Job 15:15

KJV

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

KJV (with Strong's)

Behold, he putteth no trust {H539} in his saints {H6918}; yea, the heavens {H8064} are not clean {H2141} in his sight {H5869}.

Complete Jewish Bible

God doesn't trust even his holy ones; no, even the heavens are not innocent in his view.

Berean Standard Bible

If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,

American Standard Version

Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 15:15, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, asserts God's absolute and unapproachable holiness by declaring that He places no inherent trust in His "saints"—understood as celestial beings or angels—and that even the heavens themselves are not pure in His sight. This statement underscores the infinite chasm between the Creator's perfect purity and the relative imperfection of all created things, thereby setting an impossibly high standard against which all beings, especially humanity, inevitably fall short.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Eliphaz's second speech to Job, found in [Job 15](/job/15 "Job 15 - Eliphaz's Second Speech"). Following Job's impassioned lament and defense of his innocence in [Job 14](/job/14 "Job 14 - Job's Lament and Plea"), Eliphaz responds with renewed vehemence, reiterating his core theological conviction: suffering is a direct consequence of sin. Eliphaz's argument in [Job 15:15](/job/15-15 "Job 15:15 - God's Purity") serves to humble Job by emphasizing God's transcendent purity and the inherent sinfulness of all creation, thereby implicitly accusing Job of sin. This echoes his earlier statement in [Job 4:18](/job/4-18 "Job 4:18 - God's Trust in His Servants"), where he similarly claimed God "putteth no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly."
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set within the wisdom tradition of the ancient Near East, where the concept of divine justice was often understood through a framework of retribution theology—good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished. Job's friends, including Eliphaz, operate firmly within this paradigm. Their understanding of God's character, while acknowledging His power and holiness, is limited by this framework, leading them to misinterpret Job's suffering. The reference to "saints" and "heavens" reflects ancient cosmological views where celestial beings and the cosmos itself were seen as exalted, yet still subordinate to the supreme deity. The debate format is characteristic of wisdom literature, exploring profound questions about suffering, justice, and God's nature.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 15:15](/job/15-15 "Job 15:15 - God's Unblemished Purity") contributes significantly to several key themes in the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully asserts God's **absolute holiness and transcendence**, highlighting His infinite purity and separation from all creation, even the most exalted beings. Secondly, it emphasizes the **imperfection of all creation**, suggesting that nothing, not even celestial beings or the physical heavens, can meet God's flawless standard of purity. This theme is crucial for understanding the **inherent frailty and sinfulness of humanity** by extension. While Eliphaz misapplies this truth to Job's specific situation, the underlying theological principle of God's unblemished purity and the universal need for grace is profoundly biblical, laying groundwork for later revelations concerning redemption and righteousness through divine intervention, as seen in passages like [Romans 3](/romans/3 "Romans 3 - Righteousness Through Faith").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **saints (Hebrew, _qedoshaw'_):** This term literally means "holy ones." In the context of Job, particularly when paralleled with [Job 4:18](/job/4-18 "Job 4:18 - God's Trust in His Servants"), it almost certainly refers to celestial beings or angels, rather than righteous human beings. It signifies those who are set apart for God, yet even these exalted beings are not inherently pure enough to meet God's absolute standard.
* **trust (Hebrew, _'aman'_):** The verb here implies reliance, confidence, or belief in the inherent purity or faithfulness of something. When Eliphaz states God "putteth no trust" in His saints, it doesn't mean God doubts their loyalty or obedience in general, but rather that He does not rely on their *inherent purity* as a standard, because His own purity is absolute and unapproachable. Their holiness is derived and relative, not intrinsic and absolute like God's.
* **clean (Hebrew, _zakh'_):** This word denotes purity, brightness, and freedom from blemish, stain, or guilt. It speaks to absolute, unadulterated perfection. The use of this term emphasizes the stark contrast between God's flawless, unblemished nature and the relative impurity of everything else, even the seemingly pristine heavens.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints":** This clause introduces Eliphaz's argument by asserting God's absolute self-sufficiency and His non-reliance on the inherent purity or righteousness of even His highest created beings. The "saints" here are understood as angels or heavenly hosts, who, despite their exalted status and holiness, are still finite and created. Their holiness is a reflection of God's, not an intrinsic, unblemished quality that God could "trust" in as a source of ultimate purity. This highlights God's unique, incomparable perfection.
* **"yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight":** This second clause functions as a parallel intensification of the first. If even the "heavens"—often seen as the epitome of purity, vastness, and majesty in ancient cosmology—are considered "not clean" (i.e., imperfect, stained, or relatively impure) when viewed by God's absolute standard, then what hope is there for any other created thing, especially humanity? The "heavens" here can be understood both literally as the physical cosmos and metaphorically as the realm of divine activity, underscoring that nothing in creation can withstand the scrutiny of God's perfect holiness.

#### Literary Devices
Eliphaz employs several literary devices to underscore his point. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, as he exaggerates the imperfection of even the heavens and angels to emphasize God's absolute, incomparable purity. This overstatement serves to humble Job and reinforce Eliphaz's argument about universal sinfulness. There is also clear **Parallelism** between the two clauses: "he putteth no trust in his saints" and "the heavens are not clean in his sight." Both phrases convey the same core idea of universal imperfection relative to God's holiness, with the second clause intensifying the first. Finally, **Anthropomorphism** is present in the idea of God "putting trust" or having things "in his sight," which attributes human-like actions or perceptions to God to make His transcendent nature more comprehensible, albeit still conveying a profound theological truth about His absolute standards.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 15:15, despite being spoken by a character whose application of theology is flawed, conveys a profound and enduring truth about God's nature: His absolute, unapproachable holiness and the inherent imperfection of all creation. This verse serves as a stark reminder that no created being, no matter how exalted or seemingly pure, can stand perfectly righteous before the infinitely holy God. This theological reality sets the stage for understanding the universal need for divine grace and a righteousness that comes from outside of ourselves, as human efforts to attain purity will always fall short of God's perfect standard. It underscores the vast chasm between the Creator and creation, highlighting the necessity of a divine intervention to bridge this gap.

* [Isaiah 6:3](/isaiah/6-3 "Isaiah 6:3 - God's Holiness")
* [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")
* [Job 4:18](/job/4-18 "Job 4:18 - God's Trust in His Servants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 15:15 calls us to profound humility and a deep appreciation for the unblemished holiness of God. It challenges any notion of self-righteousness or the idea that our good deeds or spiritual efforts could ever make us truly "clean" in God's sight. If even the most exalted heavenly beings and the vast heavens themselves are deemed imperfect by God's absolute standard, how much more are we, frail humanity, in need of His grace? This verse should lead us not to despair, but to a deeper understanding of our utter dependence on God's mercy and His provision for our cleansing. It highlights that salvation is not about what we achieve, but about what God has done. Recognizing our inherent uncleanness before God's perfect standard should cultivate a spirit of gratitude for the divine solution to our sin problem.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's absolute holiness, as described in this verse, impact my view of myself and my own righteousness?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to trust in my own "goodness" or spiritual achievements rather than solely in God's grace?**
* **How does the concept of even "the heavens" being unclean in God's sight deepen my appreciation for the perfection of Christ and the cleansing He offers?**

### FAQ
**Who are the "saints" referred to in this verse?**

Answer: In the context of [Job 15:15](/job/15-15 "Job 15:15 - God's Purity"), the term "saints" (Hebrew *qedoshaw*) most likely refers to celestial beings or angels, rather than righteous human beings. This interpretation is strongly supported by Eliphaz's own words in an earlier speech, [Job 4:18](/job/4-18 "Job 4:18 - God's Trust in His Servants"), where he states, "Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly." The parallelism suggests that "saints" in [Job 15:15](/job/15-15 "Job 15:15 - God's Purity") are synonymous with "angels" or other heavenly beings. The point is that even these exalted, holy creatures are not pure enough to meet God's absolute standard of perfection.

**Does this verse mean God doesn't trust His angels at all?**

Answer: No, it does not mean God lacks trust in His angels' loyalty or their ability to carry out His commands. Rather, the "trust" (Hebrew *'aman'*) here refers to God's reliance on their inherent purity or righteousness as a standard. The verse emphasizes that God's own holiness is so absolute and unblemished that no created being, not even the most exalted angels, possesses an intrinsic purity that God would need to "trust" in or rely upon. Their holiness is derived from God, not inherent in themselves. Therefore, when compared to God's infinite perfection, even the purest created beings are deemed "not clean" or relatively imperfect in His sight.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 15:15, though spoken by Eliphaz with a flawed application, powerfully sets the stage for the necessity of Christ. If even the "saints" (angels) and the very "heavens" are not clean in God's sight, then humanity, inherently fallen and sinful, is utterly incapable of achieving righteousness on its own. This verse highlights the profound problem of sin and the insurmountable barrier between a holy God and an unclean creation. The solution is found uniquely in Jesus Christ. He is the only one who truly stood perfectly "clean" and without blemish before God, the spotless [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, Christ provides the righteousness that we lack. His purity is imputed to us, making us "clean" in God's sight, not by our own merit, but by His grace, as [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness") declares: "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." He is the ultimate fulfillment of the need for a perfect cleanser, making us holy and blameless before God, as promised in [Colossians 1:22](/colossians/1-22 "Colossians 1:22 - Reconciled in Christ").

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.