Job 4:18

KJV

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

KJV (with Strong's)

Behold, he put no trust {H539} in his servants {H5650}; and his angels {H4397} he charged {H7760} with folly {H8417}:

Complete Jewish Bible

[God] doesn't trust his own servants, he finds fault even with his angels;

Berean Standard Bible

If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,

American Standard Version

Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants; And his angels he chargeth with folly:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 4:18 is a profound declaration by Eliphaz the Temanite, asserting God's absolute transcendence and unblemished purity. In his attempt to explain Job's suffering, Eliphaz argues that God places no ultimate confidence even in His celestial servants and attributes a degree of imperfection or "folly" to His angels. This statement underscores the immeasurable gap between the Creator's perfect holiness and the inherent limitations of all created beings, thereby implying that human beings are far more prone to sin and thus more deserving of divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the opening discourse of Eliphaz, the first of Job's three friends to speak, following Job's initial lament. Eliphaz presents himself as a voice of traditional wisdom, basing his arguments on a combination of common theological understanding and a personal, awe-inspiring vision (as described in [Job 4:12-16](/job/4-12 "Job 4:12-16 - Eliphaz's Vision")). His primary aim is to justify God's actions and subtly accuse Job of hidden sin, operating under the retribution theology that suffering is a direct consequence of wrongdoing. By emphasizing God's absolute purity and the imperfection of even heavenly beings, Eliphaz constructs a rhetorical foundation to argue that no human, especially Job, could possibly be righteous enough to escape divine scrutiny and judgment. This verse serves as a crucial premise for his subsequent assertions regarding human frailty and culpability.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, a region where wisdom literature flourished. This genre often explored themes of divine justice, human suffering, and the nature of righteousness. The prevailing cultural understanding, particularly among those adhering to a strict form of retribution theology, was that God justly rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Eliphaz's arguments reflect this conventional wisdom. While the concept of angels (or divine beings) was common in the ancient world, the idea that even these exalted entities could be deemed imperfect in God's sight highlights a uniquely high standard of divine holiness characteristic of Israelite theology. This context helps us understand Eliphaz's perspective: he is not questioning God's justice but rather reinforcing it by demonstrating that even the seemingly perfect fall short of God's infinite standard.
* **Key Themes:** Job 4:18 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully articulates **God's Absolute Transcendence and Perfection**, emphasizing an unbridgeable gulf between the Creator and all creation. God's standard of purity is so infinitely high that even the most exalted celestial beings are found wanting in His sight, as echoed in [Isaiah 6:2-3](/isaiah/6-2 "Isaiah 6:2-3 - Seraphim and God's Holiness"). Secondly, it introduces the theme of **Angelic Imperfection (from God's Perspective)**, challenging any notion of inherent flawlessness in angels. This is not to suggest moral failure in the human sense, but rather a recognition of their finite, created nature when compared to God's infinite wisdom and holiness. This underscores God's supreme authority and judgment over all. Thirdly, and most significantly for Eliphaz's argument, it implies **Human Frailty and Inherent Sinfulness**. If God finds imperfection in angels, then human beings, who are "born of a woman," are far more prone to sin and therefore worthy of punishment, a point Eliphaz explicitly develops later in [Job 15:14-16](/job/15-14 "Job 15:14-16 - Man's Impurity Before God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Trust (Hebrew, _'aman'_):** The verb "put no trust" comes from the Hebrew root אָמַן (*'aman*), which means "to be firm, trustworthy, believe, have confidence." When used in the negative, as here (לֹא יַאֲמִין, *lo' ya'amin*), it signifies that God does not find absolute reliability, unwavering faithfulness, or perfect trustworthiness in His servants. This is not a statement about their disloyalty, but rather about their inherent created limitation; they cannot perfectly embody the absolute trustworthiness and steadfastness that defines God Himself.
* **Servants (Hebrew, _'ăbādâw'_):** The Hebrew word עֲבָדָיו (*'ăbādâw*) is the plural possessive form of עֶבֶד (*'eved*), meaning "servant" or "slave." While it can refer to human servants, in this context, given the parallelism with "his angels," it clearly refers to celestial beings who serve God. This term highlights their subordinate status and their function as agents of God's will, yet even in their service, they are not deemed perfectly reliable by God's infinite standard.
* **Folly (Hebrew, _tāholâ'_):** The Hebrew word תָּהֳלָה (*tāholâ*) is translated as "folly." This term carries the nuance of error, imperfection, or something lacking purity, wisdom, or completeness when held up to God's absolute standard. It does not necessarily imply moral sin or rebellion in the human sense, but rather an inherent limitation, a finite nature, or a deficiency in wisdom compared to the infinite perfection of the Creator. God's "charging with folly" suggests a divine discernment of their finite, created nature, which falls short of His own unblemished perfection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Behold, he put no trust in his servants;":** This clause introduces Eliphaz's core assertion regarding God's absolute standard. The "servants" here are understood to be angelic beings. The statement signifies that God, in His infinite wisdom and perfect discernment, does not find absolute, unblemished faithfulness or reliability even in His most devoted celestial attendants. This is not a judgment on their loyalty but a profound theological statement about the inherent imperfection of all created beings when compared to the Creator's flawless nature.
* **"and his angels he charged with folly:":** This clause functions in parallel to the first, reinforcing and clarifying the nature of the "no trust." The "angels" are explicitly named, emphasizing that even these exalted beings, often perceived as pure and perfect, are deemed to possess some form of "folly" or imperfection from God's perspective. This "folly" refers to their created limitations, their finite wisdom, or their inability to perfectly reflect God's infinite purity and knowledge, rather than necessarily moral transgression. God's "charging" them implies a divine assessment and declaration of this inherent limitation.

#### Literary Devices
Eliphaz's statement in Job 4:18 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous or perhaps a form of intensifying parallelism, where the second clause ("and his angels he charged with folly") reiterates and amplifies the meaning of the first ("he put no trust in his servants"). This repetition emphasizes the universal nature of imperfection, extending even to the highest created beings. The statement also utilizes **Hyperbole**, as Eliphaz exaggerates the imperfection of angels to underscore the even greater imperfection of humans, thereby building a rhetorical case for Job's presumed guilt. While not a direct anthropomorphism of God's form, the phrase "he charged with folly" is an example of **Anthropopathism**, attributing a human-like action (charging, accusing) to God to describe His divine assessment and judgment of created beings.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 4:18, though spoken by a character whose understanding of God's justice is ultimately flawed in its application to Job, presents a profound theological truth about God's absolute holiness and the inherent limitations of all creation. It reveals that God's standard of purity is so infinitely high that no created being, no matter how exalted or seemingly perfect, can fully meet it. This truth underscores the radical transcendence of God, establishing an unbridgeable chasm between the Creator and the created. It serves as a foundational premise for understanding humanity's fallen state and our utter inability to achieve righteousness by our own efforts. If angels are found wanting, how much more so humanity, which is marred by sin? This realization should lead to profound humility and a deep appreciation for divine grace.

* [Isaiah 6:2-3](/isaiah/6-2 "Isaiah 6:2-3 - Seraphim and God's Holiness"): The seraphim, exalted angelic beings, cover their faces and feet before God, crying "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts," demonstrating their unworthiness and God's overwhelming purity.
* [Job 15:15](/job/15-15 "Job 15:15 - God's Trust in His Saints"): Eliphaz reiterates this point later, stating, "Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight," further emphasizing the universal imperfection before God.
* [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned"): The New Testament affirms this universal fallenness, declaring that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," underscoring the pervasive nature of human imperfection.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Eliphaz's statement in Job 4:18, while misapplied to Job's specific situation, offers a timeless and vital theological insight: God's holiness is utterly incomparable, and all creation, including the most exalted beings, falls short of His perfect standard. For believers, this truth cultivates profound humility, reminding us that any notion of self-righteousness is an illusion. Our best efforts, purest intentions, and most disciplined obedience are still tainted by the limitations of our created, fallen nature. This understanding should drive us away from any confidence in our own merit and instead compel us to rely entirely on the unmerited grace of God. It highlights our desperate need for a righteousness that is not our own, a perfection that only God can provide. This verse invites us to marvel at God's infinite majesty and to recognize our absolute dependence on Him for salvation and sanctification.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God finding "folly" in angels challenge or deepen your understanding of divine perfection?**
* **If even angels are imperfect in God's sight, what does this imply about human attempts to achieve righteousness through our own efforts?**
* **How does recognizing God's absolute holiness, as presented in this verse, impact your sense of humility and dependence on Him?**
* **In what ways might a misunderstanding of God's perfect standard lead to self-righteousness or judgmental attitudes towards others?**

### FAQ

**Does Job 4:18 mean that angels are sinful in the same way humans are?**

Answer: Not necessarily in the same way. The Hebrew word for "folly" (*tāholâ*) in this context refers more to an inherent limitation, imperfection, or a lack of absolute purity and wisdom when compared to God's infinite standard, rather than a moral rebellion or transgression as humans understand sin. While some angels did rebel (e.g., Satan and his demons), Eliphaz's statement here is a general theological assertion about the created nature of all angels, implying that even the faithful ones possess a finite quality that falls short of God's unblemished perfection. It highlights God's transcendence and the vast difference between the Creator and all creation.

**How does Eliphaz's statement about angelic imperfection relate to his argument against Job?**

Answer: Eliphaz uses this profound theological truth as a rhetorical premise to justify Job's suffering. His logic is: if God finds imperfection even in His perfect angels, how much more will He find fault in a human being like Job? Therefore, Job's immense suffering must be a consequence of some hidden sin, because God is perfectly just and would not afflict an innocent person. While the theological premise about God's holiness and created imperfection is sound, Eliphaz's application of it to Job's situation is flawed, as the book of Job ultimately demonstrates that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. He misuses a truth about God's character to condemn Job.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 4:18, with its stark declaration of God's absolute purity and the inherent imperfection of all created beings, including angels, profoundly sets the stage for the necessity and glory of Jesus Christ. If no created being, however exalted, can perfectly meet God's standard, then humanity, marred by sin, is utterly lost. This verse highlights the unbridgeable chasm between a holy God and imperfect creation, a gap that only Christ could span. Jesus Christ alone is the one "who knew no sin" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Knew No Sin")) and was "without sin" ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sinless High Priest")). He perfectly fulfilled God's righteous demands, not only in His life but also in His atoning death, where He became sin for us. Through His perfect obedience and sacrifice, His righteousness is imputed to believers, so that "by the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous" ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ")). Thus, the "folly" or imperfection found in all creation is overcome in Christ, who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ Our Wisdom")). We are now found righteous in God's sight, not through our own merit, but through faith in the One who perfectly pleased the Father and had no folly in Him ([Philippians 3:9](/philippians/3-9 "Philippians 3:9 - Righteousness Through Faith in Christ")).

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.