Job 15:18

Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid [it]:

Which wise {H2450} men have told {H5046} from their fathers {H1}, and have not hid {H3582} it:

wise men have told it, and it wasn't hidden from their fathers either,

what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,

(Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it;

Job 15:18 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's second speech to Job, where he continues to assert that Job's suffering is a consequence of his sin, aligning with traditional wisdom.

Context of Job 15:18

In this chapter, Eliphaz responds to Job's lamentations, accusing him of arrogance and empty words. He frames his arguments not as personal opinion but as ancient, established truth passed down through generations of wise men. Verse 18 emphasizes the long-standing nature and undisputed authority of the wisdom he is about to present regarding the fate of the wicked. Eliphaz believes this wisdom, which he claims "wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid [it]," is irrefutable and universally acknowledged, thus indirectly condemning Job's perceived challenge to this traditional understanding of divine justice. This perspective is a recurring theme among Job's friends, who often appeal to received wisdom rather than Job's personal experience or God's direct revelation. For a broader view of Eliphaz's initial arguments, see Job 4:7-8.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Authority of Tradition: Eliphaz appeals to the wisdom of elders and ancestors, suggesting that truth is found in what has been passed down and openly taught across generations. This highlights a common ancient worldview where age and lineage conferred authority on knowledge.
  • Human vs. Divine Wisdom: The verse implicitly raises the tension between human-derived wisdom, even if ancient and widely accepted, and the deeper, often mysterious, wisdom of God. Eliphaz's error, and that of Job's other friends, was assuming their understanding of God's justice was exhaustive and perfectly aligned with divine reality. Job himself later challenges this limited human perspective in Job 28:12-28.
  • Unveiled Truth: The phrase "have not hid [it]" suggests that this wisdom is not esoteric or secret, but openly proclaimed and accessible. This reinforces its perceived reliability and universality in Eliphaz's mind. It implies transparency and a lack of deception in its transmission.
  • The Fate of the Wicked: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the wisdom Eliphaz refers to (and elaborates on in subsequent verses) concerns the inevitable downfall and suffering of the wicked. This forms the basis of his argument against Job.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "told from their fathers" (מֵאֲבוֹתָם סִפְּרוּ, me'avotam sippru) emphasizes the generational transmission of knowledge, implying a lineage of teachers and learners. The verb "told" (סִפְּרוּ, sippru) means to recount, declare, or make known. The phrase "have not hid" (וְלֹא כִחֲדוּ, velo khichadu) comes from a root meaning to conceal, deny, or withhold. Its negation stresses the open and public nature of this inherited wisdom, presented as undeniable truth that has been freely shared and maintained.

Practical Application and Reflection

Job 15:18 prompts us to consider the sources of our own understanding and the authority we ascribe to tradition. While valuing the wisdom passed down through generations (as encouraged in Proverbs 22:6 regarding teaching children), this verse also serves as a subtle caution against relying solely on human wisdom, no matter how ancient or widely accepted. True wisdom ultimately originates with God, and His ways can often transcend human logic and traditional explanations. It encourages us to seek discernment, testing all wisdom against God's revealed truth, and to remain open to His sovereign plan, even when it challenges our preconceived notions about justice or suffering. The emphasis on "not hid" also reminds us of the importance of transparently sharing truth and knowledge, rather than hoarding it.

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

  • Job 8:8

    ¶ For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

  • Isaiah 38:19

    The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I [do] this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

  • Job 15:10

    With us [are] both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

  • Psalms 71:18

    Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.

  • Psalms 78:3

    Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

  • Psalms 78:6

    That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:

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