Isa 11:5; Isa 59:17), and right is the robe and turban with which he adorns himself (comp. Isa 61:10); as by Arabian poets noble attributes are also called garments, which God puts on any one, or which any one puts on himself (albasa).

(Note: In Beidhwi, if I remember rightly, this expression occurs once, Arab. 'l-tdrr‛ blbls 'l-tqwy, i.e., "clothing one's self in the armour of the fear of God.")

Righteousness is compared to the לבושׁ (corresponding to the thob, i.e., garment, indusium, of the nomads) which is worn on the naked body, justice to the צניף, a magnificent turban (corresponding to the kefije, consisting of a thick cotton cloth, and fastened with a cord made of camel's hair), and the magnificent robe (corresponding to the second principal article of clothing, the ‛abâ). The lxx, Jer., Syr., and Arab. wrongly refer ויּלבּשׁני to משׁפטי of the second half of the verse, while, on the contrary, it is said of צדק, per antanaclasin, that Job put this on, and this in turn put Job on, induit; for וילבשׁני, as the usage of the language, as we have it, elsewhere shows, does not signify: it (righteousness) clothed me well (Umbr.), or: adorned me (Ew., Vaih.), also not: it dressed me out (Schlottm.), but only: it put me on as a garment, i.e., it made me so its own, that my whole appearance was the representation of itself, as in Jdg 6:34 and twice in the Chronicles, of the Spirit of Jehovah it is said that He puts on any one, induit, when He makes any one the organ of His own manifestation.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Witness - Gave testimony to my pious, and just, and blameless conversation.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
When the ear heard me - This and the six following verses present us with a fine exhibition of a man full of benevolence and charity, acting up to the highest dictates of those principles, and rendering the miserable of all descriptions happy, by the constant exercise of his unconfined philanthropy.

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²² And [2532] all [3956] bare [3140] him [846] witness [3140], and [2532] wondered [2296] at [1909] the gracious [5485] words [3056] which [3588] proceeded [1607] out of [1537] his [846] mouth [4750]. And [2532] they said [3004], Is [2076] not [3756] this [3778] Joseph's [2501] son [5207]?

⁷ When I went out [03318] to the gate [08179] through the city [07176], when I prepared [03559] my seat [04186] in the street [07339]!
⁸ The young men [05288] saw [07200] me, and hid [02244] themselves: and the aged [03453] arose [06965], and stood up [05975].
⁹ The princes [08269] refrained [06113] talking [04405], and laid [07760] their hand [03709] on their mouth [06310].
¹⁰ The nobles [05057] held [02244] their peace [06963], and their tongue [03956] cleaved [01692] to the roof of their mouth [02441].

²⁸ Her children [01121] arise up [06965], and call her blessed [0833]; her husband [01167] also, and he praiseth [01984] her.

³⁴ But the Spirit [07307] of the LORD [03068] came [03847] upon Gideon [01439], and he blew [08628] a trumpet [07782]; and Abiezer [044] was gathered [02199] after [0310] him.

¹⁰ I will greatly [07797] rejoice [07797] in the LORD [03068], my soul [05315] shall be joyful [01523] in my God [0430]; for he hath clothed [03847] me with the garments [0899] of salvation [03468], he hath covered [03271] me with the robe [04598] of righteousness [06666], as a bridegroom [02860] decketh [03547] himself with ornaments [06287], and as a bride [03618] adorneth [05710] herself with her jewels [03627].

¹⁷ For he put on [03847] righteousness [06666] as a breastplate [08302], and an helmet [03553] of salvation [03444] upon his head [07218]; and he put on [03847] the garments [0899] of vengeance [05359] for clothing [08516], and was clad [05844] with zeal [07068] as a cloke [04598].

⁵ And righteousness [06664] shall be the girdle [0232] of his loins [04975], and faithfulness [0530] the girdle [0232] of his reins [02504].

⁹ Let thy priests [03548] be clothed [03847] with righteousness [06664]; and let thy saints [02623] shout for joy [07442].

⁹ Thou visitest [06485] the earth [0776], and waterest [07783] it: thou greatly [07227] enrichest [06238] it with the river [06388] of God [0430], which is full [04390] of water [04325]: thou preparest [03559] them corn [01715], when thou hast so provided [03559] for it.

⁶ Give [05414] strong drink [07941] unto him that is ready to perish [06], and wine [03196] unto those that be of heavy [04751] hearts [05315].

¹⁹ If I have seen [07200] any perish [06] for want of clothing [03830], or any poor [034] without covering [03682];

¹³ The blessing [01293] of him that was ready to perish [06] came [0935] upon me: and I caused the widow's [0490] heart [03820] to sing for joy [07442].

¹² For he shall deliver [05337] the needy [034] when he crieth [07768]; the poor [06041] also, and him that hath no helper [05826].

¹³ And there came [0935] in two [08147] men [0582], children [01121] of Belial [01100], and sat [03427] before him: and the men [0582] of Belial [01100] witnessed [05749] against him, even against Naboth [05022], in the presence of the people [05971], saying [0559], Naboth [05022] did blaspheme [01288] God [0430] and the king [04428]. Then they carried him forth [03318] out [02351] of the city [05892], and stoned [05619] him with stones [068], that he died [04191].

¹⁰ And set [03427] two [08147] men [0582], sons [01121] of Belial [01100], before him, to bear witness [05749] against him, saying [0559], Thou didst blaspheme [01288] God [0430] and the king [04428]. And then carry him out [03318], and stone [05619] him, that he may die [04191].

¹⁸ (For from my youth [05271] he was brought up [01431] with me, as with a father [01], and I have guided [05148] her from my mother's [0517] womb [0990];)