Job 4:8

Even as I have seen,.... Here he goes about to prove, by his own experience, the destruction of wicked men; and would intimate, that Job was such an one, because of the ruin he was fallen into: they

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. They that plow iniquity ... reap the same - (Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 8:7; Hosea 10:13; Galatians 6:7-8). "Plow" - i:e., plow and plant.

As thou hast never seen any example of a righteous man cut off, so on the contrary I have seen many examples of wicked men cut off for their wickedness. Or, As far as I have observed; or, But as I have seen or experienced. They that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness; they that designedly and industriously work wickedness, first plotting and preparing themselves for it, and then continuing to pursue and execute it, as husbandmen first plough up and prepare the ground, and then cast in the seed. Compare . Reap the same, i.e. iniquity, or such trouble or injury (for so also the Hebrew word avert signifies) as they cause to others. Or, the fruit of their iniquity, the just recompence and punishment of it, which is oft called sin or iniquity, as 16:26 32:23. Compare ,8.

Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.Ver. 8. Even as I have seen] And therefore can boldly say: for what so sure as sight? See Numbers 11:23 Genesis 34:1-2. Diligent inspection of a thing, and deep consideration upon it, makes confidence, which is the fruit of experience. That they plow iniquity, and sow wickedness] Here is ploughing and sowing, a mystical husbandry. Sinners are sore labourers, great painstakers: they plot and plough, they sow and reap, they dig and delve, Proverbs 16:27, they weave and spin, Isaiah 59:5, they busy their heads, and beat their brains, as hard students in their black art; they labour even unto lassitude, Jeremiah 9:5. Hence they are called workers of iniquity (the Vulgate rendereth this text Qui operantur iniquitatem), and sin is called a work of the flesh. How can those but work hard in digging descents to hell, who have the devil for their task master, who continually spurs them on to a quick despatch of the deeds of darkness? Arant, serunt, occant scelera, as the devil’ s hinds and horses, they drudge night and day, turning up all the corruption in their hearts and conveniences in the world, for the effecting of their wicked devices. And sow wickedness] Nemo repente fit turpissimus. No one suddenly becomes wicked. Sin goeth on gradually (here is first ploughing, then sowing), wicked men and seducers grow worse and worse, till at length they are even Satanized, 2 Timothy 3:13; being transformed into sin’ s image, and bereft of all passive power of awaking out of the snare of the devil, being taken alive by him at his pleasure, 2 Timothy 2:26. Reap the same] Not the same day it may be, but too soon, to their sorrow, they receive the guerdon of their sin. Sooner or later, it is sure, he that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity, Proverbs 22:8 Jeremiah 4:18. As everybody hath its shadow, so hath every sin its punishment; and many times the one is so like the other, that a man may safely say, Such a punishment is the product of such a sin, Galatians 6:7. Men shall reap the same they sow, and good reason. Give them blood to drink, for they are worthy, Revelation 16:6. God loves to make him a name among men by his art of justicing (as one calleth it) in that most exact way of counterpassion, or retaliation; and Adonibezek hath got him a fame of ingenuity, by acknowledging as much, Judges 1:7.

(8) They that plow iniquity.—Comp. Galatians 6:7-8; and comp. also the strange expression of Isa 5:18.

Verse 8. They that plough iniquity] A proverbial form of speech drawn from nature. Whatever seed a man sows in the ground, he reaps the same kind; for every seed produces its like. Thus Solomon, Proverbs 22:8: "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity." And St. Paul, Galatians 6:7-8: "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he who soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." And of the same nature is that other saying of the apostle, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly, 2 Corinthians 9:6. The same figure is employed by the Prophet Hosea Hosea 8:7: They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; and Hosea 10:12-13: Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy. Ye have ploughed wickedness; ye have reaped iniquity. The last sentence contains, not only the same image, but almost the same words as those used by Eliphaz. Our Lord expresses the same thing, in the following words: Matthew 7:16-18: Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. So the Greeks: - Ατηςαρουραθανατονεκκαρπιζεται. Aesch. ἙπταεπιΘηβαις, ver. 607. "The field of iniquity produces the fruit of death." Ὑβριςγαρεξανθουςεκαρπωσεσταχυν Ατης, ὁθενπαγκλαυτονεξαμᾳθερος. IB. Περσαι, ver. 823. "For oppression, when it springs, Puts forth the blade of vengeance; and its fruit Yields a ripe harvest of repentant wo." - POTTER. The image is common every where because it is a universal law of nature.

Ch. Job 4:1-11. Eliphaz wonders that Job, who had comforted so many in trouble, and was a righteous man, should fall into such despair under his afflictions Eliphaz would gladly have kept silence in the circumstances of his friend, but the tone of Job’s words constrains him to speak (Job 4:2). He wonders at the despondency of Job, one who had shewn himself so skilful in comforting other good men in affliction (Job 4:3-4), and who was himself a righteous man. He should place confidence in his righteousness, and remember that the righteous never perish under affliction. God does not send trouble upon them to destroy them, but for very different ends (Job 4:6-7). It is only the wicked whom He chastises unto death, and causes to reap the trouble which they sow (Job 4:8-9), and perish like beasts of prey (Job 4:10-11). Eliphaz’s doctrine of the meaning of suffering or evil comes out in the very forefront of his remonstrance with Job.

Even as I have seen - Eliphaz appeals to his own observation, that people who had led wicked lives were suddenly cut off. Instances of this kind he might doubtless have observed - as all may have done.

8. Even as (so far as)… they that plough iniquity — A principle profoundly true, everywhere a matter of observation, and often expressed in a like figure. The error of Eliphaz is, that he perverts it.