Job 22:6

In Job 22:6, Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's three friends, hurls a direct and severe accusation against Job. This verse is part of a larger speech where Eliphaz attempts to convince Job that his immense suffering is a direct consequence of unconfessed sin, despite Job's consistent assertions of his innocence.

Context

Eliphaz's speech in Job 22 represents the culmination of the friends' argument. They operate under a rigid retribution theology, believing that God always blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked. Since Job is suffering, they conclude he must be wicked. In this particular verse, Eliphaz moves from general accusations to specific, albeit unsubstantiated, charges of social injustice. He paints a picture of Job as someone who has exploited the poor and vulnerable, a stark contrast to Job's actual character as described in Job 29:12-17, where Job recounts his care for the needy and the oppressed.

Key Themes

• Injustice and Oppression: The verse directly accuses Job of two specific acts of injustice: taking a pledge "for nought" and stripping the naked. This highlights the theme of abusing power against the vulnerable.
• Vulnerability of the Poor: The "naked" and those from whom pledges are taken represent the most vulnerable members of society. Ancient Near Eastern law, particularly the Mosaic Law, provided strict protections for such individuals, recognizing their desperate need.
• Misguided Accusation: Crucially, these accusations against Job are false. This verse underscores the central dramatic irony of the book of Job – the friends' confident pronouncements about God's justice are misapplied to Job's situation, revealing their flawed understanding of divine providence and human suffering.
• Retribution Theology: Eliphaz's words are deeply rooted in the belief that righteousness always leads to prosperity and wickedness always leads to suffering. This verse is an example of how this theology was used to condemn Job.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pledge" is chabol (חֲבֹל), referring to an item given as security for a loan. While taking a pledge was a common practice, specific laws in the Old Testament, such as those found in Exodus 22:26-27 and Deuteronomy 24:10-13, mandated that necessities like a poor person's cloak taken as a pledge had to be returned by nightfall so they could stay warm. To take a pledge "for nought" (chinnam, חִנָּם) means to take it "without cause" or "gratuitously," implying an unjust or unnecessary seizure, or perhaps taking more than was owed. "Stripped the naked of their clothing" further emphasizes the extreme cruelty and lack of compassion, leaving the most destitute without even their basic covering.

Practical Application

Job 22:6, though a false accusation, serves as a powerful reminder of God's concern for justice and compassion towards the vulnerable. It highlights the biblical imperative to care for the poor and to avoid any form of exploitation. It also warns against the dangers of making hasty judgments about others' suffering, particularly when attributing it solely to personal sin. We are called to extend empathy and support rather than condemnation, recognizing that God's ways are often beyond our full comprehension, as later revealed in God's speeches from the whirlwind. The principle of not oppressing the poor is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, from the Law to the Prophets (e.g., Ezekiel 18:12) and into the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 25:40).