Job 15:31

Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.

Let not him that is deceived {H8582} trust {H539} in vanity {H7723}: for vanity {H7723} shall be his recompence {H8545}.

Let him not rely on futile methods, thereby deceiving himself; for what he will receive in exchange will be only futility.

Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.

Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; For vanity shall be his recompense.

Commentary

Job 15:31, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, warns against placing confidence in deception and emptiness, asserting that futility will be the ultimate outcome for those who do.

Context

This verse is part of Eliphaz's second discourse to Job. As one of Job's three friends, Eliphaz often speaks from a traditional theological perspective, believing that suffering is a direct consequence of sin. In this chapter, he strongly rebukes Job, accusing him of pride, folly, and rejecting God's wisdom (Job 15:2-6). Eliphaz presents a vivid picture of the wicked man's inevitable downfall, using this verse to underscore the idea that those who live in deceit and trust in worthless things will find only worthlessness as their reward. While Eliphaz's general principle about the consequences of wickedness can be true, his application to Job was flawed, as Job's suffering was not a result of his sin, a truth revealed later in the book (Job 42:7).

Key Themes

  • The Peril of Deception: The verse highlights the danger of being misled or deluded, whether by self-deception or by false promises of the world. Trusting in what is not real or true leads to a path of error.
  • The Emptiness of False Trust: The term "vanity" signifies worthlessness, futility, or emptiness. Eliphaz warns against placing one's hope or reliance on anything that lacks true substance, such as worldly possessions, human strength, or deceptive ideologies, rather than on God.
  • Inevitable Recompense: The statement "vanity shall be his recompence" emphasizes a principle of divine justice or natural consequence. What one sows, one reaps. If one invests their trust in emptiness, the reward will be nothing but emptiness.

Linguistic Insights

The key Hebrew word here is shav (ืฉึธืื•ึฐื), translated as "vanity." This term often denotes emptiness, worthlessness, falsehood, or futility. It is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe idols or false gods (e.g., the third commandment against taking God's name in vain, which literally means "for emptiness" or "for falsehood"). This emphasizes that anything apart from God is ultimately without true value or lasting benefit. The term "deceived" comes from the Hebrew nasha (ื ึธืฉึธืื), meaning to beguile, delude, or cause to forget, underscoring the active nature of being misled.

Strategic Cross-References & Internal Links

  • The concept of "vanity" is a central theme in the book of Ecclesiastes, particularly Ecclesiastes 1:2, which declares "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity." This reinforces the idea that life apart from God's eternal perspective is ultimately meaningless.
  • The danger of trusting in anything other than God is echoed in Jeremiah 17:5, which warns against trusting in man.
  • Conversely, Proverbs 3:5 encourages trusting in the Lord with all one's heart, contrasting with the futility of trusting in vanity.

Practical Application

Job 15:31 serves as a timeless warning for all. It prompts us to critically examine where we place our trust and hope. Do we seek satisfaction, security, or meaning in temporary, worldly pursuits, or in the unchanging truth of God? The verse reminds us that investing our lives in that which is fleeting or false will ultimately yield no lasting reward, but only emptiness. True wisdom lies in discerning the difference between genuine, enduring truth and deceptive, fleeting vanity, choosing to build our lives on a foundation that will not fail (Matthew 7:24-27).

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 59:4 (7 votes)

    None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

  • Psalms 62:10 (4 votes)

    Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart [upon them].

  • Job 12:16 (3 votes)

    With him [is] strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver [are] his.

  • Galatians 6:3 (3 votes)

    For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

  • Galatians 6:7 (3 votes)

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

  • Galatians 6:8 (3 votes)

    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Job 4:8 (3 votes)

    Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.