Job 15:22

KJV

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

KJV (with Strong's)

He believeth {H539} not that he shall return {H7725} out of darkness {H2822}, and he is waited {H6822} for of the sword {H2719}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He despairs of returning from darkness -he is destined to meet the sword.

Berean Standard Bible

He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.

American Standard Version

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, And he is waited for of the sword.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 15:22, a pronouncement by Eliphaz the Temanite, graphically depicts the dire fate of the wicked, asserting their utter lack of hope for deliverance from their calamitous state, metaphorically represented as "darkness." Furthermore, it declares that inescapable judgment, symbolized by the "sword," relentlessly awaits them. This verse is a key component of Eliphaz's increasingly harsh second discourse, where he intensifies his argument that Job's profound suffering must be a direct consequence of unconfessed sin, thereby reflecting a rigid, retributive theology that the overarching narrative of the book of Job ultimately challenges and refutes as an insufficient explanation for human suffering and the complexities of divine justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 15:22 is situated within Eliphaz's second and notably more aggressive speech to Job, following Job's lament in [Job 14](/job/14 "Job 14 - Job's Lament and Despair"). The initial cycle of speeches (Job 4-14) established the friends' foundational argument: God is inherently just, and therefore, Job's immense suffering must be a direct result of his sin. In this subsequent cycle (Job 15-21), the friends' tone shifts, becoming increasingly accusatory and less empathetic. Eliphaz, who speaks first in this cycle, broadens his critique from general theological principles to a more direct, though still implicitly veiled, indictment of Job. Chapter 15 vividly describes the terrifying and inescapable fate of the wicked, with verses 20-35 detailing their certain torment and destruction. Verse 22 specifically underscores the psychological despair ("He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness") and the certain physical doom ("he is waited for of the sword") that Eliphaz attributes to the ungodly, thereby framing Job's current state as the inevitable and just outcome of unrighteousness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job belongs to the wisdom literature of the ancient Near East, a genre that frequently explored profound themes of justice, suffering, and the nature of divine retribution. Within this ancient cultural milieu, a widely accepted theological framework posited that prosperity was a clear indicator of divine favor and righteousness, while suffering was unequivocally a sign of divine displeasure and sin. This "retribution theology" was deeply ingrained in the societal consciousness, and Eliphaz, along with Bildad and Zophar, serves as a staunch proponent of this conventional wisdom. The setting of Uz, while geographically ambiguous, suggests a land outside of Israel, lending a universal scope to the book's profound themes. The potent imagery of "darkness" and the "sword" would have been immediately understood by an ancient audience as powerful symbols of overwhelming calamity, death, and violent judgment, reflecting common experiences and deep-seated fears of the era. Eliphaz's arguments are firmly rooted in a traditional understanding of God's justice, where immediate and visible consequences are believed to directly follow moral actions.

* **Key Themes:** Job 15:22 significantly contributes to several overarching themes explored within the book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the theme of **human wisdom's limitations**, as Eliphaz's rigid and unyielding application of retribution theology to Job's unique situation is ultimately proven false and rebuked by God Himself (cf. [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")). Secondly, the verse highlights the **despair of the wicked** from Eliphaz's perspective, sharply contrasting it with the steadfast hope that Job, despite enduring unimaginable suffering, often clings to (e.g., [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Hope in His Redeemer")). Thirdly, this verse reinforces the theme of **inevitable judgment** for the unrighteous, a concept that is indeed affirmed elsewhere in biblical theology but is profoundly misapplied by Eliphaz to Job's blameless character (see [Job 1:8](/job/1-8 "Job 1:8 - God's Assessment of Job")). Finally, it touches upon the **nature of suffering**, presenting it as a direct and inescapable consequence of sin—a simplistic view that the book meticulously deconstructs, revealing suffering's multifaceted nature beyond mere cause-and-effect punishment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Believeth (Hebrew, _ʼâman'_):** From H539, this word signifies to be firm, faithful, or trustworthy, and by extension, to trust or believe. In Job 15:22, the negative "believeth not" indicates a profound lack of faith, trust, or assurance. It describes the wicked man's complete absence of conviction that he can escape his dire circumstances. This is not merely a lack of intellectual assent, but a deep-seated spiritual and existential despair, a failure to find anything firm or reliable to cling to for hope or deliverance.
* **Darkness (Hebrew, _chôshek'_):** From H2822, "darkness" literally refers to the absence of light, but in this context, it carries rich figurative meaning. It symbolizes a state of profound misery, destruction, death, and spiritual ignorance. For Eliphaz, this "darkness" represents the inescapable calamity, despair, and the shadow of death that envelops the wicked. It encapsulates their utter hopelessness and the absence of any prospect for recovery or deliverance from their dire circumstances, leading to a profound sense of abandonment and dread.
* **Sword (Hebrew, _chereb'_):** From H2719, the "sword" is a potent and common biblical metaphor for war, violent destruction, and divine judgment. As a "cutting instrument" with "destructive effect," it represents the instrument of inescapable retribution, a symbol of God's wrath or the inevitable violent consequences of unrighteous living. The imagery suggests a swift, decisive, and violent end, emphasizing the certainty and severity of the judgment that Eliphaz asserts will inevitably befall the wicked.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness":** This initial clause vividly describes the psychological and spiritual state of the wicked man as perceived by Eliphaz. It portrays a complete and utter lack of hope or faith in any possibility of deliverance, recovery, or reversal of his current state of affliction, despair, or impending death. The "darkness" here functions as a powerful metaphor for the dire circumstances, the absence of any light of hope, or any future prospect of redemption. The wicked man is depicted as being entirely without expectation of divine mercy or a turnaround in his fortunes, trapped in a relentless cycle of worsening conditions and a profound sense of doom.
* **"and he is waited for of the sword":** This second phrase powerfully illustrates the certainty, imminence, and active nature of the wicked man's impending doom. The "sword" is personified, depicted as an active agent, patiently yet inevitably waiting for its prey. This symbolizes the inescapable judgment or violent destruction that Eliphaz believes is destined for the unrighteous. This is not merely a threat of future consequence but a declaration of a predetermined and inescapable fate, emphasizing that the consequences of wickedness are not only severe but also unavoidable and imminent, actively pursuing the wicked.

#### Literary Devices
Job 15:22 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey Eliphaz's grim and judgmental message. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where abstract concepts are powerfully represented by concrete images. "Darkness" serves as a profound metaphor for despair, calamity, and death, encapsulating the wicked man's spiritual and existential gloom. Similarly, the "sword" functions as a vivid metaphor for divine judgment, violent destruction, and inescapable retribution. The phrase "he is waited for of the sword" powerfully utilizes **Personification**, attributing the human quality of "waiting" to an inanimate object, the sword. This intensifies the sense of an active, relentless, and inevitable doom that is not merely passive but actively closing in on the wicked. Furthermore, the verse relies on stark and vivid **Imagery** to paint a terrifying picture of utter hopelessness and impending destruction, appealing directly to the reader's senses and emotions to underscore the severity and certainty of the wicked man's fate as envisioned by Eliphaz. The combined effect of these devices creates a stark and terrifying portrayal of the consequences of unrighteousness according to Eliphaz's flawed theological framework.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Eliphaz's pronouncements in Job 15:22 reflect a common, yet ultimately incomplete, understanding of divine justice prevalent in his time. While the Bible certainly teaches that sin has consequences and that judgment awaits the unrepentant, Eliphaz's error lies in his rigid application of this principle to all suffering, particularly Job's, without acknowledging the complexities of God's sovereignty, the presence of suffering for purposes other than punishment, or the possibility of hidden divine purposes. The verse highlights the stark contrast between the despair Eliphaz attributes to the wicked and the true hope available through faith. For the righteous, even in profound "darkness," there is an expectation of deliverance and vindication, not based on human merit but on God's character and unfailing promises. The book of Job ultimately challenges the simplistic notion that human suffering is always a direct, proportional punishment for sin, pushing the reader toward a deeper, more mysterious understanding of God's ways and the nature of faith in the midst of inexplicable trials.

* [Psalm 73:16-19](/psalms/73-16-19 "Psalm 73:16-19 - The End of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 13:9](/proverbs/13-9 "Proverbs 13:9 - The Light of the Righteous")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 15:22, though spoken from a flawed theological premise by Eliphaz, serves as a powerful and sobering reminder of the profound despair that can engulf a life lived apart from God and the inevitable consequences of unrepentant sin. While we must diligently resist the temptation to apply Eliphaz's judgmental framework to others' suffering, the verse does prompt us to consider the spiritual "darkness" that can result from rebellion against God's light and truth. A life without genuine hope in divine redemption is indeed a life perpetually shadowed by ultimate despair, where the "sword" of spiritual and eternal consequences looms ominously. For believers, this verse underscores the immeasurable preciousness of the living hope we possess in Christ—a hope that assures us of God's power to bring us out of any darkness, knowing that our ultimate destiny is not judgment but eternal life and fellowship with Him. It challenges us to critically examine our own lives, ensuring that our hope is firmly rooted in God's unfailing character and promises, rather than in our own perceived righteousness or lack thereof, and to extend grace, compassion, and understanding rather than condemnation to those who suffer.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Eliphaz's bleak view of the wicked man's despair contrast sharply with the hope that a believer can genuinely embrace, even in the midst of profound suffering?**
* **In what specific ways might we, like Eliphaz, sometimes be tempted to misinterpret or misapply biblical truths about sin and divine judgment when observing or interacting with others' struggles?**
* **What specific "darkness" in our own lives or in the broader world do we need to believe God possesses the sovereign power and unwavering will to bring us out of?**
* **How does the "sword" of judgment depicted in this verse powerfully point us toward the concept of ultimate divine judgment, and in what profound ways does the Gospel offer a glorious and complete escape from its condemnation?**

### FAQ
**Does Eliphaz's statement in Job 15:22 accurately describe the fate of all wicked people?**

Answer: While Eliphaz's statement contains elements of truth regarding the ultimate consequences of unrepentant sin, his application of this principle to Job and his rigid, retributive theology are ultimately proven incorrect and rebuked by God Himself in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends"). The Bible consistently teaches that sin ultimately leads to spiritual death and judgment (e.g., [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")), and that those who persistently reject God face eternal separation, which is often described as "outer darkness" (e.g., [Matthew 8:12](/matthew/8-12 "Matthew 8:12 - Outer Darkness")). However, Eliphaz's fundamental error was in assuming that all suffering, including Job's, was a direct and proportional result of personal wickedness, and that there was no hope of return from "darkness" for anyone experiencing hardship. The book of Job powerfully demonstrates that suffering can serve other profound divine purposes beyond mere punishment, and that God's justice and ways are far more complex, mysterious, and merciful than Eliphaz and his friends understood.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Eliphaz's declaration in Job 15:22, that the wicked "believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in a profound and glorious reversal. While Eliphaz spoke of the despair of those trapped in sin, Jesus Christ is the one who truly entered the deepest "darkness" of human sin, suffering, and death, yet He *did* believe and know He would return. His crucifixion was the ultimate confrontation with the "sword" of divine judgment against sin, a righteous judgment He willingly bore on behalf of all humanity, becoming our substitute (cf. [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")). Unlike the wicked described by Eliphaz, Christ's death was not the final end; He triumphed decisively over the grave, emerging from the "darkness" of death in glorious resurrection, thereby proving that true hope, deliverance, and return from the deepest despair are profoundly possible through Him (cf. [John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). Through His perfect sacrifice and triumphant resurrection, those who place their faith in Him are no longer "waited for of the sword" of divine judgment, but are instead offered complete forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life, having been miraculously called from spiritual darkness into His marvelous light (cf. [1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - Called Out of Darkness")). Indeed, He is the true light that shines eternally in the darkness, and the darkness has never, nor will it ever, overcome Him (cf. [John 1:5](/john/1-5 "John 1:5 - The Light Shines in the Darkness")).

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.

Cross-References

Job 20:24

He shall flee from the iron weapon, [and] the bow of steel shall strike him through.

Job 20:25

It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors [are] upon him.

Job 9:16

If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

Isaiah 8:21

And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

Isaiah 8:22

And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness.

Job 27:14

If his children be multiplied, [it is] for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

2 Kings 6:33

And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil [is] of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?