Job 15:1

¶ Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Then answered {H6030} Eliphaz {H464} the Temanite {H8489}, and said {H559},

Then Elifaz the Teimani spoke:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,

Job 15:1 marks the beginning of the second cycle of speeches in the Book of Job, specifically Eliphaz the Temanite's second response to Job's lamentations. This verse, simple in its KJV phrasing, sets the stage for a deepening and more intense theological debate between Job and his three friends.

Context

The Book of Job is a profound exploration of suffering, divine justice, and the nature of wisdom. Following Job's devastating losses and physical affliction, Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, arrived to comfort him. After an initial period of silent mourning, a lengthy dialogue ensues. Job has repeatedly expressed his anguish and challenged the traditional understanding of divine justice that links suffering directly to sin. In the first cycle of speeches, each friend presented their arguments, with Eliphaz's first discourse beginning in Job 4:1. Job has just concluded a powerful lament in chapters 13 and 14, expressing his despair and desire for vindication. Job 15:1 signifies that Eliphaz is now ready to counter Job's latest arguments, indicating a continuation of their theological struggle rather than a resolution.

Key Themes

  • The Cycle of Debate: This verse highlights the repetitive and cyclical nature of the friends' arguments. Instead of offering new insights or genuine comfort, they reiterate their initial positions, often with increased severity.
  • Unwavering Conviction: Eliphaz's immediate response indicates his unwavering conviction in his own understanding of God's justice, even in the face of Job's profound suffering and eloquent pleas.
  • Lack of Empathy: The mere act of "answering" without truly listening or comprehending Job's pain underscores the friends' failure to provide genuine empathy and comfort. Their focus remains on correcting Job's theology rather than alleviating his distress.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "answered" (וַיַּעַן, vayya'an) simply means "to respond" or "to reply." In this context, it doesn't necessarily imply a wise or empathetic reply, but merely the act of taking up the conversation. The phrase "Eliphaz the Temanite" identifies the speaker. Teman was a region in Edom, known in ancient times for its wisdom (cf. Jeremiah 49:7). However, Eliphaz's wisdom, and that of his friends, proves to be flawed and insufficient in the face of Job's unique experience, revealing the limitations of human understanding when confronted with divine mystery.

Reflection and Application

Job 15:1, though brief, serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges in human communication, especially during times of crisis. It illustrates how often well-intentioned advice can miss the mark if it lacks true listening and empathy. In our own lives, when comforting those who suffer, it's crucial to avoid presumptive judgment or simply repeating pre-conceived notions. Instead, we are called to listen deeply, offer compassion, and acknowledge the complexity of human experience, even when we don't have all the answers. The ongoing debate in Job highlights the importance of humility in our theological understandings and the danger of rigidly applying doctrines without considering individual circumstances, as Job's friends repeatedly do throughout the book, despite Job's recent laments about human frailty and the brevity of life.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 42:7

    ¶ And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].

  • Job 2:11

    ¶ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

  • Job 22:1

    ¶ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

  • Job 4:1

    ¶ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

  • Job 42:9

    So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite [and] Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
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