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Eliphaz: Can a Man Be of Use to God?
Eliphaz answers Job by arguing that God does not gain from human righteousness, then accusing Job of serious wrongs and urging him to return to the Almighty. This passage records Eliphaz’s speech in the dialogue.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
In Job 22:1-30, Eliphaz the Temanite speaks. He asks whether a person can profit God, claims Job’s troubles come from great wickedness, warns about the way of the wicked, and then calls Job to receive God’s words and return to him. Read Eliphaz’s claims alongside the opening description of Job as blameless and upright (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3) and Yahweh’s later rebuke of Eliphaz and his two friends for not speaking rightly about him (Job 42:7–9).
Job 22:1–30Main takeaway
This passage shows Eliphaz linking suffering with guilt and urging a return to God, so readers should follow both his accusations and his appeal in their order.
Look closely at the words
01Can a person benefit God?Eliphaz opens with questions. He says a human is not profitable to God, while a wise person is profitable to himself.
Explanation
Eliphaz opens with questions. He says a human is not profitable to God, while a wise person is profitable to himself. He also asks whether the Almighty gains pleasure or benefit from someone’s righteousness or blameless conduct. These questions set up his argument about Job’s suffering.
02Eliphaz’s accusations against JobEliphaz asks whether God is reproving Job because of piety, then answers with a charge of great wickedness.
Explanation
Eliphaz asks whether God is reproving Job because of piety, then answers with a charge of great wickedness. He accuses Job of taking pledges, withholding water and bread, and harming widows and the fatherless. In between, he contrasts the mighty man and the honourable man with those needy people he says were neglected.
03Warning from the way of the wickedEliphaz says snares, fear, darkness, and floods have come because of such wrong. He then accuses Job of speaking as if thick clouds hide people from God’s judgment.
Explanation
Eliphaz says snares, fear, darkness, and floods have come because of such wrong. He then accuses Job of speaking as if thick clouds hide people from God’s judgment. Next he points to the old path of wicked people who told God to depart, and he says the righteous are glad when such people are cut off.
04Return to the AlmightyAfter warning, Eliphaz urges Job to acquaint himself with God, receive instruction, and store up God’s words in his heart.
Explanation
After warning, Eliphaz urges Job to acquaint himself with God, receive instruction, and store up God’s words in his heart. He says returning to the Almighty means putting away unrighteousness and treating gold like dust, because the Almighty will be the true treasure. Then he lists expected results: delight, heard prayer, light, help for the humble, and deliverance linked with clean hands.
Questions to explore
01What does Eliphaz say about whether a person can benefit God?
02Which actions does Eliphaz use to accuse Job?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Job 22:1–30
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2“Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect?
4Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?
5Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
6For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.
9You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,
11or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.
12“Isn’t God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!
13You say, ‘What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn’t see. He walks on the vault of the sky.’
15Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,
16who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
17who said to God, ‘Depart from us!’ and, ‘What can the Almighty do for us?’
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. The innocent ridicule them,
20saying, ‘Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed their remnant.’
21“Acquaint yourself with him now, and be at peace. By it, good will come to you.
22Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
24Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25The Almighty will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.
26For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face to God.
27You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You will pay your vows.
28You will also decree a thing, and it will be established to you. Light will shine on your ways.
29When they cast down, you will say, ‘be lifted up.’ He will save the humble person.
30He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”