Job 15:11

KJV

[Are] the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

KJV (with Strong's)

Are the consolations {H8575} of God {H410} small {H4592} with thee? is there any secret {H328} thing {H1697} with thee?

Complete Jewish Bible

Are the comfortings of God not enough for you, or a word that deals gently with you?

Berean Standard Bible

Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?

American Standard Version

Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 15:11 captures Eliphaz the Temanite's pointed accusation against Job during his second speech, challenging Job's spiritual integrity and implying hidden sin as the cause of his suffering. Through two rhetorical questions, Eliphaz questions Job's apparent disregard for divine comfort and suggests that an unconfessed transgression is preventing his restoration, reflecting the friends' rigid adherence to retribution theology.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 15:11 is situated within Eliphaz's second speech (Job 15:1-35), which marks a significant escalation in the friends' accusations against Job. Following Job's lament in [Job 14](/job/14 "Job 14 - Job's Lament and Despair"), Eliphaz abandons the more cautious tone of his first speech in [Job 4](/job/4 "Job 4 - Eliphaz's First Speech") and directly confronts Job's perceived arrogance and impiety. This verse appears after Eliphaz has painted a grim picture of the wicked man's fate, implicitly applying this description to Job, thereby intensifying the psychological and spiritual pressure on him to confess. The rhetorical questions of verse 11 serve as a direct challenge to Job's self-proclaimed righteousness and his complaints against God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a prevalent theological framework, often termed "retribution theology," posited a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and wickedness and suffering. This belief system, deeply ingrained in the cultural understanding of divine justice, meant that severe suffering, like Job's, was almost universally interpreted as undeniable proof of significant sin. The friends, including Eliphaz, operated firmly within this paradigm, unable to conceive of innocent suffering. Their counsel, while perhaps well-intentioned from their worldview, was rooted in a cultural expectation that God would always reward the righteous and punish the wicked in this life. The concept of "secret sin" was also culturally significant, as unconfessed wrongdoing was believed to hinder divine blessing and communal well-being.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Book of Job. Primarily, it underscores the **misunderstanding of suffering** prevalent among Job's friends, who rigidly apply a simplistic retribution theology. They cannot fathom suffering apart from sin, a central premise the book ultimately challenges. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **divine comfort**, or rather, Eliphaz's accusation that Job is rejecting it. Eliphaz implies that God's "consolations" are available, perhaps even through the friends' counsel, but Job is too proud or stubborn to receive them. This contrasts sharply with the biblical truth that God is the ultimate source of comfort, as seen in [2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2_corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - God of All Comfort"). Lastly, the verse introduces the theme of **hidden sin**, as Eliphaz directly accuses Job of concealing some transgression. This accusation is a central point of contention throughout the dialogue, with Job consistently maintaining his integrity, as he does in [Job 27:6](/job/27-6 "Job 27:6 - Job's Vow of Integrity").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Consolations (Hebrew, _nechamot'_):** This word, derived from the root _nacham_, signifies comfort, solace, compassion, and even repentance or relief. When Eliphaz asks, "Are the consolations of God small with thee?", he is referring to the comfort, wisdom, and perhaps even the chastening that God offers, which Eliphaz believes Job is either despising, underestimating, or refusing to accept. It implies that God's provisions for solace are vast and readily available, and Job's perceived lack of peace is due to his own rejection of them.
* **Secret thing (Hebrew, _davar ba'seter'_):** This phrase literally translates to "a word in secret" or "a hidden matter." In this context, it carries a strong implication of a hidden transgression, an unconfessed sin, or a concealed fault. Eliphaz is not asking about a private thought but a clandestine act or attitude that Job is supposedly keeping hidden from God and his friends, which, in their view, explains his prolonged suffering and his inability to find peace or resolution.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Are the consolations of God small with thee?"**: This is a rhetorical question designed to accuse rather than inquire. Eliphaz implies that Job is either ungrateful for, or dismissive of, the comfort and wisdom that God provides. He suggests that Job's suffering is not due to a lack of divine solace but to Job's own perception or rejection of it. Eliphaz likely views his own counsel and the friends' presence as part of these "consolations," which Job has vehemently rejected. The question challenges Job's spiritual perception and humility.
* **"is there any secret thing with thee?"**: This second rhetorical question is a direct and pointed accusation. Eliphaz suggests that Job is deliberately concealing some unconfessed sin or hidden iniquity. In the friends' theological framework, such a "secret thing" would be the sole explanation for Job's immense suffering. This question is designed to corner Job, forcing him to either admit guilt or further expose his perceived stubbornness and pride. It reflects their unwavering conviction that Job must be guilty of something significant, even if it's not apparent.

#### Literary Devices
Job 15:11 employs several powerful literary devices. The primary device is **Rhetorical Question**, used twice in quick succession. These are not genuine inquiries seeking information but rather statements disguised as questions, designed to convey Eliphaz's accusations and assumptions about Job's character and spiritual state. The use of rhetorical questions creates a confrontational tone, putting Job on the defensive. Underlying these questions is **Implication**: Eliphaz implies that Job is arrogant, ungrateful for divine comfort, and guilty of hidden sin, without directly stating these accusations as facts. This indirect approach allows Eliphaz to appear as a compassionate counselor while subtly delivering harsh judgments. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Irony** in Eliphaz's words. He speaks of "consolations of God" while simultaneously delivering deeply un-consoling and accusatory remarks, thereby demonstrating the profound gap between his intended comfort and the actual pain he inflicts upon Job.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 15:11 serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of simplistic theological frameworks that reduce divine justice to a direct cause-and-effect relationship between sin and suffering. Eliphaz's accusations, though rooted in a desire to understand God's ways, ultimately misrepresent God's character and deepen Job's anguish. The verse highlights the human tendency to judge others' suffering through the lens of presumed hidden sin, rather than embracing the mystery of God's sovereignty and the multifaceted nature of trials. The true "consolations of God" are indeed profound and ever-present, but they are often found not in human accusations or simplistic explanations, but in God's unwavering presence and ultimate vindication, even amidst inexplicable pain.

* [Psalm 119:50](/psalms/119-50 "Psalm 119:50 - God's Word as Comfort")
* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works for Good")
* [Hebrews 12:5-6](/hebrews/12-5 "Hebrews 12:5-6 - God's Discipline")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Eliphaz's words in Job 15:11 challenge us to examine our own responses to suffering, both in ourselves and in others. When we face trials, do we perceive God's consolations as "small," perhaps because they don't align with our expectations of immediate relief or explanation? Are we quick to assume a "secret thing" in our own lives or in the lives of others when faced with inexplicable hardship? This verse calls us to cultivate a deeper trust in God's wisdom and goodness, even when His ways are beyond our comprehension, as articulated in [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts are Higher"). It also serves as a potent warning against self-righteous judgment and the harm caused by offering simplistic, accusatory "comfort" to those in pain. True comfort comes from empathy, presence, and pointing to God's character, not from theological pronouncements that lack grace. We are called to be channels of God's comfort, not accusers, remembering that God's comfort is boundless, even when our understanding is limited.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when God's comfort doesn't manifest in the way I expect or desire during times of suffering?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to attribute others' suffering to "secret sins" rather than seeking to offer compassionate support?**
* **What does it mean to truly receive and value the "consolations of God" when life is difficult, even when answers are elusive?**

### FAQ
**Why did Eliphaz believe Job was hiding a "secret thing"?**

Answer: Eliphaz, along with Job's other friends, adhered to a strict retribution theology, which taught that God directly rewards the righteous with prosperity and punishes the wicked with suffering. From their perspective, Job's immense and prolonged suffering could only be explained by significant sin. Since Job vehemently denied any overt wrongdoing, Eliphaz concluded that Job must be concealing some "secret thing"—an unconfessed transgression or hidden iniquity—that was preventing God from restoring him. This belief system left no room for innocent suffering, forcing them to find a sin to explain Job's plight.

**What are the "consolations of God" that Eliphaz refers to?**

Answer: The "consolations of God" (Hebrew: _nechamot_) refer to the comfort, solace, wisdom, and even the corrective discipline that God provides to His people. Eliphaz likely believed that God was offering Job comfort through the very counsel of his friends, or perhaps through the refining process of suffering itself, which he saw as a means to bring Job to repentance. He implies that Job is either ungrateful for, or dismissive of, these divine provisions for peace and restoration. The irony is that Eliphaz's words, intended as comfort, were deeply accusatory and caused Job more distress, highlighting the difference between human "consolations" and true divine comfort, which is often found in God's presence and grace, as described in [Psalm 23:4](/psalms/23-4 "Psalm 23:4 - Comfort in the Valley").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Eliphaz's accusations in Job 15:11 misrepresent God's character and Job's integrity, they inadvertently point to profound truths fulfilled in Christ. Eliphaz's question about "the consolations of God" finds its ultimate answer in Jesus, who is the [God of all comfort](/2_corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3 - God of All Comfort") made manifest. Unlike the friends' harsh and conditional comfort, Christ offers unconditional solace and peace, bearing our sorrows and griefs (as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:4](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4 - Christ, the Suffering Servant")). Furthermore, Eliphaz's accusation of a "secret thing" highlights the human struggle with hidden sin and the need for a perfect mediator. While Job was innocent of the sins his friends accused him of, all humanity carries the burden of sin, both known and unknown. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly reveals all hidden things and offers complete forgiveness and cleansing, ensuring that no "secret thing" can separate those who trust in Him from God's love and grace ([Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38 "Romans 8:38-39 - God's Unfailing Love")). He is the true source of divine consolation, not through accusation, but through redemptive sacrifice and abiding presence.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Corinthians 7:6

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

Job 11:13

¶ If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

Job 11:19

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

Job 5:8

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

Job 5:26

Thou shalt come to [thy] grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.

Job 36:16

Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness.

2 Corinthians 1:3

¶ Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;