Job 22

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 22

1¶ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

3[Is it] any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or [is it] gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect?

4Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

5¶ [Is] not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?

6For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

7Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.

8But [as for] the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

10Therefore snares [are] round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

11Or darkness, [that] thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

12[Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

13And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?

14Thick clouds [are] a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

15¶ Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?

16Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

18Yet he filled their houses with good [things]: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

19The righteous see [it], and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.

20Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

21¶ Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

23If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

24Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.

25Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.

26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.

27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.

28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

29When [men] are cast down, then thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

30He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Eliphaz the Temanite accuses Job of great wickedness and infinite iniquities, asserting that his suffering is a direct consequence of specific sins like oppressing the poor and neglecting the needy. He challenges Job's implied doubt about God's omniscience and judgment from heaven. Eliphaz then urges Job to repent, reconcile with God, and embrace His law, promising restoration, prosperity, and answered prayers if he does so.

Medium Summary

In Job 22, Eliphaz the Temanite continues his discourse, questioning if human righteousness benefits God, yet implying that Job's suffering stems from his own unrighteousness. He directly accuses Job of numerous transgressions, including taking pledges from the poor, stripping the naked, withholding food and water from the hungry, and oppressing widows and orphans. Eliphaz suggests that Job's calamities, such as snares and darkness, are divine retribution for these sins. He further implies that Job doubts God's ability to see and judge from the heavens. Drawing a parallel to wicked men destroyed by a flood, Eliphaz warns Job against their path. Finally, he offers a path to restoration, urging Job to reconcile with God, embrace His law, and put away iniquity, promising abundant blessings, divine protection, and answered prayers upon his repentance.

Long Summary

Eliphaz the Temanite opens his third address to Job by questioning the notion that human righteousness or perfection can benefit or please the Almighty. He then shifts to a direct and severe accusation, asserting that Job's wickedness is great and his iniquities infinite. Eliphaz enumerates specific alleged transgressions committed by Job, including taking pledges from his brethren for no reason, stripping the naked of their clothing, withholding water from the weary, and denying bread to the hungry. He also accuses Job of sending widows away empty-handed and breaking the arms of the fatherless, implying Job used his power to oppress the vulnerable. Consequently, Eliphaz declares that Job's current afflictions—snares, sudden fear, darkness, and overwhelming waters—are direct consequences of these unrighteous deeds. He then challenges Job's perceived skepticism regarding God's knowledge and judgment, implying Job believes God cannot see or judge through thick clouds from His high dwelling. Eliphaz warns Job against following the "old way" of wicked men who were cut down by a flood for their rejection of God, contrasting their destruction with the prosperity of the righteous. He concludes his speech by offering Job a path to reconciliation and restoration. Eliphaz urges Job to "acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace," advising him to receive God's law and lay up His words in his heart. He promises that if Job returns to the Almighty and puts away iniquity, he will be rebuilt, accumulate great wealth, and find the Almighty to be his defense. Furthermore, Job will delight in God, have his prayers heard, his vows paid, and his decrees established, with light shining upon his ways, and he will be instrumental in saving the humble and delivering the innocent through his pure hands.

Core Concepts

  • Divine ImpartialityEliphaz questions if God benefits from human righteousness, suggesting God's justice is not swayed by human actions but rather judges them impartially.
  • Accusation of WickednessEliphaz directly accuses Job of severe moral failings, including oppression of the poor, widows, and orphans, attributing Job's suffering to these specific sins.
  • Retribution TheologyThe chapter strongly presents the view that Job's calamities (snares, darkness, fear) are direct divine punishment for his alleged great wickedness and iniquities.
  • God's Omniscience and JudgmentEliphaz refutes Job's implied doubt about God's ability to see and judge from the heavens, asserting God's full knowledge despite His high dwelling.
  • Path to RestorationEliphaz offers Job a clear path to reconciliation with God through repentance, embracing God's law, and putting away iniquity, promising blessings and prosperity.
  • Prosperity of the RighteousEliphaz contrasts the destruction of the wicked with the promised blessings of wealth, divine protection, answered prayers, and established decrees for those who return to God.
  • Consequences of SinThe chapter emphasizes that specific acts of injustice and neglect towards the vulnerable lead to divine judgment and affliction, as seen in Eliphaz's accusations against Job.