Job 4:2

Job 4:2 marks the beginning of Eliphaz the Temanite's first speech, setting the stage for the lengthy dialogue between Job and his three friends. After Job's profound lament over his suffering and desire for death, Eliphaz opens with a rhetorical question, essentially asking Job for permission to speak while simultaneously asserting his inability to remain silent.

Context

This verse is spoken by Eliphaz, the first of Job's three friends, who came to comfort him in his immense distress. Following a week of silent companionship (Job 2:13), Job finally broke his silence with a bitter lament (Job 3:1ff). Eliphaz's words here are his cautious, yet firm, introduction to his argument. He positions himself as someone who must speak, implying that what he has to say is important and necessary, even if it might be difficult for Job to hear.

Key Themes

• The Compulsion to Speak: Eliphaz expresses an irresistible urge to voice his thoughts, suggesting that silence would be unbearable. This highlights a common human tendency to offer explanations or advice when faced with suffering, even when uninvited.
• The Nature of Counsel: The verse introduces the complex dynamic of giving counsel to someone in pain. Eliphaz's opening implies a concern for Job's feelings ("wilt thou be grieved?"), but this is quickly overshadowed by his own need to speak, foreshadowing the divine rebuke they would later receive for their flawed understanding and harsh counsel.
• The Burden of Silence: For Eliphaz, holding back words is presented as an impossibility. This reflects a belief that truth, as he perceives it, must be articulated, especially in the face of what he considers Job's misguided lament.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "assay to commune with thee" comes from the Hebrew nissah dabar (נסה דבר), meaning "to try to speak" or "to attempt to say." It carries a sense of testing the waters or a cautious approach. The word for "grieved" is yiqqatsar (יקצר), which implies being distressed, impatient, or vexed. The latter part, "who can withhold himself from speaking?" uses the Hebrew mi yikleh millim (מי יכלא מלין), literally "who can refrain from words?", underscoring the powerful compulsion Eliphaz feels to express his thoughts, an irresistible urge much like Jeremiah's to speak God's word.

Practical Application

Job 4:2 offers a poignant lesson on the challenges of empathy and counsel. It reminds us that while we may feel compelled to speak when others suffer, the most helpful response often begins with active listening and compassionate presence, rather than immediate advice or judgment. It highlights the wisdom of listening carefully before offering advice and the difficulty of providing true comfort to those in distress. We are challenged to consider our motives for speaking and whether our words genuinely serve to uplift and console, or merely to satisfy our own need to provide answers.