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Translation
King James Version
Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
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KJV (with Strong's)
Should a wise man H2450 utter H6030 vain H7307 knowledge H1847, and fill H4390 his belly H990 with the east wind H6921?
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Complete Jewish Bible
"Should a wise man answer with hot-air arguments? Should he fill up his belly with the hot east wind?
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Berean Standard Bible
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
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American Standard Version
Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
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World English Bible Messianic
“Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Shal a wise man speake words of ye winde, and fill his bellie with the East winde?
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Young's Literal Translation
Doth a wise man answer with vain knowledge? And fill with an east wind his belly?
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Study This Verse

SUMMARY

In Job 15:2, Eliphaz the Temanite initiates his second, more confrontational speech against Job, employing a pointed rhetorical question to challenge Job's claims of wisdom and integrity. He implies that Job's eloquent yet despairing words are not only devoid of genuine insight but are also as futile and destructive as an "east wind," bringing no nourishment or truth. Through this sharp accusation, Eliphaz condemns Job for uttering "vain knowledge" that he deems utterly unbecoming of a truly wise individual.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse serves as the abrupt and accusatory opening to Eliphaz's second discourse (Job 15:1-35), marking a significant escalation in the friends' condemnation of Job. It immediately follows Job's profound and desperate lament in Job 13-14, where he expresses his fervent desire to present his case directly before God and reflects on the brevity and suffering inherent in human life. Eliphaz's initial response in Job 4-5 was comparatively more restrained, but here, his patience has clearly dissipated. He interprets Job's persistent declarations of innocence and his questioning of divine justice as arrogant and foolish, directly contradicting the traditional wisdom and theological framework that Eliphaz and his companions staunchly uphold. The piercing rhetorical question posed in Job 15:2 establishes the harsh and judgmental tone that pervades Eliphaz's entire speech, which is characterized by unyielding adherence to the retribution principle (the belief that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin) and a profound lack of empathy for Job's unique and inexplicable plight.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, wisdom was a highly revered quality, often associated with advanced age, extensive experience, and strict adherence to established moral and religious traditions. A "wise man" (חָכָם, chakham) was expected to articulate words of profound counsel, insightful understanding, and unvarnished truth, all grounded in a deep comprehension of the divine order and cosmic justice. Severe suffering, such as that endured by Job, was almost universally interpreted as an unmistakable sign of divine judgment, a direct punishment for unconfessed wrongdoing. Consequently, the concept of "vain knowledge" or empty words would have been perceived as a grave failing for anyone claiming the mantle of wisdom, as it implied a fundamental absence of substance, truth, or spiritual insight. The "east wind" (רוּחַ קָדִים, ruach qadim) was a notorious meteorological phenomenon in the region, widely recognized for its hot, dry, and destructive nature, frequently bringing drought, crop blight, or devastating locust infestations. This potent imagery would have immediately evoked a powerful sense of desolation, futility, and harm to an ancient audience, underscoring the barrenness of Job's supposed wisdom.
  • Key Themes: Job 15:2 contributes significantly to several overarching themes woven throughout the Book of Job. Firstly, it starkly highlights the misguided nature of human wisdom when it presumptuously attempts to fully comprehend or dictate the intricacies of divine justice. Eliphaz, despite his self-proclaimed wisdom, demonstrably fails to grasp the profound complexities of Job's suffering, clinging instead to a simplistic and rigid theological framework. Secondly, the verse powerfully underscores the immense power and solemn responsibility of speech. Eliphaz accuses Job of uttering words that are not merely empty but actively harmful, reflecting the ancient understanding that words possess significant weight and can either construct or demolish. This stands in sharp contrast to Job's own desperate longing for words of comfort and genuine understanding from his friends, as poignantly expressed in Job 6:14. Thirdly, it directly engages with the pervasive theme of suffering and its interpretation. While Job grapples with the inexplicable nature of his profound pain, his friends, epitomized by Eliphaz, stubbornly insist on a direct, unyielding cause-and-effect relationship between sin and suffering, a simplistic view that the broader narrative of the book ultimately and decisively challenges. Finally, the verse subtly introduces the bitter irony of the friends' "comfort," which proves to be more accusatory and destructive than genuinely helpful, much like the very "east wind" they accuse Job of consuming.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • wise man (Hebrew, châkâm', H2450): In biblical thought, a "wise man" (חָכָם) is not merely someone intellectually astute but one who possesses practical skill, moral discernment, and, crucially, a right relationship with God. True wisdom is often intrinsically linked to the fear of the Lord, as profoundly articulated in Proverbs 9:10. Eliphaz employs this term to implicitly contrast Job's perceived behavior with his presumed status, thereby suggesting that Job's words are antithetical to genuine wisdom.
  • vain (Hebrew, rûwach', H7307): The term "vain" (רוּחַ, rûwach, here meaning "unsubstantiality" or "emptiness") signifies futility, falsehood, or worthlessness. While rûwach most commonly means "wind" or "spirit," its usage here, in conjunction with "knowledge," conveys a sense of emptiness or lack of substance. It is akin to the concept of "nothingness" or "emptiness," implying that the knowledge Job utters is devoid of truth, beneficial content, or divine insight.
  • east wind (Hebrew, qâdîym', H6921): The "east wind" (קָדִים, qâdîym, often combined with רוּחַ, rûwach, for "wind") in the ancient Near East was consistently associated with destructive forces. It was a hot, dry wind originating from the desert that withered crops (Genesis 41:6), brought devastating locusts (Exodus 10:13), or caused shipwrecks (Psalm 48:7). To "fill one's belly" with it is a powerful and visceral metaphor for consuming something utterly worthless, unsatisfying, and ultimately harmful or destructive, highlighting the barren and detrimental nature of Job's words in Eliphaz's view.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge,": This opening clause is a forceful rhetorical question, designed not to elicit an answer but to make a strong, condemning assertion. Eliphaz implies that it is utterly unthinkable and contradictory for someone who claims or is perceived as wise to speak words that are empty, futile, or false. He directly challenges Job's integrity and the very substance of his arguments, viewing Job's laments and self-defenses as lacking any genuine insight, truth, or spiritual foundation.
  • "and fill his belly with the east wind?": This second clause extends the rhetorical question with strikingly vivid and destructive imagery. "Filling his belly" suggests internalizing, consuming, or being sustained by something, making it an intrinsic part of oneself. By equating Job's words with the "east wind," Eliphaz accuses Job of not only speaking empty words but also of internalizing and being sustained by something that is inherently barren, destructive, and brings no profit or nourishment. It powerfully suggests that Job's speech is not merely useless but actively detrimental to himself and others, offering no life or substance.

Literary Devices

Job 15:2 is replete with literary devices that significantly amplify the force of Eliphaz's condemnation. The primary device employed is a Rhetorical Question, "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?" This is not a genuine inquiry seeking information, but rather a potent and forceful assertion of Eliphaz's unwavering conviction that Job's words are utterly foolish and inappropriate for someone who presumes to possess wisdom. The verse also utilizes a powerful Metaphor and vivid Imagery by directly likening Job's words to the "east wind." This evocative imagery immediately conjures associations of desolation, destruction, and utter futility, effectively conveying Eliphaz's deep-seated belief that Job's speech is barren, harmful, and devoid of any life-giving truth. Furthermore, there is a subtle yet profound Irony at play within the broader narrative, as Eliphaz, in his zealous attempt to correct Job's perceived "vain knowledge," himself speaks words that ultimately prove to be unhelpful, judgmental, and, in the grand scheme of God's later vindication of Job, not truly wise.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Eliphaz's accusation in Job 15:2, while ultimately misdirected against Job, nevertheless raises profound theological questions concerning the authentic nature of true wisdom, the weighty responsibility inherent in human speech, and the inherent limitations of human understanding when confronted with divine mystery. It starkly highlights the significant danger of a rigid, simplistic theology that proves incapable of accounting for suffering outside of a direct sin-punishment framework, thereby leading to harsh judgment rather than compassionate understanding. The "vain knowledge" Eliphaz so vehemently decries can be seen as any human philosophy or theological system that presumptuously purports to fully explain God's intricate ways without humility, or that offers empty comfort devoid of genuine empathy. The passage implicitly calls believers to earnestly seek a wisdom that is not merely intellectual assent to doctrines but is profoundly spiritual, deeply grounded in God's revealed truth, and consistently characterized by humility, grace, and discerning speech that builds up rather than tears down.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Job 15:2, despite being an accusation stemming from a flawed human perspective, serves as a poignant and timely reminder for us to critically examine the intrinsic nature of our own words and the ultimate source from which we derive our wisdom. Do we, perhaps unconsciously, sometimes echo Eliphaz, speaking from a place of rigid certainty, quick to judge and condemn, offering "vain knowledge" that is utterly empty of compassion or true spiritual insight? Or do our words genuinely reflect true wisdom, which is profoundly characterized by humility, grace, and a humble willingness to sit patiently with mystery and suffering, rather than rushing to simplistic answers? This verse challenges us to deeply consider whether our speech consistently brings life, genuine comfort, and profound truth, or if it is, regrettably, akin to the "east wind"—hot, dry, unproductive, and leaving desolation in its wake. It calls us to diligently cultivate a heart and mind that speaks words which are truly nourishing and edifying, especially to those who are suffering, questioning, or grappling with the inexplicable complexities of life.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what specific ways might my own speech sometimes resemble "vain knowledge" or "the east wind," lacking substance, empathy, or truth?
  • How does my personal understanding of wisdom align with or diverge from Eliphaz's perspective, and what does true biblical wisdom entail for my words and actions in daily life?
  • Am I prone to judging others' suffering through a simplistic theological lens, or do I approach it with humility, profound compassion, and a genuine willingness to acknowledge divine mystery?
  • How can I actively cultivate a heart and mind that consistently speaks words that are life-giving, truly wise, and spiritually nourishing, rather than empty, destructive, or judgmental?

FAQ

Was Eliphaz's assessment of Job accurate?

Answer: No, the Book of Job ultimately demonstrates that Eliphaz's assessment of Job was profoundly inaccurate and based on a flawed, incomplete understanding of divine justice. While Eliphaz spoke from a position of traditional wisdom, firmly believing that suffering was always a direct consequence of sin, the overarching narrative reveals that Job's suffering was not due to any specific transgression but was, in fact, part of a divine test of his blamelessness and unwavering integrity. God Himself later explicitly rebukes Eliphaz and his friends for not speaking what was right about Him, unlike Job (Job 42:7). This pivotal moment highlights the inherent limitations of human wisdom and the grave danger of making definitive pronouncements about God's intricate ways based solely on observable circumstances or rigid theological frameworks.

What is the significance of "filling his belly with the east wind"?

Answer: This vivid and powerful metaphor emphasizes the utter futility, barrenness, and destructive nature of the words Job is accused of speaking. The "east wind" (רוּחַ קָדִים, ruach qadim) in the ancient Near East was consistently associated with desolation, drought, and destruction, bringing no good but only harm to crops, land, and people. To "fill one's belly" with it implies consuming, internalizing, or being sustained by something utterly worthless, unsatisfying, and ultimately detrimental. Eliphaz employs this potent imagery to suggest that Job's words are not only empty of truth or comfort but are actively harmful, bringing no spiritual nourishment or benefit, much like attempting to sustain oneself on a hot, dry, and destructive wind that offers no sustenance.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Eliphaz's accusation in Job 15:2, though misdirected and rooted in human limitation, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate contrast between human, finite wisdom and the divine, perfect wisdom embodied in Jesus Christ. Eliphaz condemns "vain knowledge" and words likened to the "east wind," which are characterized by emptiness and destruction. In stark and glorious contrast, Jesus is revealed as the very Wisdom of God incarnate (1 Corinthians 1:24), whose words are never "vain knowledge" but are intrinsically spirit and life (John 6:63). While Eliphaz offers harsh judgment and empty accusations to a suffering man, Jesus consistently offers words of profound healing, comfort, and liberating truth (Matthew 11:28-30). He is the singular, true source of ultimate nourishment, unlike the barren "east wind," offering living water that quenches eternal thirst (John 4:10) and declaring Himself the bread of life (John 6:35), which truly satisfies the deepest longings of the soul. Where Eliphaz's human wisdom utterly fails to comprehend suffering and tragically resorts to condemnation, Christ, in His own redemptive suffering on the cross, demonstrates a divine wisdom that miraculously redeems and profoundly transforms, offering grace and truth (John 1:17) that infinitely surpasses any human understanding or theological construct.

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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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Julian of EclanumAD 455
EXPOSITION ON THE BOOK OF JOB 15:1-3
Holy Job had not only shown that Zophar’s words were ridiculous but also had reproved all his friends in common. They all thought that wisdom had to be judged according to the limits of their age. Since he had also discussed many issues concerning both human and divine nature, Eliphaz gets offended. He tries to accuse [Job] openly of different iniquities; since he has no decisive evidence, Eliphaz takes refuge by drawing a comparison with the people of previous generations, without showing any humility but by considering himself to be wiser than anybody else. “Will the wise answer as if he speaks in the wind, or will he fill his stomach with ardor?” [Eliphaz] wants to demonstrate that Job’s longwinded speech is a proof of foolishness and that the words Job said were dictated by anger and not suggested by reason. “Will the wise answer as if he speaks in the wind?” Since holy Job, after the beginning of his speech, had left his antagonists behind and had turned his words to God, Eliphaz says that it is not worthy of a wise man, after neglecting the opponent in a debate, to speak as if in the wind and to pronounce whatever he wants without the fear of an adversary. “You accuse with your words him who is not equal to you and say what is not profitable to you.” Your purification is an accusation against God. In fact, if you are afflicted undeservedly, he who is afflicting you is undoubtedly accused of iniquity.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
28. We have already said frequently that blessed Job bears a type of the Holy Church universal, and that his friends bear the likeness of heretics, who as it were on the plea of defence of the Lord find occasion of foolish talking, and let loose insulting words against good men; to whom all is displeasing that is thought by the faithful, as though it were uttered to the wind. Whence it is said now, Should a wise man answer as if speaking into the wind? Nor do they account the words of the good as the sayings of reason, but as the stingings of madness. Whence it is added, And shall he fill his belly with burning? in that those things even which they know themselves to say by way of insult, they are ever bent to palliate, as has been said, on the ground of defending the Lord.
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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Continue studying Job 15:2 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.

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