Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Job 27:23

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

He shall bind up his hands over him. And he shall hiss upon him, beholding his place. For to 'bind up the hands' is to establish the practices of his life in uprightness. Whence Paul too saith; Wherefore lift up the loosed hands, and the unstrung knees. While, then, they behold the destruction of another, they are made to turn back to the conscience, to remind themselves of their own, and by the very same cause whereby one man is carried to torments, another is freed from torments. …

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVIII ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Once he is dead, awe and mourning remain for his friends, and so he then says, "and a man will wring his hands over him," as though struck with awe, "and will sigh over him" from compassion for him, "considering his place," when they consider his former dignity.

Commentary on Job ↗