Job22

Eliphaz the Temanite accuses Job of great wickedness and infinite iniquities, asserting that his suffering is a direct consequence of specific sins like oppressing the poor and neglecting the needy. He challenges Job's implied doubt about God's omniscience and judgment from heaven. Eliphaz then urges Job to repent, reconcile with God, and embrace His law, promising restoration, prosperity, and answered prayers if he does so.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Eliphaz's Final Accusation Against Job

1
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2
Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself. ​
3
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gainto him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4
Is it for thy fear of him that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?
5
Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities. ​

False Charges of Social Injustice

6
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing. ​
7
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.
9
Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. ​
10
Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee,
11
Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

God's Omniscience and the Fate of the Wicked

12
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are! ​
13
And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven. ​
15
Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?
16
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream, ​
17
Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?
18
Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19
The righteous see it, and are glad; And the innocent laugh them to scorn,
20
Saying, Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.

Eliphaz's Call to Repentance and Restoration

21
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee. ​
22
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in thy heart.
23
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents. ​
24
And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, Andthe gold ofOphir among the stones of the brooks; ​
25
And the Almighty will be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee.
26
For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God. ​
27
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee; And thou shalt pay thy vows.
28
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways.
29
When they casttheedown, thou shalt say, There is lifting up; And the humble person he will save. ​
30
He will deliverevenhim that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands. ​

Study Notes for Job 22

Verse 2

Eliphaz begins by asserting God's absolute transcendence and self-sufficiency, arguing that human righteousness offers no benefit or 'profit' to the Almighty.

Verse 5

Having established that God must be judging Job for a reason, Eliphaz moves from theological premise to direct, severe accusation, assuming Job’s guilt based on his suffering.

Verse 6

This verse and the following specify the sins Eliphaz believes Job must have committed, including violating laws against exploiting the poor by taking essential items (like clothing) as collateral (cf. Exod 22:26-27).

Verse 9

Exploiting the vulnerable, such as widows and orphans, was considered one of the most severe forms of social injustice under the covenant, confirming Eliphaz believes Job is utterly corrupt.

Verse 12

Eliphaz anticipates Job’s potential objection that God is too distant to care or judge human affairs, setting up a defense of divine omniscience and omnipresence.

Verse 14

Eliphaz accuses Job (or the wicked generally) of adopting a practical atheism, believing God is hidden behind the clouds and unable to pierce the darkness to see human actions.

Verse 16

The reference to those 'overflown with a flood' is a clear allusion to the Genesis Flood, used here as the archetypal example of swift, decisive divine judgment against wickedness.

Verse 21

This verse is the pivot point, offering a powerful conditional promise of restoration linked to immediate repentance and reconciliation with God, summarizing the friends' core advice.

Verse 23

The phrase 'shalt be built up' signifies complete restoration, prosperity, and the rebuilding of one's household and status, reversing the destruction Job experienced.

Verse 24

This hyperbolic promise illustrates the lavish material blessings that Eliphaz believes will follow repentance, implying Job will treat gold with such contempt that he will discard it like common dust.

Verse 26

To 'lift up thy face unto God' signifies confidence and freedom from shame or guilt, a stark contrast to Job's previous posture of distress and complaint.

Verse 29

Eliphaz promises that Job will be restored to a position of influence and spiritual authority, allowing him to be the one who pronounces deliverance and hope to the afflicted.

Verse 30

The final statement concludes Eliphaz's argument: deliverance (even for the community) is achieved through the purity of the individual’s hands and heart.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options