where he is speaking of outward purity of life, and yet was plunged into the ditch of afflictions. Some render the words to this sense, as if there was no profit "by expiation of atonement for sin" ; the same word signifying both sin and atonement for it: there is none but by the blood and sacrifice of Christ, and much profit arises from that; pardon of sin proceeds upon it, and this furnishes out much solid peace, joy, and comfort, Ro 5:10.
Others, what profit by punishment for sin , unless to God? so sin is sometimes put for punishment; or through leaving sin and repenting of it . Now though these are not the causes of the pardon of sin, yet it is given and applied to such who do repent of it, confess and forsake it, Pr 28:13.
Or by being "without sin" : no man is without sin; but a man may be without any gross and enormous crime he is chargeable with, or without living a vicious course of life; and this is profitable, as has been before observed.
Jarchi's paraphrase is,"what shall I profit more by my righteousness than by my sin?''which sense is followed by others: I may as well be wicked as righteous; I am not the better for it, since I am afflicted in the manner I am: my righteousness is of no profit to me; if to any, it is to God.
To this Elihu returns an answer in the following verses. ytajxm "de expiatione mea", Mercerus, &c. "in expiando peccatum", Grotius; hajx "pro piaculo venit", Cocceius; so Simeon Bar Tzemach in loc. "Supplicio meo", Junius & Tremellius; "mucta pro illo aut poena", Cocceius; "ex poena peccati mei", Drusius; so Ben Gersom.
"Subaudi relicto", so Mercerus, Drusius; "remisso et per poenitentiam diluto", Munster. "Absque peccato", i.e.