Job 22:17

Job 22:17 KJV captures a harsh accusation made by Eliphaz against those he perceives as wicked, implying Job is among them. The verse describes individuals who actively reject God's presence and dismiss His power, stating, "Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?"

Context

This verse is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's third and final speech to Job, found in Job chapter 22. Throughout the book, Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, attempt to explain Job's immense suffering based on their traditional theological framework: God punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous. Therefore, in their view, Job's calamities must be a direct consequence of hidden sin. In this particular speech, Eliphaz intensifies his accusations, directly implying that Job must be a man who lives in defiance of God, likening him to those who arrogantly tell God to "Depart from us," a direct rejection of divine authority and a questioning of God's ability to intervene or affect their lives.

Key Themes

• Rejection of Divine Authority: The phrase "Depart from us" signifies a deliberate, willful turning away from God, a desire for autonomy apart from His influence. This attitude reflects a profound spiritual rebellion and self-sufficiency.
• Skepticism of God's Power: The follow-up question, "and what can the Almighty do for them?", highlights a profound skepticism or outright dismissal of God's power and relevance in human affairs. It suggests a belief that God is either unable or unwilling to act, rendering Him inconsequential.
• Accusation of Wickedness: Eliphaz uses this imagery to paint a picture of the wicked, subtly but clearly accusing Job of embodying such defiance. This reflects the friends' flawed theology that links suffering directly to sin, overlooking God's sovereign purposes.
• Human Presumption: The verse underlines the dangerous human tendency to presume knowledge of God's ways and to challenge His supreme authority, a stark contrast to the humility often expected in the presence of the divine.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Almighty" in this verse is a translation of the Hebrew word Shaddai. This divine name, frequently used in the book of Job, emphasizes God's omnipotence, self-sufficiency, and absolute power to accomplish His will. By questioning "what can the Almighty do," Eliphaz highlights the profound arrogance of those who would challenge the very nature of the God who is all-powerful and all-sufficient. The phrase "Depart from us" (Hebrew: sûr mimmennu) conveys a strong, definitive command to remove oneself, underscoring the deliberate nature of this rejection.

Related Scriptures

The attitude described in Job 22:17 echoes sentiments found elsewhere in Scripture where people reject God or question His sovereignty. For instance, Psalm 10:4 describes the wicked as having thoughts that "there is no God," while Romans 1:28 speaks of those who "did not like to retain God in their knowledge." Conversely, the Bible consistently affirms God's boundless power and ability to act, as seen in Jeremiah 32:27, "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"

Practical Application

Job 22:17 serves as a powerful warning against spiritual arrogance and self-deception. It challenges us to examine our own hearts:

• Humility Before God: Do we truly submit to God's authority, or do we, in subtle ways, tell Him to "depart" from areas of our lives we wish to control?
• Trust in God's Power: In times of difficulty or uncertainty, do we question God's ability to intervene, or do we cling to the truth that He is indeed the Almighty, capable of all things? We are called to trust in His strength, not our own limited understanding.
• Avoiding Rash Judgment: This verse also reminds us of the danger of judging others' suffering. Eliphaz's false accusations against Job stemmed from a rigid and incomplete understanding of God's ways, leading him to wrongly condemn an innocent man.

Ultimately, this verse calls believers to a posture of reverence, submission, and unwavering faith in the one true God, the Almighty, who is sovereign over all creation and actively involved in the lives of His people.