Job 22:27

KJV

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thou shalt make thy prayer {H6279} unto him, and he shall hear {H8085} thee, and thou shalt pay {H7999} thy vows {H5088}.

Complete Jewish Bible

you will entreat him, and he will hear you, and you will pay what you vowed;

Berean Standard Bible

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

American Standard Version

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee; And thou shalt pay thy vows.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 22:27 presents Eliphaz the Temanite's conditional promise to Job: if Job would return to God, his prayers would be heard, and he would be able to fulfill his vows. This verse encapsulates Eliphaz's unwavering belief in a direct, retributive justice system where righteousness leads to prosperity and sin to suffering, offering Job a pathway to restoration through repentance and adherence to religious duties. While flawed in its direct application to Job's blameless suffering, the verse nonetheless highlights timeless principles concerning the nature of prayer and the importance of integrity in one's commitments to God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 22:27 is situated within Eliphaz's third and final discourse (Job 22:1-30), which marks a significant escalation in his accusations against Job. Having exhausted gentler approaches, Eliphaz now directly charges Job with specific, grievous sins (Job 22:5-11), implying that Job's immense suffering is a just consequence of his wickedness. He urges Job to "agree with God and be at peace" ([Job 22:21](/job/22-21 "Job 22:21 - Reconcile with God")), promising that if Job repents and embraces God's wisdom, prosperity and divine favor will return. Verse 27, therefore, serves as a specific assurance within this framework: a repentant Job will find his prayers answered and his ability to fulfill vows restored, signifying a complete return to a state of blessing. This counsel, while seemingly pious, ultimately misinterprets the nature of Job's suffering and God's justice, setting the stage for God's later rebuke of the friends.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the concept of retribution theology was prevalent, where suffering was almost universally linked to sin, and prosperity to righteousness. This belief system, while having roots in covenantal blessings and curses (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")), was often applied simplistically, failing to account for the complexities of divine sovereignty, innocent suffering, or the testing of faith. The practice of making vows (a solemn promise to God, often conditional upon divine intervention or blessing) was also common and deeply ingrained in Israelite religious life. Fulfilling these vows was considered a sacred duty, reflecting one's integrity and faithfulness to God, as seen in passages like [Numbers 30:2](/numbers/30-2 "Numbers 30:2 - Keeping Vows") and [Ecclesiastes 5:4-5](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 - Do Not Delay in Fulfilling Vows"). Eliphaz's counsel thus reflects a widely accepted, albeit incomplete, theological and cultural understanding of his time.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several key themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **retribution theology**, which Eliphaz champions, asserting that God's justice operates on a strict cause-and-effect basis. The verse also highlights the **power and efficacy of prayer**, suggesting that God is attentive to the cries of His people, particularly those who approach Him in repentance. Furthermore, it underscores the **sanctity and importance of vows**, emphasizing that commitments made to God must be honored, reflecting a believer's integrity and faithfulness. While Eliphaz presents these as a conditional pathway to **restoration and blessing**, the book of Job ultimately challenges the simplistic application of these themes, revealing that God's ways are more profound and mysterious than human wisdom can fully comprehend, especially regarding the suffering of the righteous.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prayer (Hebrew, _tĕphillah'_):** This term (תְּפִלָּה) refers to a general act of supplication, intercession, or petition to God. It encompasses a wide range of devotional expressions, from earnest requests to heartfelt laments. The use of this word here emphasizes direct communication with the divine, implying a personal and intentional act of seeking God's attention and favor.
* **Hear (Hebrew, _shama'_):** The Hebrew verb (שָׁמַע) means more than merely perceiving sound; it implies listening attentively, understanding, heeding, and ultimately responding. When God "hears," it signifies His active engagement with the petitioner, often leading to a favorable response or intervention. In Eliphaz's context, it specifically means God will acknowledge and grant Job's requests if he repents.
* **Vows (Hebrew, _neder'_), Pay (Hebrew, _shalem'_):** A "vow" (נֶדֶר) is a solemn promise or pledge made to God, often contingent upon a specific divine act or as an expression of devotion. The verb "pay" (שָׁלָם) means to complete, fulfill, restore, or make whole. In this context, it refers to the obligation to fulfill a promise made to God, emphasizing the integrity and faithfulness required in one's relationship with the Almighty. The implication is that a restored Job would be able to fulfill any vows made during his distress, perhaps for deliverance, thus restoring his standing before God and community.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him":** This clause sets the condition for divine favor, emphasizing the necessity of direct, personal communication with God. Eliphaz urges Job to initiate this dialogue, implying that Job's current suffering is due to his alienation from God and that turning back in prayer is the first step toward reconciliation and restoration.
* **"and he shall hear thee":** This phrase offers the promise of divine responsiveness. It assures Job that if he prays, God will not only listen but will also heed and respond to his supplications. This reflects a fundamental biblical truth about God's attentiveness to His people, though Eliphaz's application here is tied to his rigid understanding of retribution.
* **"and thou shalt pay thy vows":** This final clause outlines the expected outcome and responsibility following God's favorable hearing. It implies that Job, once restored, will be in a position to fulfill any solemn promises or pledges he has made to God, perhaps vows made in desperation or in anticipation of deliverance. This highlights the importance of integrity and faithfulness in keeping one's word to God, a crucial aspect of ancient Israelite piety.

#### Literary Devices
Eliphaz's counsel in Job 22:27 employs several literary devices to convey his message. The primary device is **Conditional Statement**, though implied rather than explicitly stated with "if...then." The structure of the verse itself ("Thou shalt make thy prayer... and he shall hear... and thou shalt pay...") functions as a promise contingent upon Job's initial action of prayer and repentance, which Eliphaz has been urging throughout the chapter. There is also **Direct Address** ("Thou shalt..."), which makes the counsel personal and accusatory, placing the onus directly on Job. Furthermore, the verse functions as part of Eliphaz's larger **Rhetorical Persuasion**, aiming to convince Job of his guilt and the simple path to restoration through confession and adherence to religious duties. The seemingly straightforward nature of the promise masks the deeper theological complexities that the book of Job ultimately explores.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Eliphaz's counsel to Job is ultimately proven to be an inadequate explanation for Job's suffering, the principles embedded in Job 22:27 resonate with broader biblical truths about prayer and covenant faithfulness. The idea that God hears the prayers of His people is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, affirming His relational nature and His attentiveness to those who seek Him. However, unlike Eliphaz's simplistic view, the Bible teaches that God's hearing and response are not always contingent on a strict quid pro quo, nor do they always result in immediate material prosperity. Suffering can have purposes beyond punitive judgment, as exemplified by Job's experience. Similarly, the emphasis on fulfilling vows underscores the importance of integrity and commitment in one's walk with God, reflecting a covenantal faithfulness that extends beyond mere transactional piety. True faith involves trust in God's character, even when circumstances are inexplicable, and honoring commitments made to Him.

* [Psalm 66:19](/psalm/66-19 "Psalm 66:19 - God Has Heard My Prayer")
* [Proverbs 15:29](/proverbs/15-29 "Proverbs 15:29 - The Lord Is Far from the Wicked, but He Hears the Prayer of the Righteous")
* [Ecclesiastes 5:4-5](/ecclesiastes/5-4 "Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 - Do Not Delay in Fulfilling Vows")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 22:27, though spoken by a friend whose theology was ultimately incomplete, offers profound insights into the nature of our relationship with God. It reminds us that prayer is a vital pathway to God, a means by which we can lay our burdens before Him with the confidence that He listens. Even in times of deep distress or confusion, we are invited to bring our petitions to the Lord, trusting in His compassionate ear. Furthermore, the verse serves as a powerful reminder of the sacredness of promises made to God. Whether explicit vows or implicit commitments to live according to His Word, our integrity in fulfilling these obligations reflects the depth of our reverence and faithfulness. While we may not always understand the reasons for suffering, we can always approach God in prayer and strive to live lives of consistent devotion, fulfilling our commitments to Him not out of a desire to earn His favor, but out of grateful response to His unfailing love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Eliphaz's view of prayer and restoration in Job 22:27 compare with your own understanding of God's responsiveness to prayer, especially in times of suffering?**
* **What "vows" or commitments, explicit or implicit, have you made to God, and how faithfully are you striving to fulfill them in your daily life?**
* **In what ways does the book of Job challenge a simplistic "cause-and-effect" theology of suffering and prosperity, and how does this impact your approach to prayer and trust in God?**

### FAQ
**Was Eliphaz's advice in Job 22:27 entirely wrong, given God's later rebuke of the friends?**

Answer: Eliphaz's advice was not entirely wrong in its individual components, but it was profoundly misapplied to Job's situation. The principles that God hears prayer and that vows should be fulfilled are indeed biblical truths (e.g., [1 John 5:14](/1_john/5-14 "1 John 5:14 - Confidence in Prayer"); [Numbers 30:2](/numbers/30-2 "Numbers 30:2 - Keeping Vows")). However, Eliphaz's error lay in his unyielding assumption that Job's suffering was *necessarily* a direct consequence of his sin, and that repentance would *automatically* lead to material restoration. He failed to grasp the possibility of righteous suffering, divine testing, or God's sovereign purposes beyond human comprehension. God later rebukes Eliphaz and the other friends for not speaking what was right about Him ([Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")), indicating that their theological framework was too narrow and simplistic to accurately represent God's character and dealings with humanity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 22:27, though spoken from a flawed human perspective, points forward to the ultimate fulfillment of prayer, divine hearing, and covenantal faithfulness found in Jesus Christ. Eliphaz's counsel suggests a conditional access to God, where human repentance and vow-keeping are prerequisites for divine favor. However, in Christ, we find unconditional access to God's presence, not based on our perfect performance, but on His perfect sacrifice. Jesus himself is the ultimate "prayer" and intercessor, constantly pleading for His people before the Father ([Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession")). Through His atoning work, He has "paid" the ultimate "vow" of obedience to the Father's will, even unto death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). We, who are in Christ, are now heard by God not because of our own merit or perfectly kept vows, but because we are clothed in His righteousness and approach the Father through His name ([John 14:13-14](/john/14-13 "John 14:13-14 - Asking in Jesus' Name")). The promise of being heard by God and the ability to live a life of faithfulness are no longer precarious conditions dependent on our flawless conduct, but gracious gifts secured by the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). In Him, the brokenness of human vows is overcome by divine covenant, and our prayers ascend to a Father who always hears His beloved Son and those united with Him.

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

Isaiah 58:9

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Psalms 116:1

¶ I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice [and] my supplications.

1 John 5:14

¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:15

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Psalms 50:14

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

Psalms 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 91:15

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.