Job 22:7

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

Thou hast not given water {H4325} to the weary {H5889} to drink {H8248}, and thou hast withholden {H4513} bread {H3899} from the hungry {H7457}.

you didn't give water to the weary to drink, you withheld food from the hungry.

You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,

Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

Job 22:7 is a verse from Eliphaz the Temanite's third and most aggressive speech to Job. In this verse, Eliphaz directly accuses Job of lacking basic human compassion, specifically towards the vulnerable and needy, implying that this wickedness is the cause of Job's immense suffering.

Context of Job 22:7

This verse is part of Eliphaz's attempts to convince Job that his suffering is a direct consequence of his sin. Eliphaz, like Job's other friends, adheres to a strict retribution theology, believing that God punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous. Having failed to elicit a confession from Job through more general admonitions, Eliphaz resorts to making specific, though unsubstantiated, accusations. He paints a picture of Job as a wealthy man who callously neglected the poor, the weary, and the hungry. This accusation is particularly stinging because Job himself had been known for his righteousness and generosity, as he later defends in Job 29:16 and Job 31:17.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Lack of Compassion: The core accusation is a severe lack of empathy and practical aid for those in desperate need. Eliphaz charges Job with a deliberate refusal to provide fundamental necessities like water and food.
  • Ethical Responsibility: The verse, by way of accusation, underscores a pervasive biblical theme: the moral obligation to care for the poor, the hungry, and the thirsty. Even though Eliphaz misapplies it to Job, the principle itself is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern justice and God's law.
  • False Accusation: Irony pervades this passage, as Eliphaz accuses Job of the very sins Job meticulously avoided. This highlights the dangers of judgmentalism and attempting to deduce a person's sin based solely on their circumstances.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, direct language: "Thou hast not given water... and thou hast withholden bread." The Hebrew word for "withholden" is mana' (מָנַע), which implies a deliberate act of refusing or restraining, rather than simply an oversight. This makes Eliphaz's charge against Job particularly harsh and intentional, suggesting a conscious decision not to help those in dire straits.

Practical Application

While Eliphaz's accusations against Job were false, the principles embedded in the verse hold timeless relevance:

  • The Call to Compassion: This verse, even in its negative formulation, serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring biblical command to care for the vulnerable. We are called to embody compassion by providing for those who lack basic necessities, echoing the teachings found in Proverbs 19:17, which states, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD."
  • Serving the Needy: Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty as a direct act of service to Him (see Matthew 25:35). This highlights that acts of charity are not merely social good but spiritual duties.
  • Avoiding False Judgment: The context also warns against quick judgments and false accusations. We must be careful not to attribute suffering solely to sin or to assume the moral character of others based on their trials.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 31:17

    Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

  • Isaiah 58:7

    [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

  • Matthew 25:42

    For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

  • Ezekiel 18:16

    Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, [but] hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,

  • Ezekiel 18:7

    And hath not oppressed any, [but] hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;

  • Deuteronomy 15:7

    If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:

  • Deuteronomy 15:11

    For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

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