Job 4

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 4

1¶ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2[If] we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

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

7¶ Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

12¶ Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

13In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

14Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

15Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

16It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image [was] before mine eyes, [there was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],

17Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

18Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:

19How much less [in] them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation [is] in the dust, [which] are crushed before the moth?

20They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding [it].

21Doth not their excellency [which is] in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Eliphaz the Temanite begins his address to Job, questioning Job's reaction to suffering despite his past role as a comforter. He asserts that the innocent do not perish, implying Job's suffering is a consequence of sin, as those who sow wickedness reap destruction. Eliphaz then recounts a terrifying night vision where a spirit declared that no mortal man can be more just or pure than God, emphasizing humanity's frailty and God's absolute sovereignty.

Medium Summary

Eliphaz the Temanite opens his discourse by acknowledging Job's previous counsel to the weak and falling, yet expresses surprise that Job himself now falters under affliction. He challenges Job's integrity, asking if his fear, confidence, hope, and uprightness are not now failing him. Eliphaz then posits a fundamental principle of divine retribution, stating that the innocent are never destroyed, but those who sow iniquity inevitably reap destruction from God's wrath, likening their demise to the perishing of fierce lions. He then relates a profound and fearful night vision where a spirit appeared, posing rhetorical questions about humanity's justice and purity compared to God. The voice from the vision declared that God trusts neither His servants nor His angels, further diminishing the standing of frail humans who dwell in "houses of clay" and are easily destroyed.

Long Summary

Eliphaz the Temanite initiates his response to Job, first expressing hesitation to speak lest he grieve Job further, yet feeling compelled to do so. He reminds Job of his past role as a comforter and strengthener of the weak and falling, highlighting Job's own words that upheld others. However, Eliphaz then contrasts Job's past strength with his current distress, questioning why Job now faints and is troubled when affliction touches him, implying a failure in Job's "fear," "confidence," "hope," and "uprightness." He then articulates a core tenet of his theology: that the innocent never perish, nor are the righteous cut off. Instead, Eliphaz asserts, those who "plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same," perishing by God's divine blast, illustrating this with the metaphor of fierce lions whose teeth are broken and whelps scattered. Following this, Eliphaz recounts a deeply unsettling personal experience—a secret revelation received during a night vision. As deep sleep fell upon men, a profound fear and trembling seized him, causing his bones to shake. A spirit passed before him, its form indiscernible, and a voice spoke. The voice posed two rhetorical questions: "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?" It further revealed that God places no trust even in His own servants, charging His angels with folly. The vision concluded by emphasizing the utter frailty of humans, who dwell in "houses of clay" founded in dust, easily crushed, and perishing without wisdom or regard, thus underscoring the vast gulf between God's purity and human imperfection.

Core Concepts

  • Eliphaz's RebukeEliphaz begins by questioning Job's consistency, contrasting Job's past role as a comforter with his current distress and implying a failure in his "fear" and "uprightness."
  • Principle of RetributionEliphaz asserts that the innocent do not perish, but those who "plow iniquity" inevitably "reap the same," suggesting that Job's suffering is a consequence of his own actions.
  • The Terrifying VisionEliphaz recounts a profound and fear-inducing night vision where a spirit appeared, delivering a message.
  • God's Incomparable PurityThe voice from the vision declares that no mortal man can be more just or pure than God, emphasizing God's absolute holiness and superiority.
  • Human InsignificanceThe vision highlights the extreme frailty and impermanence of humanity, describing humans as dwelling in "houses of clay" easily destroyed and perishing without lasting wisdom or regard.
  • Divine Distrust in CreationThe spirit reveals that God places no trust even in His servants or angels, charging them with folly, thereby underscoring the vast gulf between God's perfection and all created beings.