Job 19:19

(19) My inward friends. —That is, my intimate friends: the men of my counsel who are familiar with my secret affairs.Benson CommentaryJob 19:19. All my inward friends abhorred me — מתי סודי, methei sodi, The men of my secret, or council; my intimates and confidants, to whom I imparted all my thoughts, counsels, and concerns. And they whom I loved — Sincerely and fervently; are turned against me — So ill do they requite me. He does not say, they who loved me, for had their love been sincere it would have continued, and manifested itself toward him in his affliction as well as in his prosperity.Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary19:8-22 How doleful are Job's complaints! What is the fire of hell but the wrath of God! Seared consciences will feel it hereafter, but do not fear it now: enlightened consciences fear it now, but shall not feel it hereafter. It is a very common mistake to think that those whom God afflicts he treats as his enemies. Every creature is that to us which God makes it to be; yet this does not excuse Job's relations and friends. How uncertain is the friendship of men! but if God be our Friend, he will not fail us in time of need. What little reason we have to indulge the body, which, after all our care, is consumed by diseases it has in itself. Job recommends himself to the compassion of his friends, and justly blames their harshness.

It is very distressing to one who loves God, to be bereaved at once of outward comfort and of inward consolation; yet if this, and more, come upon a believer, it does not weaken the proof of his being a child of God and heir of glory.Barnes' Notes on the BibleAll my inward friends - Margin, "the men of my secret." The meaning is those, who were admitted to the intimacy of friendship or who were permitted to be acquainted with his secret thoughts, purposes, and plans. The word uses here (סוד sôd) denotes properly "a couch, cushions, pillow," on which one reclines; then a "divan," a circle of persons sitting together for consultation or conversation; and hence, it refers to those who are sitting together in intimate counsel, (see Job 15:8, note; Job 29:4, note) and then familiar conversation, intimacy. Here the phrase "men of my intimacy" (סודי sôdı̂y) denotes those who were admitted to intimate friendship. All such persons had now forsaken him, and turned against him. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary19. inward—confidential; literally, "men of my secret"—to whom I entrusted my most intimate confidence.Matthew Poole's Commentary My inward friends, Heb. the men of my secret; my intimates and confidants, to whom I imparted all my thoughts, and counsels, and concerns. Whom I loved sincerely and fervently, which they so ill requite. He saith not, they who loved me; for their love, had it been true, would have continued in his affliction as well as in his prosperity.

Job 19:19 . All my inward friends abhorred me — מתי סודי , methei sodi, The men of my secret, or council; my intimates and confidants, to whom I imparted all my thoughts, counsels, and concerns. And they whom I loved — Sincerely and fervently; are turned against me — So ill do they requite me. He does not say, they who loved me, for had their love been sincere it would have continued, and manifested itself toward him in his affliction as well as in his prosperity.

19 . my inward friends ] A fine expression, lit. the men of my council . “Inward” means intimate: “Who is most inward with the royal duke?” Rich. III . The reference is to such as his three friends, men whose high converse and fellowship seemed to Job, as a thoughtful godly man, something almost better than relationship, Psalm 55:14 . See Prelim. Remarks to ch. 3. abhorred ] Better, abhor .

Verse 19. - All my inward friends abhorred me ; literally, all the men of my counsel ; i.e. all those whom I was accustomed to consult, and whose advice I was wont to take, in any difficulty, by keeping aloof, have shown their abhorrence of me. And they whom I loved are turned against me (comp. Psalm 41:9 ; Psalm 55:12-14 : Jeremiah 20:10 ). The saints of God in all ages, and however differently circumstanced, are assailed by almost the same trials and temptations. Whether it be Job, or David, or Jeremiah, or One greater than any of them, the desertion and unkindness of their nearest and dearest, as the bitterest of all sufferings, is almost sure to be included in their cup, which they must drink to the dregs, if they are to experience to the full "the precious uses of adversity." Job 19:19

My inward friends, Heb. the men of my secret ; my intimates and confidants, to whom I imparted all my thoughts, and counsels, and concerns. Whom I loved sincerely and fervently, which they so ill requite. He saith not, they who loved me ; for their love, had it been true, would have continued in his affliction as well as in his prosperity.