Job 4:6

KJV

[Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

KJV (with Strong's)

Is not this thy fear {H3374}, thy confidence {H3690}, thy hope {H8615}, and the uprightness {H8537} of thy ways {H1870}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Isn't your fear of God your assurance, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Berean Standard Bible

Is your reverence not your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope?

American Standard Version

Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, Andthe integrity of thy ways thy hope?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 4:6 presents Eliphaz the Temanite's pivotal rhetorical question to Job, challenging the very foundations of Job's renowned piety and blamelessness in the face of his immense suffering. Eliphaz, operating from a strict theology of retribution, implies that Job's established reverence for God, his confidence, his hope, and the integrity of his life should have shielded him from such calamity, thereby subtly suggesting that Job's current plight must be a consequence of some unconfessed sin or hidden moral failing, despite Job's previously attested righteousness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 4:6 is embedded within Eliphaz's initial response to Job's profound lamentation in [Job 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament"). Following Job's desperate wish for death and his questioning of divine purpose in sustaining the afflicted ([Job 3:20-26](/job/3-20 "Job 3:20-26 - Job's Despair")), Eliphaz, the first of Job's three friends to speak, begins his discourse. He starts with a seemingly gentle, empathetic tone, acknowledging Job's past role as a comforter of others ([Job 4:3-4](/job/4-3 "Job 4:3-4 - Eliphaz's Initial Words")). However, this quickly shifts to a direct challenge to Job's integrity, framed by the prevailing wisdom tradition. Eliphaz's question in [Job 4:6](/job/4-6 "Job 4:6 - Eliphaz's Question to Job") serves as the rhetorical pivot, setting up his argument that the righteous do not perish, nor do the upright suffer without cause ([Job 4:7](/job/4-7 "Job 4:7 - Eliphaz's Retribution Theology")). This verse, therefore, is crucial in establishing the central conflict of the book: the nature of suffering and the validity of the friends' conventional wisdom against Job's inexplicable pain.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, likely in the land of Uz, a region known for its wisdom traditions. The friends of Job, including Eliphaz, represent the dominant theological paradigm of their time: the doctrine of divine retribution. This belief system posited a direct, mechanistic correlation between human actions and divine consequences – righteousness led to blessing and prosperity, while sin inevitably resulted in suffering and calamity. This was a common understanding in the ancient world, reflected in various wisdom literatures. For Eliphaz, Job's immense suffering, which included the loss of his children, wealth, and health ([Job 1-2](/job/1 "Job 1 - Job's Prosperity and Loss") and [Job 2](/job/2 "Job 2 - Job's Further Suffering")), could only be explained by a hidden sin on Job's part. Their cultural framework lacked a robust understanding of suffering that was not punitive, leading them to misinterpret Job's situation and offer what they believed to be sound theological counsel, but which ultimately proved to be accusatory and unhelpful.
* **Key Themes:** Job 4:6 is a microcosm of several overarching themes in the Book of Job. Primarily, it encapsulates the **theology of retribution**, which is the central intellectual battleground of the book. Eliphaz's question directly applies this doctrine, implying that Job's suffering is proof of his sin, challenging the very premise of Job's blamelessness established in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction to Job's Character"). This verse also highlights the theme of **integrity under scrutiny**. Job's "fear," "confidence," "hope," and "uprightness" were the very virtues for which he was renowned, and Eliphaz's question forces these qualities into the crucible of severe adversity, testing their authenticity and endurance. Furthermore, the verse introduces the theme of **false comfort and misguided counsel**. While perhaps well-intentioned, Eliphaz's words, steeped in judgmental assumptions, exemplify how human attempts to explain divine actions can become a source of further pain and accusation for those who are suffering, rather than providing genuine solace or understanding.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Fear (Hebrew, _yir'ah'_):** This term, often translated as "fear of the Lord," denotes not mere terror but a profound reverence, awe, and worshipful submission to God. In the wisdom literature, it is consistently equated with the beginning of knowledge and wisdom ([Proverbs 9:10](/proverbs/9-10 "Proverbs 9:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom")). Eliphaz implies that if Job truly possessed this foundational reverence, it should have been a protective and sustaining force in his life, preventing such calamity.
* **Confidence (Hebrew, _kisla'_):** This word carries a dual meaning, capable of denoting either trust, security, and assurance, or foolishness and presumption. In this context, given the other virtues listed, it refers to Job's sense of security or assurance, presumably rooted in his blameless walk with God. Eliphaz questions why this confidence, if genuine, has not sustained Job through his ordeal.
* **Hope (Hebrew, _tiqvah'_):** This refers to expectation, anticipation, or a cord that binds and holds fast. It speaks of a positive outlook, often for divine favor, intervention, or a future outcome. Eliphaz suggests that Job's established hope in God should have been robust enough to prevent his current despair and lamentation.
* **Uprightness of thy ways (Hebrew, _tom derekheykha'_):** Literally, "the integrity of your paths." This phrase directly echoes the initial description of Job as "blameless and upright" ([Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Blameless Character")). It refers to moral integrity, blameless conduct, and a life lived in accordance with divine commands. Eliphaz's question challenges whether Job's outward uprightness was truly reflective of an inward, unwavering commitment that should have guaranteed divine protection.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope":** This opening phrase functions as a rhetorical question, designed to elicit an affirmative answer from Job, or at least to force him to confront the implications of his suffering. Eliphaz lists three core spiritual virtues: reverence for God, inner assurance, and positive expectation. The implied argument is that these qualities, if truly present and potent, should have been sufficient bulwarks against the kind of calamity Job is experiencing. The very presence of his suffering, from Eliphaz's perspective, casts doubt on the authenticity or efficacy of these virtues in Job's life.
* **"and the uprightness of thy ways?":** This final clause adds a moral and behavioral dimension to the spiritual virtues. "Uprightness of thy ways" refers to Job's blameless conduct and integrity in daily life. This directly links to the divine testimony of Job's character at the beginning of the book ([Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Character Introduction")). Eliphaz's question, therefore, challenges Job on both his internal spiritual state (fear, confidence, hope) and his external moral conduct (uprightness), subtly implying that one or both must be deficient if he is suffering so greatly.

#### Literary Devices
Job 4:6 primarily employs a **Rhetorical Question**. Eliphaz's query is not posed to gain information but to make a point and subtly accuse Job. It is designed to lead Job (and the reader) to a specific conclusion: that Job's suffering must be a consequence of some hidden sin, because a truly righteous person, possessing these virtues, would not suffer so. This rhetorical device carries an implicit **Irony**, as the very virtues Eliphaz lists are precisely those for which Job was commended by God himself ([Job 1:8](/job/1-8 "Job 1:8 - God's Praise of Job")). The question also uses **Juxtaposition**, placing Job's supposed virtues directly against the backdrop of his profound suffering, forcing a comparison that, in Eliphaz's mind, leads to an inescapable conclusion of Job's culpability.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 4:6, though spoken from a flawed human perspective, profoundly engages with the nature of suffering, divine justice, and human understanding of God. It highlights the theological pitfall of a simplistic, mechanistic view of retribution, where all suffering is directly linked to sin. The book of Job, through its narrative arc, ultimately refutes this narrow perspective, demonstrating that suffering can occur without direct punitive cause and can serve purposes beyond human comprehension, such as testing faith, refining character, or revealing God's sovereignty. The verse also underscores the challenge of maintaining faith and integrity when one's established virtues seem to offer no protection against calamity, forcing a deeper exploration of God's character and the true meaning of righteousness.

* [Proverbs 28:1](/proverbs/28-1 "Proverbs 28:1 - The Righteous are Bold as a Lion")
* [Psalm 73:1-14](/psalm/73-1 "Psalm 73:1-14 - The Prosperity of the Wicked")
* [John 9:1-3](/john/9-1 "John 9:1-3 - Suffering Not Always Due to Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 4:6 serves as a powerful cautionary tale against judgmentalism and the dangers of offering simplistic explanations for complex suffering. When we encounter others in distress, our primary response should be empathy, compassion, and presence, rather than immediate theological diagnosis or veiled accusation. The qualities Eliphaz mentions—fear of God, confidence, hope, and uprightness—are indeed vital for a life of faith. However, their true strength and authenticity are often revealed not in times of ease and prosperity, but precisely when they are most severely tested by inexplicable adversity. This verse challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith: is our "fear of the Lord" merely a fair-weather piety, or does it anchor us when life crumbles? Is our "confidence" in God unwavering, even when His ways seem inscrutable? And does our "hope" persist beyond immediate circumstances, rooted in His unchanging character rather than our fleeting comfort?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when I see someone suffering intensely? Do I tend to look for a reason or a fault, or do I first offer compassion?**
* **In what ways might my own "theology of retribution" (conscious or unconscious) influence how I interpret the suffering of others or even my own trials?**
* **How does my "fear of the Lord," "confidence," and "hope" manifest when my life is going well versus when I face unexpected hardship?**
* **What does Job 4:6 teach me about the importance of listening and empathizing before speaking, especially when comforting those in deep pain?**

### FAQ
**Does the Bible teach that all suffering is a direct result of personal sin?**

Answer: No, the Book of Job, particularly through the narrative surrounding [Job 4:6](/job/4-6 "Job 4:6 - Eliphaz's Question"), powerfully refutes the simplistic notion that all suffering is a direct, punitive consequence of personal sin. While the Bible certainly teaches that sin has consequences and can lead to suffering ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")), it also presents multiple other reasons for suffering, including living in a fallen world ([Romans 8:22](/romans/8-22 "Romans 8:22 - Creation Groans")), for God's glory ([John 9:1-3](/john/9-1 "John 9:1-3 - Blind Man's Suffering for God's Glory")), for testing and refining faith ([1 Peter 1:6-7](/1_peter/1-6 "1 Peter 1:6-7 - Testing of Faith")), or even as part of spiritual warfare ([Job 1](/job/1 "Job 1 - Satan's Challenge")). Eliphaz's perspective in [Job 4:6](/job/4-6 "Job 4:6 - Eliphaz's Accusation") represents a common but incomplete ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition that the Book of Job ultimately challenges and broadens, demonstrating God's sovereignty and the mystery of His ways.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 4:6, with its challenge to Job's integrity and the implied link between suffering and sin, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. While Eliphaz suggests that Job's suffering must stem from his own failings, Jesus Christ, the only truly blameless and upright one ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sinless High Priest")), suffered immensely, not for His own sin, but for the sins of humanity ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). The "fear," "confidence," "hope," and "uprightness" that Eliphaz questions in Job are perfectly embodied in Christ, yet they did not exempt Him from suffering; rather, they enabled Him to endure it for redemptive purposes ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of Our Faith")). In Jesus, we see the ultimate answer to the problem of innocent suffering: God Himself enters into suffering, not as punishment, but as a means of salvation, demonstrating a love that transcends simplistic retribution theology. Through His cross, Christ transforms suffering from a sign of divine displeasure into a potential pathway for deeper communion with God and participation in His redemptive work ([Philippians 3:10](/philippians/3-10 "Philippians 3:10 - Sharing in Christ's Sufferings")).

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

Proverbs 3:26

For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Proverbs 14:26

¶ In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Job 1:1

¶ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job 17:15

And where [is] now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?

Job 23:11

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Job 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

Job 16:17

¶ Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer [is] pure.