Job 4
In Job 4, Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, speaks for the first time. He suggests that Job’s suffering must be due to some hidden sin, as he believes that only the wicked are punished. Eliphaz speaks from a position of traditional wisdom, assuming that righteousness brings blessings and sin brings suffering. His speech reveals his belief in retributive justice, which oversimplifies the complexities of human suffering.
Job 4:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Surely you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees;
5 But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled.”
Eliphaz begins by acknowledging Job's past wisdom and strength, noting how Job had helped others in their times of weakness. However, now that Job himself is suffering, Eliphaz suggests that Job cannot handle the same trials. He subtly accuses Job of inconsistency, implying that while Job could help others, he struggles to endure his own adversity.
Job 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?
Eliphaz appeals to Job’s integrity and past righteousness, suggesting that these should give him confidence in the face of his suffering. Then, he presents a traditional view of justice: the innocent do not perish, and the upright are not destroyed. This statement implies that Job’s suffering might be a consequence of some hidden wrongdoing, as only the wicked are punished.
Job 4:8-9 (NKJV)
8 Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed.
Eliphaz tells Job, "Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same," implying that wrongdoing inevitably brings suffering. This reflects the biblical principle of "sowing and reaping," as seen in Galatians 6:7-8, which teaches that actions lead to corresponding outcomes. However, Job’s story shows that this principle doesn’t always play out fully in earthly life; the righteous may suffer, and the wicked may seem to prosper temporarily. Yet, Scripture reassures us that God’s ultimate justice will be fulfilled in His time. Verses like Ecclesiastes 12:14 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 remind us that every action will be judged, with eternal consequences beyond this life, ensuring that both the righteous and the wicked ultimately reap what they have sown in God’s perfect timing.
Job 4:10-11 (NKJV)
10 The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
Here, Eliphaz uses the imagery of lions to describe powerful individuals who fall because of their wrongdoing. Just as lions, despite their strength, can be destroyed, so too can the powerful and wicked be brought low. This could be a veiled reference to Job, implying that even though Job was once prosperous and strong, his current suffering reveals some hidden sin or failing.
Job 4:12-15 (NKJV)
12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it.
13 In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair on my body stood up.
Eliphaz shifts to a personal, mystical experience where he claims to have received divine insight in a vision. This experience is described with a sense of fear and trembling, suggesting the gravity of the message he received. He presents this revelation as evidence of a deeper spiritual truth about human suffering and divine justice.
Job 4:16-17 (NKJV)
16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; There was silence; Then I heard a voice saying:
17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?’
In this vision, a spirit questions the righteousness of man in comparison to God. The rhetorical question emphasizes human frailty and imperfection. Eliphaz uses this as part of his argument to suggest that Job’s suffering could be due to his mistaken belief in his own righteousness, subtly accusing him of pride before God.
Job 4:18-19 (NKJV)
18 If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before a moth?
Eliphaz argues that if even God’s angels, who are superior to humans, can be found in error, how much more vulnerable are humans, who are made from dust and are fragile. He is pointing out the insignificance and imperfection of humanity, implying that Job should not assume he is above divine judgment or immune to suffering.
Job 4:20-21 (NKJV)
20 They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; They perish forever, with no one regarding.
21 Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.’
Eliphaz concludes by emphasizing the transience of human life. People are easily broken, their lives end without much notice, and whatever excellence they may have had is fleeting. He suggests that humans are inherently fragile and prone to error, hinting that Job’s suffering is a result of his own failings rather than a random or unjust act of God.