Job 4:12

KJV

¶ Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now a thing {H1697} was secretly brought {H1589} to me, and mine ear {H241} received {H3947} a little {H8102} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

"For a word was stealthily brought to me, my ear caught only a whisper of it.

Berean Standard Bible

Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it.

American Standard Version

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 4:12 introduces a pivotal, mysterious moment in Eliphaz the Temanite’s first discourse, where he recounts a profound personal experience. He describes a "thing" that was secretly delivered to him, which his ear apprehended only partially, building an air of suspense and solemnity. This enigmatic revelation serves as the authoritative foundation for his subsequent theological assertions concerning divine justice and human impurity, subtly challenging Job's innocence and the integrity of his lamentations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically positioned within Eliphaz's initial response to Job's profound lamentations in [Job 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament and Curse"). As the first of Job's three friends to speak, Eliphaz begins with a seemingly comforting, yet subtly critical, tone, questioning Job's integrity in the face of suffering ([Job 4:2-6](/job/4-2 "Job 4:2-6 - Eliphaz's Opening Counsel")). He then shifts to defending God's justice through conventional wisdom, asserting that the truly righteous do not perish and that wickedness inevitably brings ruin ([Job 4:7-9](/job/4-7 "Job 4:7-9 - Eliphaz's Argument of Retribution")). [Job 4:12](/job/4-12 "Job 4:12 - Eliphaz's Secret Revelation") marks a dramatic rhetorical pivot, as Eliphaz introduces a personal, supernatural experience—a vision—to lend irrefutable authority to his subsequent claims about human sinfulness and God's absolute holiness ([Job 4:17-19](/job/4-17 "Job 4:17-19 - Eliphaz's Conclusion on Human Righteousness")). This vision serves as the foundational premise for his entire argument in [Job 4-5](/job/4 "Job 4 - Eliphaz's First Speech"), establishing the flawed theological framework that will dominate the subsequent dialogues between Job and his friends.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region likely situated east of Palestine, suggesting a non-Israelite but monotheistic cultural backdrop. The "friends" represent ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, where suffering was commonly understood as a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity as a sign of divine favor. Divine communication through dreams, visions, or spiritual encounters was a recognized and highly esteemed phenomenon in this cultural milieu, often lending significant authority to those who claimed such experiences. Eliphaz's appeal to a personal, awe-inspiring revelation would have been a powerful rhetorical device, intended to silence Job's protests by invoking a higher, seemingly unchallengeable source of truth. This aligns with the authoritative pronouncements of ancient sages, who often grounded their wisdom in perceived divine encounters, seeking to validate their counsel by appealing to a transcendent origin.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully introduces the theme of **divine communication and revelation**, albeit through a human filter, raising critical questions about its interpretation and application. It highlights the **mystery and awe** associated with encounters with the divine, emphasizing the partial and enigmatic nature of such experiences. Crucially, it underscores the theme of **the source of authority** in theological discourse, as Eliphaz uses his vision to validate his conventional wisdom and, by implication, condemn Job. Ultimately, the vision, as interpreted by Eliphaz, serves to reinforce the pervasive theme of **human frailty and impurity** in contrast to God's absolute holiness, a central tenet of the friends' flawed theology that Job will challenge throughout the remainder of the book. This tension between human experience and divine truth, and the proper interpretation of both, is a core concern throughout the book of [Job](/job "The Book of Job").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **גָּנַב (Hebrew, _gânab'_):** This Hebrew verb, typically translated as "to thieve," "to steal," or "to carry off stealthily," is used here in the passive sense, "was secretly brought." It implies a clandestine, unannounced, or even surreptitious delivery of the message. This choice of word emphasizes the private, unexpected, and perhaps even unsettling nature of the communication, suggesting it was not an open, public declaration but a hidden, almost intrusive, whisper that came upon Eliphaz unbidden. It highlights the mysterious and perhaps even unauthorized manner in which this "thing" arrived, lending it an air of profound, almost forbidden, knowledge.
* **שֶׁמֶץ (Hebrew, _shemets'_):** This noun, translated as "a little thereof" or "an inkling," denotes a faint sound, a mere fragment, a hint, or an indistinct impression. It signifies that Eliphaz did not receive a full, clear, or comprehensive pronouncement, but rather a partial, perhaps indistinct, and elusive insight. This partiality adds to the mystery and awe surrounding the experience, suggesting something profound yet not fully grasped or articulated, yet still deemed authoritative by Eliphaz. It underscores the idea that even a fragment of divine communication can be profoundly impactful, especially when presented as a unique spiritual encounter.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now a thing was secretly brought to me":** This opening clause immediately establishes a sense of mystery and personal encounter. The "thing" (דָּבָר, _davar_) is intentionally vague, referring to a word, matter, or event, which is then qualified by the verb "secretly brought" (גָּנַב, _gânab_). This suggests an unbidden, private, and perhaps even surreptitious communication, not a public or clear revelation. Eliphaz presents himself as a passive recipient of this profound, almost surreptitious, spiritual delivery, setting the stage for a revelation that he considers to be of divine origin and paramount importance, thereby elevating his subsequent words above mere human opinion.
* **"and mine ear received a little thereof":** This second clause further emphasizes the elusive and partial nature of the experience. The Hebrew word for "a little thereof" (שֶׁמֶץ, _shemets_) implies a whisper, a fragment, or a faint impression, rather than a full, clear articulation. Eliphaz is not claiming to have heard a complete divine discourse, but rather a mere hint or echo of a greater truth. This partial reception heightens the suspense and underscores the idea that what he is about to reveal is profound, yet perhaps not fully comprehended even by him, lending it an air of unassailable authority and suggesting that its very mystery makes it more potent.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to achieve its dramatic and persuasive effect. **Suspense** is immediately created by the vague reference to "a thing" and the description of its "secret" delivery, prompting the reader to anticipate the impending revelation. This also functions as **foreshadowing**, hinting at the terrifying vision Eliphaz will describe in subsequent verses. Eliphaz uses this personal experience as a powerful **rhetorical strategy** to establish his authority and lend weight to his theological argument. By framing his message as a direct, albeit partial, spiritual encounter, he attempts to elevate his conventional wisdom to the level of divine truth, making it seem unassailable. The language itself, with "secretly brought" and "a little thereof," employs **mystery** and **ambiguity**, enhancing the sense of awe and the profound nature of the encounter Eliphaz is about to share, while simultaneously highlighting its elusive quality, which paradoxically makes it more compelling.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 4:12 serves as a critical theological hinge, introducing the concept of divine revelation through personal experience within the context of human suffering and judgment. Eliphaz's claim to a "secretly brought" message, though partial, is presented as an authoritative word from the spiritual realm, intended to validate his conventional wisdom that suffering is a direct consequence of sin. This raises profound questions about the nature of divine communication, the discernment of spiritual messages, and the potential for human misinterpretation or misapplication of such experiences, particularly when used to condemn or explain the suffering of others. It highlights the tension between personal spiritual insight and universal theological truth, a tension that will be explored throughout the book of Job as the friends' "revelations" prove inadequate to explain Job's unique situation.
* [Deuteronomy 29:29](/deuteronomy/29-29 "Deuteronomy 29:29 - The Secret Things Belong to God")
* [1 John 4:1](/1_john/4-1 "1 John 4:1 - Test the Spirits")
* [Proverbs 14:12](/proverbs/14-12 "Proverbs 14:12 - There is a Way Which Seemeth Right Unto a Man")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Eliphaz's experience in Job 4:12 invites us to reflect on the sources of our own understanding and the authority we ascribe to them. While God does communicate with humanity in various ways, this verse cautions against the dangers of elevating personal, partial experiences to absolute, universal truths, especially when those truths are used to judge or condemn others. It challenges us to cultivate discernment, recognizing that even genuine spiritual encounters can be misinterpreted or misapplied through the lens of our own biases, preconceived notions, or a limited understanding of God's multifaceted character. True wisdom, unlike Eliphaz's, does not seek to explain away suffering with simplistic formulas, but rather to walk with those who hurt, acknowledging the mystery of God's ways and the limits of human understanding. This verse calls us to humility in our theological assertions and compassion in our interactions, prioritizing empathetic presence over dogmatic pronouncements based on incomplete or misapplied revelations.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we discern between genuine spiritual insight and personal bias when interpreting our experiences or those of others?**
* **In what ways might we, like Eliphaz, use our "revelations" or theological frameworks to inadvertently condemn or misjudge those who are suffering?**
* **What does it mean to approach the "mystery of God" with humility, acknowledging the limits of our understanding?**
* **How can we offer comfort and support to those in pain without resorting to simplistic explanations of their suffering?**

### FAQ
**Was Eliphaz's vision from God?**

Answer: The text states Eliphaz had a profound spiritual experience, but it does not explicitly state it was a direct, accurate revelation from God in the sense of being a universally applicable truth for Job's situation. While Eliphaz certainly believed it was, the unfolding narrative of Job suggests that his interpretation and application of this "revelation" were flawed. The vision itself, detailed in [Job 4:13-16](/job/4-13-16 "Job 4:13-16 - Eliphaz's Terrifying Vision"), led him to a conclusion about human impurity ([Job 4:17-19](/job/4-17-19 "Job 4:17-19 - Eliphaz's Conclusion on Human Righteousness")) that, while true in a general sense, was misapplied to Job's specific situation. Ultimately, God Himself later rebukes Eliphaz and his friends for not speaking what was right about Him ([Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")), implying their "wisdom," even that derived from a vision, was deficient and did not fully align with God's character or purposes regarding Job's suffering.

**Why does Eliphaz emphasize that the message was "secretly brought" and only "a little thereof" was received?**

Answer: Eliphaz uses this language to heighten the sense of mystery, awe, and authority surrounding his experience. By stating it was "secretly brought" (Hebrew _gânab_, suggesting stealth or privacy) and only "a little thereof" (Hebrew _shemets_, a whisper or fragment) was received, he implies that the message was not a common human insight but a profound, almost overwhelming spiritual encounter. This rhetorical strategy aims to lend irrefutable weight to his subsequent arguments, presenting his wisdom as divinely sanctioned and beyond dispute, even if he himself only grasped a part of it. It serves to build suspense and impress upon Job the gravity of what he is about to reveal, suggesting that he has access to a deeper, more profound truth than Job's own experience.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Eliphaz's partial, enigmatic, and ultimately misapplied "revelation" in [Job 4:12](/job/4-12 "Job 4:12 - Eliphaz's Secret Revelation") stands in stark contrast to the perfect, full, and compassionate revelation of God in Jesus Christ. While Eliphaz received a "whisper" that led him to condemn Job based on a flawed understanding of divine justice, Christ is the very Word of God made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the ultimate and complete unveiling of the Father's character ([Hebrews 1:1-3](/hebrews/1-1-3 "Hebrews 1:1-3 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")). Eliphaz's vision underscored human impurity, but it was a truth wielded as a weapon of judgment; Christ, however, perfectly embodied human righteousness while simultaneously bearing the impurity of sin on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin For Us")). Unlike Eliphaz, who offered no true comfort or solution to Job's suffering, Jesus is 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")), the compassionate High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic High Priest")), and the one who offers true peace and restoration, not judgment based on incomplete knowledge. In Christ, the "secret" of God's redemptive plan is fully revealed, not as a terrifying whisper, but as a resounding declaration of grace and truth, inviting all to find solace and righteousness in Him, a righteousness not earned but freely given ([Romans 3:21-24](/romans/3-21-24 "Romans 3:21-24 - Righteousness Through Faith")).

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

Job 26:14

Lo, these [are] parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Psalms 62:11

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power [belongeth] unto God.