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Translation
King James Version
That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?
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KJV (with Strong's)
That thou turnest H7725 thy spirit H7307 against God H410, and lettest such words H4405 go out H3318 of thy mouth H6310?
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Complete Jewish Bible
so that you turn your spirit against God and let such words escape your mouth?
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Berean Standard Bible
as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
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American Standard Version
That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?
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World English Bible Messianic
That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?
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Geneva Bible (1599)
That thou answerest to God at thy pleasure, and bringest such wordes out of thy mouth?
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Young's Literal Translation
For thou turnest against God thy spirit? And hast brought out words from thy mouth:
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Job 15:13 captures the escalating severity of Eliphaz's second speech, where he directly accuses Job of an impious attitude and blasphemous speech. In this verse, Eliphaz asserts that Job's lamentations and questioning of God's ways are not merely expressions of grief but a deliberate act of turning his inner being, his "spirit," in opposition to God, implying a rebellious disposition that manifests in defiant words. This accusation underscores the fundamental misunderstanding between Job and his friends, who operate under a rigid retribution theology that cannot reconcile Job's suffering with his proclaimed innocence.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Job 15:13 is situated within Eliphaz's second discourse (Job 15), following Job's passionate and despairing lament in Job 14. The friends' initial, more sympathetic approach, seen in Eliphaz's first speech (e.g., Job 4-5), has hardened into direct and increasingly harsh accusation. Job's persistent assertion of innocence and his bold questioning of God's justice are perceived by Eliphaz as outright rebellion and impiety. This verse is a direct charge, forming a critical part of Eliphaz's argument that Job's words betray a wicked heart, thereby justifying his suffering as divine punishment. The cyclical dialogue structure of the book of Job sees each friend respond to Job, with Job then responding to them, creating a deepening theological conflict that ultimately reveals the inadequacy of their conventional wisdom.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, suffering was frequently interpreted as a direct consequence of sin, a clear sign of divine judgment. This "retribution theology" was a dominant worldview, particularly within the wisdom traditions, which sought to understand the orderly operation of the cosmos under divine rule and believed that righteousness was always rewarded and wickedness punished. The friends of Job—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—represent this conventional wisdom. They believe that God is just and always punishes the wicked while rewarding the righteous. From their perspective, Job's immense and prolonged suffering must be irrefutable evidence of hidden sin, and his complaints against God are seen as further proof of his impiety and rebellion. They struggle to conceive of innocent suffering or a God whose ways might transcend human understanding of justice, a profound theme explored throughout the book of Job.
  • Key Themes: This verse contributes significantly to several key themes in the book of Job. Primarily, it highlights the misunderstanding of divine justice and the nature of human suffering. Eliphaz's accusation embodies the friends' rigid adherence to retribution theology, failing to grasp the complexity of God's dealings with humanity or the legitimacy of lament within a faithful relationship. It also touches on the power and responsibility of human speech, particularly in times of distress; for Eliphaz, Job's words are not mere expressions of pain but "such words" that cross a line into defiance against the Almighty. This contrasts sharply with Job's initial responses to suffering, where he did not sin nor charge God foolishly and later refused to curse God. The verse also underscores the theme of human inability to fully comprehend God's ways, as the friends' limited theological framework prevents them from seeing beyond their preconceived notions of divine retribution, leading them to misjudge Job's integrity.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • turnest (Hebrew, shûwb', H7725): This primitive root (H7725) means "to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively." It often carries the idea of returning or reversing a course. In this context, Eliphaz uses it to accuse Job of a deliberate and active reversal of his proper spiritual orientation. Job is not merely straying but actively turning his inner being away from God, implying a conscious or unconscious act of rebellion or opposition.
  • spirit (Hebrew, rûwach', H7307): The Hebrew word (H7307) is multifaceted, meaning "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, it refers to Job's inner disposition, his attitude, his very being or essence, the core of his rational and emotional self. Eliphaz is not merely accusing Job of a momentary lapse in judgment but of a fundamental orientation of his deepest self—his spirit—being set in opposition to God. This implies a deeply rooted rebellion, not just an outward expression of frustration.
  • words (Hebrew, millâh', H4405): From the root mâlal (H4405), this noun refers to "a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic." It encompasses Job's entire verbal output in his laments and arguments. Eliphaz is not just concerned with a single utterance but with the cumulative effect and nature of Job's speech, which he perceives as a discourse of defiance. The "such" implies that these are words of a particular, offensive kind.

Verse Breakdown

  • "That thou turnest thy spirit against God": This clause forms the core of Eliphaz's accusation. He asserts that Job's inner being, his very disposition and attitude, has been actively turned in opposition to God. This is not merely a passive state of doubt or grief but an intentional, albeit perhaps unconscious, act of rebellion. Eliphaz interprets Job's questioning, his laments, and his pleas of innocence as a direct affront to divine sovereignty and justice, stemming from a rebellious heart rather than a broken one. The preposition "against" (Hebrew 'el, H410) here strongly conveys antagonism and defiance, rather than simple direction.
  • "and lettest [such] words go out of thy mouth?": This second clause highlights the manifestation of Job's alleged rebellious spirit. The "such words" refer to Job's complaints, his arguments with God, and his assertions of innocence, which Eliphaz and the friends deem impious or blasphemous. For them, these words are not legitimate expressions of pain but evidence of a defiant spirit. The phrase "lettest... go out" (Hebrew yâtsâʼ, H3318) suggests a lack of control or a deliberate unleashing of these offensive utterances from his "mouth" (Hebrew peh, H6310), further emphasizing Job's culpability in Eliphaz's eyes.

Literary Devices

Eliphaz's statement employs several literary devices to convey his strong accusation. The verse functions as a Rhetorical Question, though it is clearly an accusation disguised as an inquiry, designed to condemn Job rather than elicit an answer. This rhetorical strategy places the burden of guilt squarely on Job, forcing him to confront the perceived impiety of his actions. There is an element of Hyperbole in Eliphaz's charge that Job is turning his "spirit against God," as it exaggerates Job's lament into outright rebellion, reflecting the friends' rigid and unforgiving theology that cannot tolerate any questioning of divine justice. The concept of Job's "spirit" being turned against God could also be seen as a form of Personification, where an abstract quality (spirit, inner disposition) is depicted as taking an active, opposing stance. This powerful imagery serves to underscore the perceived gravity of Job's offense in Eliphaz's eyes, painting a picture of profound spiritual rebellion.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Job 15:13 is a pivotal verse that encapsulates the theological chasm between Job and his friends. It highlights the dangers of a rigid, simplistic theology that cannot accommodate the complexities of human suffering and divine justice. The friends' belief in a direct, one-to-one correlation between sin and suffering leads them to misinterpret Job's honest lament as outright rebellion. This verse underscores the broader biblical theme that while God is sovereign and just, human understanding of His ways is limited, and suffering is not always a direct punitive consequence of sin. It also raises questions about the nature of faithful speech in times of crisis—whether honest questioning and lament are permissible or if they cross a line into impiety. The book of Job ultimately vindicates Job's integrity, showing that his "spirit" was not against God, even as his words expressed profound distress, thus challenging the friends' narrow theological framework.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Eliphaz's accusation in Job 15:13 serves as a profound warning against self-righteous judgment and the dangers of imposing a simplistic theological framework onto the complex reality of human suffering. When we encounter others in deep pain, it is easy to fall into the trap of assuming we understand the reasons for their distress or to judge their expressions of grief as a lack of faith. This verse challenges us to cultivate empathy and humility, recognizing that God's ways are often beyond our full comprehension and that authentic lament can be a legitimate, even necessary, part of a faithful journey. For those enduring suffering, it reminds us that while our pain may lead us to question, the ultimate posture of our heart should remain one of trust in God's goodness, even when His actions are inscrutable. It also prompts us to consider the impact of our words—both those we speak in distress and those we speak in judgment—and to strive for speech that builds up, rather than tears down, and that honors God even in our deepest struggles.

Questions for Reflection

  • How do I tend to react when I see others suffering? Do I rush to judgment, or do I extend empathy and listen?
  • In what ways might my own theological framework limit my understanding of God's work in the world or the experiences of others?
  • When I am in distress, how do my words reflect my inner spirit? Do I allow myself to lament honestly, while still striving for a heart of trust?
  • How can I better support those who are questioning or struggling with their faith during difficult times, without imposing my own answers or judgments?

FAQ

What does Eliphaz mean by "turnest thy spirit against God"?

Answer: Eliphaz is accusing Job of having an inner disposition, a fundamental attitude of his heart and mind, that is set in opposition to God. He views Job's lamentations, his arguments with God, and his persistent claims of innocence as evidence of a rebellious spirit. In Eliphaz's rigid theological framework, Job's suffering must be due to sin, and his refusal to confess that sin, coupled with his questioning of God's justice, is interpreted as a deliberate act of defiance against the Almighty. He believes Job's very essence is hostile towards God, a profound spiritual rebellion.

Is it wrong to question God when one is suffering?

Answer: The Bible presents a nuanced view. While outright blasphemy or a spirit of defiant rebellion is condemned, the book of Job itself, along with many Psalms of lament (e.g., Psalm 22), demonstrates that honest questioning, wrestling with God, and expressing deep pain and confusion can be a legitimate part of a faithful relationship. Job's integrity is ultimately affirmed by God, despite his bold and often challenging words. The key distinction lies between a spirit of genuine lament that seeks understanding and ultimately trusts, and a spirit of defiant rebellion that seeks to overthrow or reject God's authority. God welcomes our honest cries, even our doubts, if they are rooted in a desire to understand and ultimately trust Him, rather than to reject Him.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Job 15:13, though an accusation against Job, ultimately points to the profound contrast between humanity's fallen tendency to rebel and the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. Eliphaz's charge that Job "turnest thy spirit against God" highlights the human propensity to question, blame, and even defy God when faced with suffering or injustice. This stands in stark contrast to the perfect Son of God, Jesus, whose spirit was never turned against the Father, even in the face of unimaginable suffering and injustice. On the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (quoting Psalm 22:1), a lament that expressed profound anguish but never rebellion. His words, even in agony, were always in perfect submission to the Father's will, as demonstrated by His prayer in Gethsemane: "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done". Jesus, the truly innocent sufferer, perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirements that Job struggled to maintain, offering a life of blameless obedience and a sacrifice that truly takes away the sin of the world, redeeming those whose spirits, unlike His, have indeed been turned against God. He is the ultimate vindication of innocent suffering and the perfect example of a spirit fully surrendered to God, even unto death, providing the perfect answer to the human dilemma of suffering and sin.

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Commentary on Job 15 verses 1–16

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

Eliphaz here falls very foul upon Job, because he contradicted what he and his colleagues had said, and did not acquiesce in it and applaud it, as they expected. Proud people are apt thus to take it very much amiss if they may not have leave to dictate and give law to all about them, and to censure those as ignorant and obstinate, and all that is naught, who cannot in every thing say as they say. Several great crimes Eliphaz here charges Job with, only because he would not own himself a hypocrite.

I. He charges him with folly and absurdity (Job 15:2, Job 15:3), that, whereas he had been reputed a wise man, he had now quite forfeited his reputation; any one would say that his wisdom had departed from him, he talked so extravagantly and so little to the purpose. Bildad began thus (Job 8:2), and Zophar, Job 11:2, Job 11:3. It is common for angry disputants thus to represent one another's reasonings as impertinent and ridiculous more than there is cause, forgetting the doom of him that calls his brother Raca, and Thou fool. It is true, 1. That there is in the world a great deal of vain knowledge, science falsely so called, that is useless, and therefore worthless. 2. That this is the knowledge that puffs up, with which men swell in a fond conceit of their own accomplishments. 3. That, whatever vain knowledge a man may have in his head, if he would be thought a wise man he must not utter it, but let it die with himself as it deserves. 4. Unprofitable talk is evil talk. We must give an account in the great day not only for wicked words, but for idle words. Speeches therefore which do no good, which do no service either to God or our neighbour, or no justice to ourselves, which are no way to the use of edifying, were better unspoken. Those words which are as wind, light and empty, especially which are as the east wind, hurtful and pernicious, it will be pernicious to fill either ourselves or others with, for they will pass very ill in the account. 5. Vain knowledge or unprofitable talk ought to be reproved and checked, especially in a wise man, whom it worst becomes and who does most hurt by the bad example of it.

II. He charges him with impiety and irreligion (Job 15:4): "Thou castest off fear," that is, "the fear of God, and that regard to him which thou shouldst have; and then thou restrainest prayer." See what religion is summed up in, fearing God and praying to him, the former the most needful principle, the latter the most needful practice. Where no fear of God is no good is to be expected; and those who live without prayer certainly live without God in the world. Those who restrain prayer do thereby give evidence that they cast off fear. Surely those have no reverence of God's majesty, no dread of his wrath, and are in no care about their souls and eternity, who make no applications to God for his grace. Those who are prayerless are fearless and graceless. When the fear of God is cast off all sin is let in and a door opened to all manner of profaneness. It is especially bad with those who have had some fear of God, but have now cast it off - have been frequent in prayer, but now restrain it. How have they fallen! How is their first love lost! It denotes a kind of force put upon themselves. The fear of God would cleave to them, but they throw it off; prayer would be uttered, but they restrain it; and, in both, they baffle their convictions. Those who either omit prayer or straiten and abridge themselves in it, quenching the spirit of adoption and denying themselves the liberty they might take in the duty, restrain prayer. This is bad enough, but it is worse to restrain others from prayer, to prohibit and discourage prayer, as Darius, Dan 6:7. Now,

1.Eliphaz charges this upon Job, either, (1.) As that which was his own practice. He thought that Job talked of God with such liberty as if he had been his equal, and that he charged him so vehemently with hard usage of him, and challenged him so often to a fair trial, that he had quite thrown off all religious regard to him. This charge was utterly false, and yet wanted not some colour. We ought not only to take care that we keep up prayer and the fear of God, but that we never drop any unwary expressions which may give occasion to those who seek occasion to question our sincerity and constancy in religion. Or, (2.) As that which others would infer from the doctrine he maintained. "If this be true" (thinks Eliphaz) "which Job says, that a man may be thus sorely afflicted and yet be a good man, then farewell all religion, farewell prayer and the fear of God. If all things come alike to all, and the best men may have the worst treatment in this world, every one will be ready to say, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it to keep his ordinances? Mal 3:14. Verily I have cleansed my hands in vain, Psa 73:13, Psa 73:14. Who will be honest if the tabernacles of robbers prosper? Job 12:6. If there be no forgiveness with God (Job 7:21), who will fear him? Psa 130:4. If he laugh at the trial of the innocent (Job 9:23), if he be so difficult of access (Job 9:32), who will pray to him?" Note, It is a piece of injustice which even wise and good men are too often guilty of, in the heat of disputation, to charge upon their adversaries those consequences of their opinions which are not fairly drawn from them and which really they abhor. This is not doing as we would be done by.

2.Upon this strained innuendo Eliphaz grounds that high charge of impiety (Job 15:5): Thy mouth utters thy iniquity - teaches it, so the word is. "Thou teachest others to have the same hard thoughts of God and religion that thou thyself hast." It is bad to break even the least of the commandments, but worse to teach men so, Mat 5:19. If we ever thought evil, let us lay our hand upon our mouth to suppress the evil thought (Pro 30:32), and let us by no means utter it; that is putting an imprimatur to it, publishing it with allowance, to the dishonour of God and the damage of others. Observe, When men have cast off fear and prayer their mouths utter iniquity. Those that cease to do good soon learn to do evil. What can we expect but all manner of iniquity from those that arm not themselves with the grace of God against it? But thou choosest the tongue of the crafty, that is, "Thou utterest thy iniquity with some show and pretence of piety, mixing some good words with the bad, as tradesmen do with their wares to help them off." The mouth of iniquity could not do so much mischief as it does without the tongue of the crafty. The serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety. See Rom 16:18. The tongue of the crafty speaks with design and deliberation; and therefore those that use it may be said to choose it, as that which will serve their purpose better than the tongue of the upright: but it will be found, at last, that honesty is the best policy. Eliphaz, in his first discourse, had proceeded against Job upon mere surmise (Job 4:6, Job 4:7), but now he has got proof against him from his own discourses (Job 15:6): Thy own mouth condemns thee, and not I. But he should have considered that he and his fellows had provoked him to say that which now they took advantage of; and that was not fair. Those are most effectually condemned that are condemned by themselves, Tit 3:11; Luk 19:22. Many a man needs no more to sink him than for his own tongue to fall upon him.

III. He charges him with intolerable arrogancy and self-conceitedness. It was a just, and reasonable, and modest demand that Job had made (Job 12:3), Allow that I have understanding as well as you; but see how they seek occasion against him: that is misconstrued, as if he pretended to be wiser than any man. Because he will not grant to them the monopoly of wisdom, they will have it thought that he claims it to himself, Job 15:7-9. As if he thought he had the advantage of all mankind, 1. In length of acquaintance with the world, which furnishes men with so much the more experience: "Art thou the first man that was born; and, consequently, senior to us, and better able to give the sense of antiquity and the judgment of the first and earliest, the wisest and purest, ages? Art thou prior to Adam?" So it may be read. "Did not he suffer for sin; and yet wilt not thou, who art so great a sufferer, own thyself a sinner? Wast thou made before the hills, as Wisdom herself was? Pro 8:23, etc. Must God's counsels, which are as the great mountains (Psa 36:6), and immovable as the everlasting hills, be subject to thy notions and bow to them? Dost thou know more of the world than any of us do? No, thou art but of yesterday even as we are," Job 8:9. Or, 2. In intimacy of acquaintance with God (Job 15:8): "Hast thou heard the secret of God? Dost thou pretend to be of the cabinet-council of heaven, that thou canst give better reasons than others can for God's proceedings?" There are secret things of God, which belong not to us, and which therefore we must not pretend to account for. Those are daringly presumptuous who do. He also represents him, (1.) As assuming to himself such knowledge as none else had: "Dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself, as if none were wise besides?" Job had said (Job 13:2), What you know, the same do I know also; and now they return upon him, according to the usage of eager disputants, who think they have a privilege to commend themselves: What knowest thou that we know not? How natural are such replies as these in the heat of argument! But how simple do they look afterwards, upon the review! (2.) As opposing the stream of antiquity, a venerable name, under the shade of which all contending parties strive to shelter themselves: "With us are the gray-headed and very aged men, Job 15:10. We have the fathers on our side; all the ancient doctors of the church are of our opinion." A thing soon said, but not so soon proved; and, when proved, truth is not so soon discovered and proved by it as most people imagine. David preferred right scripture-knowledge before that of antiquity (Psa 119:100): I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Or perhaps one or more, if not all three, of these friends of Job, were older than he (Job 32:6), and therefore they thought he was bound to acknowledge them to be in the right. This also serves contenders to make a noise with to very little purpose. If they are older than their adversaries, and can say they knew such a thing before their opponents were born, this will not serve to justify them in being arrogant and overbearing; for the oldest are not always the wisest, Job 32:9.

IV. He charges him with a contempt of the counsels and comforts that were given him by his friends (Job 15:11): Are the consolations of God small with thee? 1. Eliphaz takes it ill that Job did not value the comforts which he and his friends administered to him more than it seems he did, and did not welcome every word they said as true and important. It is true they had said some very good things, but, in their application to Job, they were miserable comforters. Note, We are apt to think that great and considerable which we ourselves say, when others perhaps with good reason think it small and trifling. Paul found that those who seemed to be somewhat, yet, in conference, added nothing to him, Gal 2:6. 2. He represents this as a slight put upon divine consolations in general, as if they were of small account with him, whereas really they were not. If he had not highly valued them, he could not have borne up as he did under his sufferings. Note, (1.) The consolations of God are not in themselves small. Divine comforts are great things, that is, the comfort which is from God, especially the comfort which is in God. (2.) The consolations of God not being small in themselves, it is very lamentable if they be small with us. It is a great affront to God, and an evidence of a degenerate depraved mind, to disesteem and undervalue spiritual delights and despise the pleasant land. "What!" (says Eliphaz) "is there any secret thing with thee? Hast thou some cordial to support thyself with, that is a proprium, an arcanum, that nobody else can pretend to, or knows any thing of?" Or, "Is there some secret sin harboured and indulged in thy bosom, which hinders the operation of divine comforts?" None disesteem divine comforts but those that secretly affect the world and the flesh.

V. He charges him with opposition to God himself and to religion (Job 15:12, Job 15:13): "Why doth thy heart carry thee away into such indecent irreligious expressions?" Note, Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, Jam 1:14. if we fly off from God and our duty, or fly out into anything amiss, it is our own heart that carries us away. If thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. There is a violence, an ungovernable impetus, in the turnings of the soul; the corrupt heart carries men away, as it were, by force, against their convictions. "What is it that thy eyes wink at? Why so careless and mindless of what is said to thee, hearing it as if thou wert half asleep? Why so scornful, disdaining what we say, as if it were below thee to take notice of it? What have we said that deserves to be thus slighted - nay, that thou turnest thy spirit against God?" It was bad that his heart was carried away from God, but much worse that it was turned against God. But those that forsake God will soon break out in open enmity to him. But how did this appear? Why, "Thou lettest such words go out of thy mouth, reflecting on God, and his justice and goodness." It is the character of the wicked that they set their mouth against the heavens (Psa 73:9), which is a certain indication that the spirit is turned against God. He thought Job's spirit was soured against God, and so turned from what it had been, and exasperated at his dealings with him. Eliphaz wanted candour and charity, else he would not have put such a harsh construction upon the speeches of one that had such a settled reputation for piety and was now in temptation. This was, in effect, to give the cause on Satan's side, and to own that Job had done as Satan said he would, had cursed God to his face.

VI. He charges him with justifying himself to such a degree as even to deny his share in the common corruption and pollution of the human nature (Job 15:14): What is man, that he should be clean? that is, that he should pretend to be so, or that any should expect to find him so. What is he that is born of a woman, a sinful woman, that he should be righteous? Note, 1. Righteousness is cleanness; it makes us acceptable to God and easy to ourselves, Psa 18:24. 2. Man, in his fallen state, cannot pretend to be clean and righteous before God, either to acquit himself to God's justice or recommend himself to his favour. 3. He is to be adjudged unclean and unrighteous because born of a woman, from whom he derives a corrupt nature, which is both his guilt and his pollution. With these plain truths Eliphaz thinks to convince Job, whereas he had just now said the same (Job 14:4): Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? But does it therefore follow that Job is a hypocrite, and a wicked man, which is all that he denied? By no means. Though man, as born of a woman, is not clean, yet, as born again of the Spirit, he is clean. 4. Further to evince this he here shows, (1.) That the brightest creatures are imperfect and impure before God, Job 15:15. God places no confidence in saints and angels; he employs both, but trusts neither with his service, without giving them fresh supplies of strength and wisdom for it, as knowing they are not sufficient of themselves, neither more nor better than his grace makes them. He takes no complacency in the heavens themselves. How pure soever they seem to us, in his eye they have many a speck and many a flaw: The heavens are not clean in his sight. If the stars (says Mr. Caryl) have no light in the sight of the sun, what light has the sun in the sight of God! See Isa 24:23. (2.) That man is much more so (Job 15:16): How much more abominable and filthy is man! If saints are not to be trusted, much less sinners. If the heavens are not pure, which are as God made them, much less man, who is degenerated. Nay, he is abominable and filthy in the sight of God, and if ever he repent he is so in his own sight, and therefore he abhors himself. Sin is an odious thing, it makes men hateful. The body of sin is so, and is therefore called a dead body, a loathsome thing. Is it not a filthy thing, and enough to make any one sick, to see a man eating swine's food or drinking some nauseous and offensive stuff? Such is the filthiness of man that he drinks iniquity (that abominable thing which the Lord hates) as greedily, and with as much pleasure, as a man drinks water when he is thirsty. It is his constant drink; it is natural to sinners to commit iniquity. It gratifies, but does not satisfy, the appetites of the old man. It is like water to a man in a dropsy. The more men sin the more they would sin.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–16. Public domain.
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Gregory the DialogistAD 604
MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 12.34-36
It is as if Eliphaz said to Job in plain words, “If you would amend your profession of faith, you might long ago have possessed consolation in your scourges.” “Why does your heart puff you up? Have your eyes astonished you as though you were thinking of great things?” Often the mind of the righteous is so suspended in contemplating things on high that outwardly their face seems to have been struck with astonishment. Because heretics are not taught to enforce the power of contemplation in secret, they think that when the just and those that are imbued with right understanding do so, it is more out of hypocrisy than truth. They believe that whatever they themselves cannot obtain possession of must not exist in others in any genuine way either. “Why does your spirit swell against God, that you let such words go out of your mouth?” Very often when the righteous are afflicted with any woes, they are forced to confess their works, as blessed Job had done, who after living righteously was beaten down by the stokes of the rod; but when the unrighteous hear the sayings of the righteous, they think that they are uttered in self-exaltation rather than in truth. For they weigh the words of the righteous by their own feelings and do not think that good words can be said in a humble spirit. For as it is a great sin for a person to ascribe to himself what is not there, so it is commonly no sin at all if he speaks the good that there is with humility. Hence it often happens that the just and unjust speak words that are similar, but always a heart that is widely dissimilar. By the same sayings for which the Lord is offended by the unrighteous, he is even propitiated by the righteous. Thus the Pharisee, when he entered the temple, said, “I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” But the publican went out justified more than he. Hezekiah too, the king, when he was afflicted with sickness of the body and brought to the last point of life, said with his heart pierced in prayer, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech you, how I have walked before you in truth, and with a perfect heart.” Nor yet did the Lord disregard this confession of his perfection, or refuse him, whom he immediately heard effectually in his prayers. See, the Pharisee justified himself in act, and Hezekiah maintained himself to be just in thought as well, and by the same act the one offended and the other propitiated God. Does not almighty God estimate the words of each by the thoughts within, and in his ear are not those high that are uttered with a lowly heart? Hence blessed Job, when he put forward his deeds, did not in the least degree act proudly against God, in that those things that he had really done, he spoke with a humble spirit.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
36. Very often when the righteous are afflicted with any woes, they are forced to confess their works, as blessed Job had done, who after just living was pressed down by the strokes of the rod; but when the unrighteous hear their sayings, they think that they are uttered in self-exaltation rather than in truth. For they weigh the words of the righteous by their own feelings, and do not think that good words can be said in a humble spirit. For as it is a great sin, for a man to ascribe to himself what there is not, so it is commonly no sin at all if he speaks with humility the good that there is. Hence it often happens that the just and unjust have words that are like, but always a heart that is widely unlike, and the same sayings for which the Lord is offended by the unrighteous, He is even propitiated by the righteous. Thus the Pharisee when he entered the temple said, I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. [Luke 18, 12] But the publican went out justified more than he. Hezekiah too, the king, when he was afflicted with sickness of the body, and brought to the last point of life, said with his heart pierced in prayer, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, Nor yet did the Lord disregard this confession of his perfectness, or refuse him, whom He immediately heard effectually in his prayers. See, the Pharisee justified himself in act, and Hezekiah maintained himself to be just in thought as well, and by the same act by which the one offended, the other propitiated God. Wherefore then was this, but that Almighty God estimates the words of each by the thoughts within, and in His ear those are not high, which are uttered with a lowly heart? Hence blessed Job, where he put forward his deeds, did not in the least degree swell out against God, in that those things which he had really done, he spoke with a humble spirit. Now Heretics are accustomed to mix some true points with the statements of their erroneous persuasions. And the friends of blessed Job, though in the reproving of him they are altogether deceived, may yet even say some things true, which they learnt by frequent communication with him, whose words were they all to be contradicted, the Apostle Paul would never have brought forward the sentence of Eliphaz saying, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. [1 Cor. 3, 19] And so, because those things which they say right, they do not rightly say against blessed Job, let us in their sayings at once tread under our feet the mischief of indiscretion, and sift the marrow of rightness.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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