Study notes
Eliphaz the Temanite was probably the oldest and most important of Job’s friends (see study note on 2:11). His speeches are longer and more detailed than the others.
who can keep from speaking?: Eliphaz imitated how urgent a message from prophets can be (4:12–16; see Jeremiah 20:9; Amos 3:8).
This section starts three rounds of speeches by Job's three "comforters," each followed by Job's response (4:1–27:23). In the first round, Job's friends urge him to seek God to regain prosperity.
Eliphaz and Bildad each spoke three times. Zophar spoke twice. All of their speeches are recorded as long poems.
Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar explained the reason why they thought Job was suffering. Throughout his life, Eliphaz had noticed that trouble came to foolish people. Suffering was how they were taught as well as punished for their sins. Eliphaz believed that this was a pattern for how things work in the world. He believed that it was happening in Job’s case.
Bildad had noticed that God didn’t bring judgement against people who hadn’t sinned. This was a lesson that people had taught for hundreds of years. Bildad believed it was a pattern for how things work in the world. So he thought that Job and his family were being punished for their sins.
Zophar was sure that ungodly people are always punished. He believed that this is how things had always been in the world. He was sure that God was bringing judgement on Job for sins Job had committed.
Job answered Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar each time after they spoke. Job was sad and angry because his friends said things that weren’t helpful. Many of the things they said were true. But the patterns they noticed in life didn’t apply to Job’s case. Job hadn’t sinned in secret. Job didn’t claim to have never sinned. But he knew that God wasn’t punishing him for his sins. Job knew that he had lived the way God wanted people to live. His friends didn’t understand him. They accused him falsely.
Job believed that God did understand him. Job believed that God knew that he wasn’t guilty of secret sins. Job wanted God to explain why his life had become so difficult. Job was very confused by God and angry at him. But Job continued to have respect for God and to avoid evil. He did this even though he was suffering terribly. This showed that Job had wisdom and understanding.
These were people who were weak, felt depressed, and had low confidence in themselves (Isaiah 13:7; 35:3; Ezekiel 7:17).
Job probably considered his children among the innocent who died (1:5). Even Eliphaz must have known that people sometimes "shed innocent blood" (compare Deuteronomy 19:10; Proverbs 6:17; Jeremiah 7:6).
The symbolic use of the language of harvest shows the idea in the Scriptures that actions deserve judgment (Proverbs 22:8; Hosea 8:7; Romans 2:9–11; Galatians 6:7–8). The New Testament compares the final judgment to a harvest (Matthew 13:39). By this principle, Jesus rejected overly simple attempts to analyze people's lives (Luke 13:4; John 9:1–3).
by the blast of His anger they are consumed: Eliphaz saw the wind in 1:19 as God's judgment (compare Isaiah 40:7; Hosea 13:15).
Eliphaz claimed to be a prophet, suggesting that God spoke to him secretly (Numbers 12:6). Later, God did speak to him, but not to support his advice (Job 42:7).
Eliphaz probably referred to the sleep caused by God that links to the visions given to prophets (33:15; Genesis 15:12; Numbers 12:6; Isaiah 29:10).
Fear often occurs in God's presence (Genesis 15:12; Daniel 8:17–18; 10:8–10). But God tells his people not to fear (Genesis 15:1; 26:24; Isaiah 40:9; 44:8).
Eliphaz's bones shook like those of a prophet with terrible news to share (Jeremiah 23:9; Habakkuk 3:16).
a spirit (or wind) glided past my face: Wind shows God's powerful presence in a physical way (38:1; Nahum 1:3; Acts 2:2; compare 1 Kings 19:11).
The characters in the book often say that no one is truly righteous or pure (see 9:2; 15:14; 25:4; 35:7). This is because everyone is flawed (Psalms 14:3; 53:3; Romans 3:10–11). Eliphaz used these terms to say that humans are full of sin and God has no sin. Job and God used them to show that Job had fulfilled his duties to God. Job and Eliphaz never agreed on what these terms meant. Later, God said that Eliphaz had not spoken about him "accurately" (Job 42:7).
The idea that God does not trust His servants and charges His angels with error is unique (but see Genesis 6:1–4).
A tent often symbolized human life (Isaiah 38:12; 2 Corinthians 5:1; compare Ecclesiastes 12:6).
Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources