5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
5 I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand - from my own eyes and ears!
5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 42:5
Commentary on Job 42:1-6
(Read Job 42:1-6)
Job was now sensible of his guilt; he would no longer speak in his own excuse; he abhorred himself as a sinner in heart and life, especially for murmuring against God, and took shame to himself. When the understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of grace, our knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before, as the sight of the eyes excels report and common fame. By the teachings of men, God reveals his Son to us; but by the teachings of his Spirit he reveals his Son in us, 2 Corinthians 3:18. It concerns us to be deeply humbled for the sins of which we are convinced. Self-loathing is ever the companion of true repentance. The Lord will bring those whom he loveth, to adore him in self-abasement; while true grace will always lead them to confess their sins without self-justifying.