Job 15:25

For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.

For he stretcheth out {H5186} his hand {H3027} against God {H410}, and strengtheneth {H1396} himself against the Almighty {H7706}.

"He raises his hand against God and boldly defies Shaddai,

For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,

Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, And behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty;

Commentary

Context of Job 15:25

Job 15:25 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's second discourse to Job. In this chapter, Eliphaz continues his argument that Job's intense suffering must be a direct consequence of his wickedness and defiance against God. He describes the fate of the wicked, implicitly applying these characteristics and consequences to Job. Eliphaz, along with Job's other friends, firmly adheres to the conventional wisdom of their time, which posited that righteousness leads to prosperity and wickedness inevitably results in calamity. From this perspective, Job's lamentations and self-justification are seen as acts of rebellion against divine justice.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Human Arrogance and Defiance: The phrase "stretcheth out his hand against God" vividly portrays an act of open rebellion and hostile defiance. It symbolizes a deliberate challenge or opposition to the Creator, underscoring the immense pride and foolishness of humanity attempting to stand against the divine.
  • Futile Resistance to Divine Power: "And strengtheneth himself against the Almighty" highlights the utter futility and absurdity of any human effort to resist or overcome God's omnipotence. This emphasizes the vast, unbridgeable gap between human weakness and God's infinite might and sovereignty. It serves as a powerful contrast to God's unchallengeable power and authority.
  • Eliphaz's Accusation: While framed as a general observation about the wicked, Eliphaz's words are clearly directed at Job. He suggests that Job's complaints, questions, and refusal to confess sin are tantamount to defying God. This reveals the narrow and judgmental perspective of Job's friends, who misinterpret his suffering as punishment rather than a test of faith.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "stretcheth out his hand" (ื™ึธื“ื•ึน ืคึผึธืจึทืฉื‚, yado paras) can denote a gesture of attack, defiance, or reaching out to strike. It conveys a sense of active opposition. The term "Almighty" is derived from the Hebrew Shaddai (ืฉึทืื“ึทึผื™), one of the most ancient and profound names for God, frequently associated with His absolute power, sufficiency, and ability to fulfill His purposes. To "strengtheneth himself" (ื™ึดืชึฐื’ึผึทื‘ึผึตืจ, yitgabber) against such a Being underscores the profound arrogance and ultimate powerlessness of any human attempt.

Practical Application

Job 15:25 serves as a profound warning against the dangers of human pride and the ultimate folly of defying God. Though Eliphaz misapplies this truth to Job's situation, the principle remains timeless: rebellion against divine authority leads to spiritual and often literal ruin. This verse calls believers to cultivate humility and submission to God's sovereign will, even when faced with trials or circumstances that are difficult to understand. Instead of striving against God, we are called to trust in His wisdom and goodness, knowing that He works all things for the good of those who love Him. It prompts self-reflection on whether our own responses to adversity ever verge on blaming or defying the Creator.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 52:7

    Lo, [this is] the man [that] made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness.

  • Job 36:9

    Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

  • Daniel 5:23

    But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

  • Psalms 73:9

    They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

  • Malachi 3:13

    ยถ Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee?

  • Job 9:4

    [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered?

  • 1 Samuel 6:6

    Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?
โ† Back