Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Job 18:11

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side. And, whereas all that the bad man does, he fears to undergo too, and reckons that to be doing by all others toward himself, which he himself prepares for all others, whom he is able, it rightly follows. For he imagines all men to be such toward himself, as he himself strives to be towards all. And what effect these same terrors have in his conduct, is brought in, when it is said; And shall entangle his feet. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIV ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Third, harmful things like this are caused on the part of some men whose plots and attacks are feared, and so he then says, "From all sides dread will terrify him," since, as Scripture says, "When the evil man is timid, he has been given for the condemnation of everyone." (Wisdom 17:10) When however man is wary against everyone, it is necessary that his acts should be impeded in many things, and so he then says, "and they will wrap around his feet," so he cannot go forward freely in any direction.

Commentary on Job ↗