Commentaries on Job

For more great commentaries on Job, be sure to check:
Commentaries on the Whole Old Testament
& Whole Bible Commentaries

Order of Contents

Best 9
More
. Puritans 3
. Devotional 2
. Intermediate 12+
. Advanced 7
Less Helpful 5
On Job Generally 10+
Early Church 2
Medieval Church 1
Jewish 1
In French 1
Translation of 1
Paraphrases 2
Job in Poetry
Chapters in Job

The Best Commentaries on Job

Reformer

Calvin, John – Sermons on Job d. 1564

*** – “Not the same as the commentary, but equally rich.” – Spurgeon

Puritans

Caryl, Joseph

Exposition of Job Buy

Ch. 1-3
Ch. 4-7
Ch. 8-10
Ch. 11-14
Ch. 15-17
Ch. 18-21
Ch. 22-26
Ch. 27-31
Ch. 32-34
Ch. 35-37
Ch. 38-42

Caryl was a Westminster divine.

*** – ‘Who can pretend to biblical learning who has not made himself familiar with the great writers who spent a life in explaining some one sacred book? Caryl on Job will not exhaust the patience of a student who loves every letter of the Word.’ ‘Caryl must have inherited the patience of Job to have completed his stupendous task. It would be a mistake to suppose that he is at all prolix or redundant; he is only full. In the course of his expounding he has illustrated a very large portion of the whole Bible with great clearness and power. He is deeply devotional and spiritual. He gives us much, but none too much. His work can scarcely be superseded or surpassed.’ – Spurgeon

An Exposition of Job: A one volume Abridgment Buy

** – “We do not believe in abridgments of a book which is good throughout. think of twelve large volumes condensed into one small one! An ox in a gallipot is nothing to it.” – Spurgeon

Durham, James – Job HTML Buy †1658

*** – ‘This is a small book, and we have been unable to procure it. [William]Orme [†1830] only mentions it upon the authority of Watt’s Bibliotheca. It is certain to be good, for Durham is always admirable.’ – Surgeon

Hutcheson, George – An Exposition of the book of Job being the Sum of 316 Lectures PoD 1657

*** – ‘Whenever the student sees a commentary by Hutcheson let him buy it, for we know of no author who is more thoroughly helpful to the minister of the Word. He distills the text, and gives his readers the quintessence, ready for use.’ – Spurgeon

1800’s

Barnes, Albert – Notes on Job

*** – “Exceedingly good. One of the best of this author’s generally valuable productions. The student should purchase this work at once, as it is absolutely necessary to his library.” – Spurgeon

Fry, John – A New Translation and Exposition of the Very Ancient Book of Job, with Notes Explanatory and Philological 1827

*** – “Written in a devout, enquiring spirit, with due respect to learned writers, but not with a slavish following of their fancies. Fry’s work is somewhat of the same character as [John Mason] Good’s. We greatly esteem this exposition for its own sake, and also for the evangelical tone which pervades it.” – Spurgeon

Gibson, Edgar C. – The Book of Job, with Introduction and Notes Buy 1899 308 pp. Reprinted by Klock & Klock

‘A valuable exposition. Deserves a place in the library of every pastor!’ – Cyril J. Barber

Green, William H. – The Argument of the Book of Job Unfolded 1874 380 pp.

Green (1825–1900) was an imminent Old Princeton, Hebrew scholar. This has been reprinted by the Banner of Truth.

‘Recently republished under the title of Job’s Triumph Over Satan, this excellent study ably expounds the theme of this book. A most valuable study.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Hulbert, Charles A. – The Gospel Revealed to Job, 30 Lectures with Notes 1853

Hulbert (1804–1888) was an Anglican clergyman.

*** – “An unusually good book; exceedingly comprehensive and helpful in many ways. The author aimed at usefulness and has succeeded wonderfully. We wonder that his work has not been better known.” – Spurgeon

Lange’s Commentary – The Book of Job

*** – “Contains a large collection of available material, and, if within a minister’s means, should be a foundation book in his library. We are very far from endorsing all Zuckler’s remarks, but the volume is an important one.” – Spurgeon

More Commentaries on Job

Puritans

Beza, Theodore – Job Expounded, Partly in Manner of a Commentary, Partly in Manner of a Paraphrase 1589

** – “Beza was the great friend and assistant of Calvin. As a commentator he lacked the profound insight and comprehensive grasp of Calvin, but as a critical scholar he is said to have been his equal if not his superior. This work on Job is rare.” – Spurgeon

Jackson, Arthur – Annotations upon Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & the Song of Solomon 1658

“In 1653, Arthur Jackson, Preacher of God’s Word in Wood Street, London, issued four volumes upon the Old Testament, which appear to have been the result of his pulpit expositions to his people. Valuable his works would be if there were no better, but they are not comparable to others already and afterwards mentioned. You can do without him, but he is a reputable author.” – Spurgeon

Leigh, Edward – Annotations on Five Poetical Books of the Old Testament: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Canticles 1657

** ‘Good, brief notes. Antique, but still prized.’ – Spurgeon

Devotional

Blackwood, Andrew – A Devotional Introduction to Job Buy 1970

Van Hagen, Mrs. Henry – Evenings in the Land of Uz; a Comment on Job 1843

** “Isaac Taylor commends this volume as one which ‘disclaiming all purpose of critical exposition aims only under the guidance of Christian feeling and experience to follow and to unfold the spiritual intention of this rich portion of Holy Scripture.’ Such an introduction must have helped to sell the work and carry it speedily to the second edition.” – Spurgeon

Intermediate

Aitken, James – The Book of Job n.d. in Hand-books for Bible Classes, ed. Dods & Whyte

Allen, John – A Spiritual Exposition of the Old Testament: from Joshua to the end of the Psalms 1816

‘Spiritual reflections after the high Calvinistic school. Some preachers cannot see Christ where He is, but Allen finds Him where He is not. There is in these reflections much godly savor, but very little exposition.’ – Spurgeon

This Allen was not the one that translated Calvin’s Institutes. James Darling said that Allen was an Antinomian (one who believes that Christians are not bound by moral injunctions). Antinomians, not believing that moral injunctions should be derived from God’s Word, often replaced this large aspect of Scripture’s teaching with finding Christ everywhere in the Bible, especially the Old Testament.

Coleman, J. – The Book of Job, translated from the Hebrew, with Notes Explanatory, Illustrative and Critical 1869

** “We do not value this so much as the same author’s ‘Psalms’, but it is serviceable in its own way.” – Spurgeon

Conant, Thomas – The Book of Job… with an Introduction and Philological Notes, for the American Bible Union 1857

** “An excellent translation. The design did not allow of more than slender notes, but those notes are good.” – Spurgeon

Cox, Samuel – A Commentary on the Book of Job, with a Translation 1880 600 pp.

Cox was an English non-conformist minister, baptist and a universalist (not recommended). He was an editor for the magazine, The Expositor.

‘An exemplary treatment!’ – Cyril J. Barber

Davidson, A.B. – The Book of Job, with Notes, Introduction and Appendix in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, ed. Perowne

Davidson was a liberal.

‘A capable exposition by a renowned Scottish Hebraist. Easier to obtain than Gibson’s masterly work.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Fenton, Thomas – Annotations on Job and the Psalms, collected from several Commentators, and Methodized and Improved 1732

** “All that will be found here is taken from others, but well selected.” – Spurgeon

Patrick, Simon – The Book of Job Paraphrased (London [1679])

Patrick (1626-1707) was an Arminian, Latitudinarian Anglican bishop.

Penn-Lewis, Jessie – The Story of Job Buy 1902

ed. Ralph, E.H. – The Voice out of the Whirlwind: The Book of Job Buy 1960

Robinson, Thomas – A Homiletical Commentary on the Book of Job 1875

** “This we hope will be of use to preachers, but we have hardly enough before us to judge of it.” – Spurgeon

Smith, Elizabeth – The Book of Job translated from the Hebrew, with a Preface and Annotations 1810 Smith’s notes are sparce, but F. Randolph’s comments on Smith’s translation, starting on p. 147, are more frequent and in-depth

** “A good English version of Job, produced chiefly by the aid of Parkhurst’s Lexicon.” – Orme, as quoted by Spurgeon

Strahan, James – The Book of Job Interpreted 1914 New College, Edinburgh. Cunningham Lecturer

Advanced

Carey, Cateret Priaulx – The Book of Job translated from the Hebrew… explained in a large body of Notes, Critical and Exegetical, and Illustrated by extracts from various works on Antiquities, Geography, Science, etc., 1858

** “Purely critical and exegetical. The author has grappled manfully with all difficulties, and has stored up a mass of precious materials with which to illuminate a book dark from antiquity.” – Spurgeon

Davidson, A.B. – A Commentary, Grammatical and Exegetical, of the Book of Job with a Translation, vol. 1 (Intro-ch. 14), 2 1862

Davidson was a liberal.

** “Strict grammatical treatment of Scripture is always commendable, and in this case the results are valued by advanced scholars.” – Spurgeon

Delitzsch, Franz – Biblical Commentary on Job, vol 1 (chs. 1-3), 2 (4-42)

** – “Unquestionably the most valuable work on this inexhaustibly interesting Scripture that has reached us from Germany” – Nonconformist, as quoted by Spurgeon

Durell, David – Critical Remarks on the Books of Job, Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles 1772

Durell (1728–1775) was an Anglican O.T. scholar.

Good, John Mason – The Book of Job Literally Translated from the Original Hebrew, and Restored to its Natural Arrangement, with Notes Critical and Illustrative, and an Introductory Dissertation on its Scene, Scope, Language, Author and Object 1812 The commentary begins on p. 217

** “A very valuable contribution to sacred literature. Dr. Good’s learning was, however, more extensive than accurate, and it would be dangerous to accept his translations without examination.” – Spurgeon

Lee, Samuel – The Book of the Patriarch Job Translated… to which is Prefixed an Introduction on the History, Times, Country, Friends and Book of the Patriarch, with some Strictures on the statements of Bishop Warburton, and of the Rationalists of Germany on the same subjects , and to which is appended a Commentary, Critical and Exegetical 1837

Lee was an Anglican and a professor of Hebrew at Cambridge.

** “Barnes says, ‘This work is not what might have been expected from the learning and reputation of Prof. Lee. It abounds with Arabic learning which is scattered with ostentatious profuseness through the volume, but which often contributes little to the elucidation of the text. It is designed for the critical scholar rather than the general reader.” – Spurgeon

Umbreit, Friedrich – A New Version of the Book of Job; with Expository Notes, and an Introduction on the Spirit, Composition and Author of the Book, vol. 1 (1-18), 2 (19-End)

Umbreit (1795-1860) was a professor of theology in Heidelberg.

** “Useful philologically; but [Albert] Barnes [see under Whole Bible Commentaries] would supply far more in that direction, and spiritual exposition besides.” – Spurgeon

Less Helpful Commentaries on Job

Bellamy, D. – A Paraphrase on the Sacred History, or Book of Job, with Observations from Various Authors 1748

* “A collection of notes from other authors. Original works are far better.” – Spurgeon

Chappelow, Leonard – A Commentary on the Book of Job, in which is Inserted the Hebrew Text and English Translation, with a paraphrase from 3:3-42:7, vol. 1, 2 (the Paraphrase) 1752

* “Chappelow is great upon Arabic etymologies, but he is dreadfully verbose, and really says nothing of any consequences. Chappelow and several other authors follow Schultens in the belief that the Hebrew can only be read by the light of the Arabic; they even imagine that the Book of Job was originally composed in Arabic by Job himself and then translated by some one else into the Hebrew tongue. This opened a fine field for parading their learning.” – Spurgeon

Garden, Charles – An Improved Metrical Version attempted of the Book of Job; a Poem, with preliminary dissertation and notes 1796 The poem is on pp. 5-75 after the preliminary dissertation.

* – “This author has not attempted a Commentary, but he has consulted a vast array of authors, and from them gathered a large number of notes. His work is of very moderate value.” – Spurgeon

Peters, Charles – A Critical Dissertation on the Book of Job… and a Future State shown to have been the Popular Belief of the Ancient Hebrews Buy 1751

* “Of a controversial character; mainly written against Warburton and Le Clerc, and as those authors are now almost forgotten, answers to them have lost their interest. Peters was an eminently learned man, and well versed in argument; but his work is of very small use for homiletical purposes.” – Spurgeon

Stather, W.C. – The Book of Job, in English Verse… with Notes, Critical and Explanatory 1859

* “We do not like Job in rhyme. We know of no rhyming version of any part of Scripture, except the Psalms, which can be called a success. Certainly this is not one. The author’s notes deserve consideration.” – Spurgeon

On Job Generally

Anon. – The School of Patience, or the Benefit of Affliction to the People of God Set Forth in a Short Discourse of Two Great Examples of Patience: the one from the Example of Job the other from the Great Exemplar, Christ Jesus (London, 1667) 28 pp.

De Graaf, S.G. – ‘Job’ 1977 19 pp. in Promise and Deliverance, vol. 1: From Creation to the Conquest of Canaan, pp. 149-168

De Graff is a Dutch Reformed author who focuses on the unfolding of the Covenant through history. He writes in an easy to read, but insightful style.

Evans, Alfred Bowen – Lectures on the Book of Job 1856 250 pp.

** “Discourses from fourteen single verses from different parts of the patient patriarch’s history. They are quite out of the run of Church of England preaching, and are full of thought and originality. They would have been all the better for a little gospel, for even if his text does not look that way, we do expect a Christian minister to have something to say about his Master.” – Spurgeon

Godet, Frederic – ‘The Book of Job’ 1882 57 pp. in Studies in the Old Testament, pp. 183-240

Hengstenberg, E.W. – The Book of Job: a Lecture 1860 33 pp.

** – “Scholarly of course, and also more vivacious than is usual with Hengstenberg.” – Spurgeon

Humfrey, Richard – Job’s Piety, or, The Pattern of a Perfect Man, Containing an absolute history of all the excellencies which ought to be in a perfect man... Ref (London, 1624)

We have been unable to find bio info on Humfrey, other than that he was English and wrote another work above on Job.

Kitto, John – Daily Bible Illustrations: being Original Readings for a Year, on subjects relating to Sacred History, Biography, Geography, Antiquities and Theology, vol. 5 (Job-Song) pp. 13-253

*** ‘Worthy of attentive reading’ ‘They are not exactly a commentary, but what marvelous expositions you have there! You have reading more interesting than any novel that was ever written, and as instructive as the heaviest theology. The matter is quite attractive and fascinating, and yet so weighty, that the man who shall study those eight volumes thoroughly, will not fail to read his Bible intelligently and with growing interest.’ – Spurgeon

Morgan, G. Campbell – The Answers of Jesus to Job Buy 1950 118 pp.

Morgan (1863–1945) was the predecessor at Westminster Chapel in London to Martin Lloyd Jones.

‘Contains an enlightening analysis. One of the better volumes in this series.’ – Cyril J. Barber

Wagner, George – Sermons on the Book of Job 1860

** “Wagner’s sermons are simple and plain, devout and instructive. We have here nothing very fresh, but everything is sound and good.” – Spurgeon

Wemyss, Thomas – Job & his Times, or a Picture of the Patriarchal Age during the Period between Noah and Abraham as regards the state of Religion and Morality, arts and Sciences, Manners and Customs, etc. and a New Version, accompanied with Notes and Dissertations 1839

** “[Albert] Barnes says: ‘This is designed to be a popular work. It is not so much of the nature of a Commentary as a collection of fragments and brief essays on various topics referred to in the Book of Job. It is chiefly valuable for its illustration of the religion of the time of Job, the arts and sciences, the manners and customs, etc.’ It lacks lucid arrangement, and furnishes comparatively little illustration of the difficulties of the text.” – Spurgeon

Whyte, Alexander – Job in Bible Characters d. 1921

The Early Church on Job

Simonetti, Manlio & Marco Conti – Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Job Buy

Gregory the Great, Pope – Morals on the Book of Job, vol. 1 (1-12), 2 (12-31), 3 (32-37), 4 (38-42)

** – “The Fathers are of course beyond criticism, and contain priceless gems here and there; but they spiritualize at such a rate, and also utter so many crudities and platitudes, that if they were modern writers they would not be so greatly valued as they are. Antiquity lends enchantment.” – Spurgeon

The Medieval Church on Job

Aquinas, Thomas – Commentary on the Book of Job

A Jewish Commentary on Job

Gordis, Robert – The Book of God & Man: a Study of Job Buy 1965

Commentary in French

Senault, J.F. – Paraphrase sur Job 1648 This is translated into English above.

Senault (1599-1672) was a Roman Catholic in Paris.

* “Senault was a famous preacher of the Oratory in Paris, who, from the character of his works, would seem to have been almost a Protestant. His writings were highly esteemed in their day, and translated into English.” – Spurgeon

A Translation of Job

Many of the commentaries above have their own translation as well.

Noyes, George – Job: a Translation in the Hebrew Rhythm 1915

** “We have been informed that Dr. Noyse belongs to the Unitarian body, but we fail to see any trace of Arian or Socinian views in this volume. We do not agree with all that he says, but he strikes us as being an honest, able, and accurate translator and commentator, worthy to stand in the foremost rank.” – Spurgeon

Paraphrases & a Dialogue of Job

1600’s

Humfrey, Richard – The Conflict of Job, by Way of Dialogue. Compiled for illustration, or opening of that great encounter: and may also serve as a paraphrase upon that heavenly work (London, 1607) 235 pp.

We have been unable to find bio info on Humfrey, other than that he was English.

Abbott, George – The Whole Book of Job Paraphrased, or, Made Easy for any to Understand 1640

* – “This is not by Archbishop Abbott, neither is the work of any value. This Abbot was a member of Parliament, and his paraphrase is better than we could have expected from an M.P., but still it is a heavy performance.” – Spurgeon

Senault, J.F. – Paraphrase on Job 1648 trans. from French

Senault (1599-1672) was a French, Romanist, Augustinian philosopher in Paris.

1700’s

Chappelow, Leonard – A Commentary on the Book of Job, in which is Inserted the Hebrew Text and English Translation, with a paraphrase from 3:3-42:7, vol. 1, 2 (the Paraphrase) 1752

Job and Paraphrases thereon in Poetry

See the subsection on Job on our Bible in Poetry page for 12+ works.

Chapters in Job

Job 1-2

Holland, Henry – An Exposition of Job 1-2 in The Christian Exercise of Fasting, private & public, plainly set forth by testimonies of Holy Scriptures, and also of old and late writers… (London, 1596)

Holland (1556–1603) was a reformed, Anglican clergyman, known for his writing on witchcraft.

Job 10

Dickson, David – An Exposition of the 10th Chapter of Job d. 1662 75 pp.

Dickson was a leading Scottish covenanter.

Job 12

Fuller, Andrew – Mystery of Providence on Job 12:6-25 in Works, vol. 1, pp. 620-1

Job 28