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Translation
King James Version
How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
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KJV (with Strong's)
How much more abominable H8581 and filthy H444 is man H376, which drinketh H8354 iniquity H5766 H5766 like water H4325?
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Complete Jewish Bible
How much less one loathesome and corrupt, a human being, who drinks iniquity like water.
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Berean Standard Bible
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
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American Standard Version
How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!
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World English Bible Messianic
how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!
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Geneva Bible (1599)
How much more is man abominable, and filthie, which drinketh iniquitie like water?
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Young's Literal Translation
Also--surely abominable and filthy Is man drinking as water perverseness.
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Job 15:16 presents a stark declaration from Eliphaz the Temanite during his second discourse to Job, asserting the profound and inherent depravity of humanity in the sight of a holy God. He contrasts human sinfulness with divine purity, employing vivid imagery to suggest that humanity's embrace of wrongdoing is as natural and eager as a thirsty person drinking water, thereby underscoring a deep-seated moral corruption that is utterly detestable to the Almighty.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is situated within Eliphaz's second speech (Job 15), which immediately follows Job's lament in Job 14. Eliphaz, one of Job's three "comforters," operates under the prevailing ancient Near Eastern retribution theology, attempting to justify Job's immense suffering by attributing it to hidden sin. He argues that no human, regardless of their perceived righteousness, can be truly pure before God. This particular verse intensifies his argument, building upon the preceding verses, especially Job 15:14-15, where Eliphaz posits that even celestial beings are not pure in God's eyes. By extension, he asserts the even greater impurity of mortal man. While Eliphaz's general theological premise about God's holiness and human sinfulness contains a kernel of truth, his application of it to Job's specific situation is fundamentally flawed and misinformed, as the narrative reveals Job's suffering is not a direct consequence of personal wickedness but part of a divine test.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The Book of Job is a profound work of wisdom literature, reflecting ancient Near Eastern (ANE) perspectives on suffering, righteousness, and divine justice. The "comforters" like Eliphaz embody a common ANE worldview, often termed "retribution theology," which rigidly held that prosperity was a direct sign of divine favor and righteousness, while suffering was an undeniable consequence of sin. This deterministic view struggled significantly with the concept of innocent suffering, leading to the logical (though flawed) conclusion that Job must be a sinner. The societal norms of the time would have reinforced the idea that outward piety and adherence to established moral codes were paramount, and any deviation would invite divine wrath. Eliphaz's argument, therefore, taps into a deeply ingrained cultural belief system, even if it fails to grasp the complexities of God's sovereign purposes and the multifaceted nature of suffering.
  • Key Themes: Job 15:16 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the profound human depravity, a consistent theme throughout Scripture, from the initial fall in Genesis 3 to the universal declaration of sinfulness found in Romans 3:23. Eliphaz's description of man as "abominable and filthy" underscores a deep-seated moral corruption. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the pervasive nature of sin, using the striking metaphor "drinketh iniquity like water" to portray sin not as an occasional failing but as a natural, even eagerly consumed, part of human existence for many. This suggests an innate readiness and insatiable appetite for wrongdoing. Thirdly, it implicitly points to God's transcendent holiness and purity, against which all human impurity is measured and found wanting. This divine standard makes any impurity utterly repugnant to Him, setting the stage for the indispensable need for divine intervention and grace.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Abominable (Hebrew, tāʿēḇ, H8581): This word, derived from a primitive root meaning "to loathe" or "detest," signifies something utterly repugnant, morally offensive, or abhorrent. It is frequently used in the Old Testament, particularly in legal and prophetic texts (e.g., Leviticus, Deuteronomy), to describe practices, behaviors, or objects that are ritually or morally anathema to God, such as idolatry, sexual perversions, or dishonest dealings. In Job 15:16, its application to humanity underscores a state of moral corruption that is not merely offensive but deeply disgusting in the divine estimation, implying a profound alienation from God's holy character and standards.
  • Filthy (Hebrew, ʼâlach, H444): A primitive root meaning "to muddle" or "to turn morally corrupt," this term conveys the sense of being foul, polluted, or morally tainted. It suggests a state of decay or putrefaction, indicating a deep-seated spiritual and ethical defilement. When applied to man, it paints a vivid picture of inherent uncleanness, a moral stench that rises before the pure and holy God. It goes beyond mere imperfection to denote a fundamental perversion of one's nature, a condition of being inwardly spoiled.
  • Drinketh (Hebrew, shâthâh, H8354): This primitive root means "to imbibe," whether literally or figuratively. It implies a voluntary, active, and often habitual consumption. In this context, combined with "iniquity like water," it vividly portrays an eager and unthinking absorption of wrongdoing. It highlights the ease and naturalness with which some individuals engage in sin, suggesting an almost instinctive and continuous indulgence, as if sin were a necessary and satisfying sustenance.

Verse Breakdown

  • "How much more abominable and filthy [is] man": This rhetorical question, posed by Eliphaz, serves to emphatically highlight the extreme degree of human depravity. Building on his preceding assertion that even celestial beings are not pure before God (Job 15:15), he argues that mortal man is infinitely more detestable and morally polluted. The terms "abominable" and "filthy" convey a profound state of inherent moral corruption that is repugnant to a holy God, suggesting a deep-seated, intrinsic uncleanness that transcends mere outward actions and speaks to the very nature of humanity.
  • "which drinketh iniquity like water?": This powerful simile vividly illustrates the pervasive and eager nature of human sinfulness. It portrays sin not as an occasional lapse or a reluctant transgression but as a fundamental appetite, something consumed readily, habitually, and with perverse pleasure, much like a thirsty person drinks water. This imagery suggests that for many, wrongdoing is not merely tolerated but actively embraced and internalized as a natural and satisfying part of their existence, indicating a profound moral perversion and a disturbing lack of resistance to evil. It speaks to a heart that finds satisfaction in unrighteousness.

Literary Devices

Job 15:16 is rich in literary devices that amplify Eliphaz's stark message regarding human depravity. The verse opens with a Rhetorical Question, "How much more abominable and filthy [is] man," which is designed not to elicit an answer but to make a forceful, undeniable assertion about humanity's profound state of moral corruption, building logically on the preceding verses. The most striking device is the Simile, "drinketh iniquity like water," which creates a vivid and disturbing image. This comparison highlights the ease, naturalness, and eagerness with which some individuals embrace sin, suggesting an almost insatiable appetite for wrongdoing, as if sin were as essential and refreshing as water to a parched throat. Furthermore, the statement contains an element of Hyperbole, as Eliphaz, in his zeal to condemn Job and uphold his rigid theology, exaggerates the universal human condition. While humanity is indeed fallen, the idea of all people drinking iniquity with the same eagerness as water is an overstatement used for dramatic effect to underscore the depth of human sinfulness. Underlying this is also a subtle Metaphor where "iniquity" is implicitly treated as a substance that can be consumed, reinforcing its pervasive and internalizable nature within the human heart.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Job 15:16, despite being spoken by a flawed human character in a context of misapplied theology, articulates a profound truth about the human condition: the pervasive reality of sin and humanity's inherent fallenness before a perfectly holy God. This verse resonates deeply with the biblical doctrine of original sin and universal depravity, affirming that sin is not merely a collection of wrong actions but a deep-seated corruption of the human heart and nature. It underscores the vast, unbridgeable chasm between God's absolute purity and humanity's moral pollution, making clear the impossibility of self-justification or achieving righteousness through human effort. This stark portrayal of human sinfulness serves to highlight the indispensable need for divine grace and intervention for salvation and transformation, pointing beyond human capability to God's redemptive plan.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Eliphaz's words, though harsh and misdirected towards Job, serve as a powerful mirror for self-examination, challenging us to confront the uncomfortable reality of our own sinfulness. The vivid imagery of "drinking iniquity like water" forces us to consider our own appetite for sin: do we readily indulge in sinful desires, finding a perverse comfort or satisfaction in them, or do we genuinely hunger and thirst for righteousness? This verse reminds us that sin is not merely an external act but a deep-seated inclination of the heart, a natural bent towards self-interest and rebellion against God. True spiritual health begins with an honest acknowledgment of this profound depravity and the recognition that we cannot cleanse ourselves. It compels us to turn away from any self-righteousness and to embrace the transformative power of God's grace, which alone can change our desires and empower us to live in a manner pleasing to Him. This passage underscores our utter dependence on God's mercy and the Holy Spirit's ongoing work to reorient our hearts from consuming that which defiles to seeking that which sanctifies.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what subtle or overt ways might I, perhaps unknowingly, "drink iniquity like water" in my daily life, finding comfort or satisfaction in sinful patterns, attitudes, or thoughts?
  • How does Eliphaz's strong language about humanity's inherent depravity challenge my own understanding of sin and my profound need for God's unmerited grace?
  • If my heart has a natural appetite for sin, how can I intentionally cultivate a greater hunger and thirst for righteousness, holiness, and God's transforming presence?
  • What specific, practical steps can I take to allow God's Spirit to reorient my desires and lead me away from moral "filth" towards a life that truly honors Him?

FAQ

Was Eliphaz entirely wrong in his assessment of humanity in Job 15:16?

Answer: No, Eliphaz was not entirely wrong in his general theological assessment of humanity's sinfulness. The Bible consistently teaches that all humanity is fallen and inherently sinful, alienated from God's perfect holiness (e.g., Romans 3:23). His error lay not in the truth of human depravity itself, but in his rigid and judgmental application of retribution theology to Job's specific situation. He wrongly assumed that Job's suffering was a direct and punitive consequence of his hidden sin, failing to grasp the complexity of God's sovereign purposes or the possibility of righteous suffering. So, while the statement about human depravity is biblically sound as a general principle, its specific use by Eliphaz to condemn Job was flawed, ungracious, and ultimately contradicted by God's own vindication of Job.

What does "drinketh iniquity like water" mean for practical daily living?

Answer: The phrase "drinketh iniquity like water" is a powerful simile that suggests a natural, eager, and habitual embrace of sin, almost as if it were essential for survival or pleasure. For practical daily living, it challenges us to deeply examine our own inclinations and appetites. It means honestly asking ourselves: Do I readily give in to temptations? Do I find a perverse satisfaction in gossip, anger, lust, greed, or pride? Do I consume media or engage in activities that are morally compromising without a second thought, as if they were a natural part of my existence? This vivid imagery calls us to recognize that sin can become a deeply ingrained habit, something we pursue without resistance, much like quenching thirst. The profound implication is a warning against allowing sin to become a natural or even desired part of our lives, urging us instead to cultivate a spiritual thirst for righteousness and God's will (Matthew 5:6). It's a call to self-awareness and a desperate cry for divine intervention to change our deepest desires.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Job 15:16, with its stark portrayal of humanity as "abominable and filthy," eagerly "drinking iniquity like water," sets the stage for the profound necessity of Christ's redemptive work. This verse powerfully underscores the universal human condition of deep-seated depravity, a moral pollution that renders us utterly incapable of standing righteous before a holy God. It highlights the vast, unbridgeable chasm between divine purity and human sinfulness, a gap that no human effort or self-cleansing could ever bridge. Into this desperate reality steps Jesus Christ, the only one who was truly pure and undefiled, who never "drank iniquity" but rather perfectly embodied righteousness in every thought, word, and deed. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, bearing the full weight of our abominable filth and iniquity on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His atoning sacrifice, He offers not only forgiveness for our past sins but also a transformative power that changes our very appetite. Instead of craving the "water" of iniquity, those who believe in Him are given the living water of the Holy Spirit, which cleanses, satisfies, and enables us to hunger and thirst for righteousness (John 7:37-38). Thus, Job 15:16, while a declaration of human fallenness, ultimately points to the glorious and indispensable grace found in Christ, who alone can cleanse us from all filthiness and transform our hearts from lovers of sin to lovers of God.

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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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Olympiodorus of AlexandriaAD 600
COMMENTARY ON JOB 15:14-16
“Who is the person,” Eliphaz asks, “who can be blameless or can proclaim, I am righteous?” If, in fact, those who are very holy, both men and angels, and the purity itself of heaven before the judgment of the most pure God appear to be unclean, what should we say about the damnable and impure human being who drinks iniquity like a draught? He has said this because humans commit sin deliberately. The words “as he does not trust his saints” may also be interpreted in this manner, since the angels themselves can become different in their nature, and actually some of them slipped away from their own former position. Heaven is not pure because of this, and it is also often obscured by clouds.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
39. He who first said it was impossible that man should of himself be clean from sin, and righteous, calls him ‘abominable’ and ‘useless;’ ‘abominable’ on account of the uncleanness of his stain, but ‘useless’ on account of the unrighteousness of an imperfect life; who however may be understood as ‘abominable and useless’ in another sense. For often a bad man seems to do some things rightly, but by those things which are wrong, even those which are right belonging to him are brought to nought; and because the evil ones are very displeasing to God, neither are those pleasing which seem to be good. And so he, that is ‘abominable’ before God in his evil things, is ‘useless’ in the good; in that whilst he shows himself an object of execration to God by wicked deeds, neither is that which seems right proceeding from him well-pleasing. And it is well said, Which drinketh iniquity like water. For what is eaten is swallowed not without delay, seeing that it is chewed in order to be swallowed; but what is drunk has no hindrance to be swallowed, in proportion as it hath again no need to be chewed. And so because sin is committed by the foolish man without any drawing back, iniquity is drunk like water. For because he does unlawful things without fear, he swallows the draught of iniquity without let or hindrance.
Ishodad of MervAD 850
COMMENTARY ON JOB 15:16
“He will drink iniquity like water.” The author says these words in order to show that [human beings] enjoy uttering blasphemies.
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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