Job 20:3

I have heard the check of my reproach,.... He took it that Job had reproached him and his friends, by representing them as hardhearted men, and persecuting him wrongly in a violent manner; and he had

I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer. Check of my reproach - i:e., the castigation intended as a reproach (literally, shame) to me (Job 19:29).

I have heard from thy mouth. Or, Shall I hear, to wit, with patience, and without a reply? Who can endure it? The check of my reproach, i.e. thy shameful and opprobrious reproofs of us, as if we and all thy friends were void of all humanity and natural affection towards them, and were haters, and cruel persecutors, and even devourers, of thee, ,22; and as if we were guilty of most heinous crimes, and might expect God’ s vengeance upon us. The spirit, i.e. my soul or mind. Of my understanding, or, because of (for so the Hebrew mem oft signifies) my understanding i.e. out of, or because of, that certain knowledge which I have of this matter from study and experience; I have not spoken, and I shall not speak, out of ignorance, or prejudice, or passion and rage against Job, as he asperseth us, but only what I evidently know, and yet hope that I can and shall convince thee of. Causeth me to answer, i.e. forceth me to speak. Or, answereth for me, i.e. either vindicates me against thy calumnies, or suggesteth an answer to me.

Job 20:3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.Ver. 3. I have heard the check of my reproach] Zophar conceived himself disgraced as well as menaced by Job; and this kindled him. Some are of so testy a nature, saith one, so skittish and unquiet humour, that a little offensive breath, a disgraceful word, blows them up into a rage that will not be laid down, without revenge, or reparation of their credits. Job’ s reproofs were by this man construed for reproaches; and what was spoken to them all he applied to himself. It appeareth that he was sick of a Noli me tangere, when being touched so gently, nettle like, he stingeth him who handled him. And the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer] This I shall do with reason and understanding, not with passion and recrimination. Spiritus Dei nec mendax, nec mordax; meekness of wisdom is a fruit of God’ s Spirit; by the which, and not by his reasonable soul only, Zophar seemeth to himself to be carried on. And surely they are holy truths all along that he uttereth, but wrested and misapplied as to Job, whom he will needs have to be wicked. Interim observemus, saith Lavater, Meanwhile let us observe that these things, sc. the state and portion of the wicked, the greatness and suddenness of their punishments, is therefore by God’ s appointment so oft propounded and pressed in this whole book (whereof this is almost the sole argument), that we might be right in that point; fear to offend, and not fret at the wicked man’ s prosperity, which is but momentary. The Tigurines translate this clause thus, Tametsi me conscientia hic consolabitur, Albeit herein my conscience shall comfort me.

(3) I have heard the check of my reproach.—Rather, I have heard, or, I hear the reproof of my shame: that is, a reproof that puts me to shame, or is intended to do so. The spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.—Or, more literally, Out of my understanding my spirit answereth me, or causeth me to answer. He professes to be moved by an impulse within, which he cannot but obey.

Verse 3. I have heard the check of my reproach] Some suppose that Zophar quotes the words of Job, and that some words should be supplied to indicate this meaning; e.g., "I have heard (sayest thou) the check or charge of my reproach?" Or it may refer to what Job says of Zophar and his companions, Job 19:2; Job 19:3: How long will ye vex may soul-these ten times have ye reproached me. Zophar therefore assumes his old ground, and retracts nothing of what he had said. Like many of his own complexion in the present day, he was determined to believe that his judgment was infallible, and that he could not err.

2, 3. Zophar is roused to indignation by Job’s perverse blindness to unalterable principles experienced since the world was. The verses should perhaps read, 2. Therefore do my thoughts make answer to me, And because of this have I haste within me: 3. I hear the rebuke that putteth me to shame— But the spirit out of my understanding answereth me. The words “therefore” and “because of this” refer to the first clause of Job 20:3.—I hear the rebuke that puts me to shame (i. e. Job’s last words), therefore do my thoughts make answer to me, and because of this have I inward haste, i. e. strong feeling. The speaker means that he feels driven to answer Job by the exasperating words of the latter, but he distinguishes between himself and his thoughts and speaks of them answering him. So (Job 20:3) his “spirit” answers him, drawing the answer out of his “understanding.” The answer furnished to Zophar by his spirit follows Job 20:4 seq. The last words of Job 20:2 are lit. “is my haste within me;” cf. their cord in them, Job 4:21, my help within me, Job 6:13. The word “check” in A. V. Job 20:3 means reproof; “Now, by my life, Old fools are babes again; and must be used With checks, as flatteries.” Lear, 1. 3. “Check’d like a bondman; all his faults observed.” J. Caesar, IV. 3.

I have heard the check of my reproach - I have heard your violent and severe language reproaching us.

3. The check of my reproach — Literally, chiding of my shame, that is, the chiding which tends to his shame — a similar phrase to that of “the chastisement of our peace,” Isaiah 53:5 — the chastisement that produces our peace.