Job 22:15

ยถ Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

Hast thou marked {H8104} the old {H5769} way {H734} which wicked {H205} men {H4962} have trodden {H1869}?

"Are you going to keep to the old way, the one the wicked have trodden,

Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?

Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?

Commentary

Context of Job 22:15

Job 22:15 is spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's three friends, during his final and most accusatory speech in the Book of Job. This verse is part of Eliphaz's attempt to persuade Job that his immense suffering must be a direct consequence of hidden, unconfessed sins. Eliphaz, like his companions, adheres to the conventional wisdom theology of their time: that God justly punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous. Therefore, he implies that Job has deliberately chosen to follow "the old way which wicked men have trodden," a path of rebellion against God, despite Job's previously established integrity and blamelessness (Job 1:1).

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Nature of Accusation: Eliphaz's question is rhetorical, designed to condemn Job by associating him with a historical pattern of rebellion against God. It highlights the judgmental tendency of accusers to project their own assumptions and theological frameworks onto others without true understanding.
  • The Path of the Wicked: The "old way" refers to a long-established pattern of life characterized by ungodliness, defiance of divine law, and a disregard for God's ways. It emphasizes the collective and historical nature of human wickedness and its inevitable consequences. This path stands in stark contrast to the way of the righteous, which is blessed by God.
  • Misunderstanding Divine Justice: This verse, placed within Eliphaz's flawed argument, exemplifies a limited understanding of God's justice. While God does indeed hold people accountable for wickedness, the Book of Job ultimately demonstrates that suffering is not always a direct punitive consequence of personal sin, challenging simplistic theological formulas and the idea that all suffering is a sign of divine punishment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the old way" in Hebrew is สผลrach สปรดlฤm (ืื•ึนืจึทื— ืขื•ึนืœึธื), which literally translates to "the path of eternity" or "the ancient path." While "ancient" can imply something venerable and good in other biblical contexts (e.g., Jeremiah 6:16 where it refers to good paths), here it is explicitly qualified by "which wicked men have trodden." This qualification gives it a negative connotation, signifying a long-established, corrupt, and destructive tradition of unrighteousness rather than a new or isolated transgression. It speaks to a persistent, historical course of life chosen by those who oppose God.

Practical Application

Job 22:15 serves as a powerful cautionary tale for readers, urging us to critically examine the assumptions we make about others' suffering. It challenges us to avoid making simplistic, judgmental conclusions, especially when we lack full knowledge of a person's circumstances or relationship with God. Instead of accusing, we are called to compassion, empathy, and careful discernment. Furthermore, the verse implicitly warns against following patterns of behavior that are historically proven to lead to destruction. It encourages believers to choose the narrow path of righteousness and obedience to God, rather than the broad, ancient way of wickedness that leads to ruin.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 17:26 (3 votes)

    And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

  • Luke 17:27 (3 votes)

    They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

  • Genesis 6:5 (2 votes)

    And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.

  • Genesis 6:11 (2 votes)

    ยถ The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

  • Genesis 6:13 (2 votes)

    ยถ And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.