Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
Behold, he put no trust in his servants - This verse is generally understood to refer to the fall of angels; for there were some of those heavenly beings who kept not their first estate: they did not persevere to the end of their probation, and therefore fell into condemnation, and are reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day; Jude 1:6. It is said he put no trust in them - he knew that nothing could be absolutely immutable but himself; and that no intelligent beings could subsist in a state of purity, unless continually dependent on himself, and deriving constant supplies of grace, power, and light, from him who gave them their being.
And his angels he charged with folly - Not chargeth, as many quote the passage. He charged those with folly who kept not their first estate. It does not appear that he is charging the others in the same way, who continue steadfast.
The several translations of this verse, both ancient and modern, are different from each other. Here are the chief: -
In angelis suis reperit pravitatem , "In his angels he found perverseness," Vulgate. The Septuagint is nearly the same. II met la lumiere dans ses anges , "He puts light into his angels," French Bible. Even those pure intelligences have continual need of being irradiated by the Almighty; wa - bemalakui neshim temcho , "And he hath put amazement in his angels," Syriac. The Arabic is the same. In angelis suis ponet gloriationem , "In his angels he will put exultation," Montanus. The Hebrew is toholah , irradiation, from halah , to irradiate, glister, or shine. In this place we may consider angels ( malachim ) as heavenly or earthly messengers or angels of the Lord; and the glory, influence, and honor of their office as being put in them by the Most High. They are as planets which shine with a borrowed light. They have nothing but what they have received. Coverdale translates the whole verse thus: Beholde he hath founde unfaythfulnesse amonge his owne servaunts and proude disobedience amonge his angels. The sense is among all these interpreters; and if the fallen angels are meant, the passage is plain enough.
Other Adam Clarke entries containing Job 4:18:
Job 15:15
Job 25:1
Job 25:5
Job 33:15
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
