Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
(But I would strengthen you with my mouth With that which proceeds from the mouth - words.
And the moving of my lips - My speaking - implying that it would have been done in a mild, gentle, kind manner - so that the lips would appear just to move. Others, however, have given a different interpretation. Thus, Dr. Good renders it:
"With my own mouth will I overpower you,
Till the quivering of my lips shall fall."
But the common interpretation is to be preferred. The word rendered "moving" nı̂yd is from ּ nûd - "to move," "agitate," and hence, denotes "motion." It denotes here the motion of the lips when we speak. Gesenius renders it, "consolation," "comfort" - because this is expressed by a motion of the head.
Should assuage your grief - The word used here ( ׂ yachâśak ) means properly "to hold back," "to restrain;" Job 7:11. Here it is correctly rendered, meaning that he would hold back, or check their sorrows. In other words, he would sustain them.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 16:5:
Nahum 3:7
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