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Job 15:14

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What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

What is man {H582}, that he should be clean {H2135}? and he which is born {H3205} of a woman {H802}, that he should be righteous {H6663}?

"What is a human being, that he could be innocent, someone born from a woman, that he could be righteous?

What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

Commentary

Job 15:14 (KJV): "What [is] man, that he should be clean? and [he which is] born of a woman, that he should be righteous?"

Context

This verse is part of the second speech delivered by Eliphaz the Temanite to Job. In the ongoing debate with Job, Eliphaz and his friends maintain that suffering is a consequence of sin. Here, Eliphaz is challenging Job's implied claims of innocence and self-righteousness. He uses a series of rhetorical questions and strong assertions (including those in the surrounding verses like Job 15:15-16) to emphasize the vast gap between God's absolute purity and the inherent sinfulness of humanity. Eliphaz's aim is to humble Job and lead him to confess sin, which he believes is the root of Job's suffering.

Key Themes

  • Human Depravity and Impurity: The primary message is that humanity, by its very nature and origin ("born of a woman"), is fundamentally flawed and incapable of achieving true purity or righteousness through its own efforts. This reflects a biblical understanding of inherited sin.
  • Divine Holiness and Justice: The verse implicitly highlights the immense contrast between God's perfect, unblemished holiness and the inherent imperfection of mankind. God's standard of righteousness is infinitely high, making human self-justification impossible.
  • Rhetorical Questioning: The questions are not seeking an answer but are designed to assert an undeniable truth: no human can stand perfectly clean or righteous before a holy God on their own merit.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated as "clean" is tahar (טהר), which can refer to ceremonial purity as well as moral cleanliness. The word for "righteous" is tsadaq (צדק), meaning just, upright, or vindicated. Eliphaz's choice of words emphasizes that humanity falls short on both counts—in their inherent being and their moral standing. The phrase "born of a woman" is a common biblical idiom emphasizing human mortality and the universal condition of being part of fallen humanity, inherited since the fall in Eden.

Practical Application

While Eliphaz's counsel to Job was ultimately deemed flawed by God, this particular verse articulates a profound theological truth about the human condition. It underscores our universal need for divine grace and redemption. We cannot make ourselves truly "clean" or "righteous" in God's eyes through our own works, good deeds, or self-effort. This understanding should lead to humility and a deep appreciation for the provision God has made for our sin. The New Testament reveals that true righteousness is not earned but is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, who became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. This verse encourages us to look beyond ourselves for salvation and purification, relying entirely on God's mercy and the atoning work of Christ.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ecclesiastes 7:20 (8 votes)

    For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

  • Job 14:4 (8 votes)

    Who can bring a clean [thing] out of an unclean? not one.

  • Proverbs 20:9 (7 votes)

    ¶ Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

  • Romans 7:18 (5 votes)

    For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

  • Job 25:4 (5 votes)

    How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean [that is] born of a woman?

  • Job 25:6 (5 votes)

    How much less man, [that is] a worm? and the son of man, [which is] a worm?

  • 1 Kings 8:46 (4 votes)

    If they sin against thee, (for [there is] no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;