Job 22:18

Yet he filled their houses with good [things]: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Yet he filled {H4390} their houses {H1004} with good {H2896} things: but the counsel {H6098} of the wicked {H7563} is far {H7368} from me.

Yet he himself had filled their homes with good things! (But the advice of the wicked is far away from me.)

But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Commentary

Job 22:18 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's third and most severe speech to Job. In this verse, Eliphaz makes a seemingly contradictory statement that highlights the flawed theological framework of Job’s friends, while also asserting his own supposed righteousness.

Context

Eliphaz, along with Bildad and Zophar, operated under the assumption that suffering is always a direct result of sin. In Job 22, Eliphaz is attempting to convince Job that his immense suffering must be due to some secret wickedness, accusing him of various transgressions (Job 22:5-9). Within this context, verse 18 reflects Eliphaz's attempt to reconcile his theology of divine retribution with the apparent prosperity that even some wicked individuals experience. He acknowledges that God "filled their houses with good [things]" – referring to the wicked – but immediately distances himself from their ways, stating, "but the counsel of the wicked is far from me." This statement serves both as an accusation against Job (implying Job's counsel is wicked) and a declaration of Eliphaz's own perceived moral purity.

Key Themes

  • The Prosperity of the Wicked: This verse touches upon a perennial biblical question: why do the wicked sometimes prosper? Eliphaz, while acknowledging this reality, struggles to integrate it fully into his rigid cause-and-effect theology. The book of Job ultimately challenges this simplistic view, showing that God's ways are beyond human comprehension and that suffering is not always punitive. For a deeper exploration of this theme, see Psalm 73, which powerfully grapples with the envy of the wicked's seeming success.
  • Rejection of Wicked Counsel: Eliphaz's declaration, "the counsel of the wicked is far from me," emphasizes the importance of discerning and rejecting ungodly advice. While Eliphaz's own counsel was misguided, the principle of avoiding wicked influences is a strong biblical theme, as seen in the opening of Psalm 1.
  • Flawed Human Judgment: The entire discourse of Job's friends, including Eliphaz's words here, serves as a powerful illustration of the dangers of human judgment and self-righteousness. They presumed to know God's mind and motives, leading them to falsely accuse an innocent man.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "counsel" (β€˜Δ“αΉ£Δh) refers to advice, purpose, or a plan. When Eliphaz says "the counsel of the wicked is far from me," he is not merely avoiding their spoken words, but their entire way of thinking, their intentions, and their guiding principles. This contrast between outward prosperity ("filled their houses with good things") and inward spiritual corruption ("counsel of the wicked") is central to Eliphaz's argument, though he misapplies it to Job.

Practical Application

Job 22:18, despite being spoken by a flawed character, offers valuable lessons for believers today:

  • Beware of Simplistic Theology: Do not assume that prosperity is always a sign of God's favor or that suffering always indicates sin. God's ways are complex and often beyond our full understanding.
  • Discern Good Counsel: Be vigilant about the advice you receive and the influences you allow into your life. Seek wisdom from God's Word and those who truly follow Him, as encouraged in Proverbs 13:20.
  • Avoid Rash Judgment: This verse reminds us of the danger of judging others' circumstances based on our own limited understanding of God's justice or their inner spiritual state. Only God truly knows the heart.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 21:16

    Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

  • Job 12:6

    ΒΆ The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].

  • 1 Samuel 2:7

    The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

  • Acts 14:17

    Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

  • Jeremiah 12:2

    Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

  • Psalms 17:14

    From men [which are] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [which have] their portion in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid [treasure]: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their [substance] to their babes.

  • Psalms 1:1

    ΒΆ Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.