THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 22

1Eliphaz sheweth that man's goodness profiteth not God: 5he accuseth Job of various sins, to which he imputeth his calamities: 15he bringeth evidence of the example of wicked men to shew that God's judgments at length overtake them: 21and exhorteth Job to repentance with promises of mercy.


1THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

21Can a man be profitable unto God, 2as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

1 He will say: No, Psalm 16:2 and therefore you need not to vaunt so much of your godliness. For, God has no benefit by it, whether, being godly you do suffer, or being wicked, you do prosper. A wise and good man may do virtue unto himself, but not to God, Who in Himself is the full and perfect sufficiency of all good. See Gen. 17:1 on the words Almighty God, and compare Job 35:7, 8.

2 Other, when he, namely, man, is useful, shall he, namely, God, be prosperous thereby or thrive by it?

33Is it any 4pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest 5thy ways perfect?

3 Other, Is it well pleasing or acceptable to the Almighty, that thou justifieth thy self?

4 Hebr. delight or desire, recreation; which here implies as much as profit (things profitable being much desired and delighted in); which is plain by what goes before and follows after, where the word, properly signifying desire, is taken for gain or lucre.

5 That is, lead a godly life. The contrary is to spoil or corrupt one’s way, Gen. 6:12, and to corrupt or destroy one’s works, Zeph. 3:7.

46Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee 7into judgment?

6 That is, because He fears thee that thou wouldest do Him any hurt or damage and injury; according as Job’s words in Job 7:12 might be construed to imply; or, is it for thy fearing Him, that is, having this before the eyes by a religious devotion. This question of Eliphaz does strongly deny, and implies that it was not about this, but by reason what is related in the next verse.

7 Namely, to condemn and to punish you. Also Psalm 143:2.

5Is not thy wickedness 8great? and thine iniquities infinite?

8 Or, much; namely, why you are punished? From the greatness and multitude of Job’s afflictions Eliphaz falsely infers the greatness and multitude of his transgressions.

69For thoua hast taken a pledge from 10thy brother 11for nought, and stripped 12the naked of their clothing.

9 He wants to say: It must needs be that you have defiled yourself with some of these iniquities, which I shall rehearse now or with all, for the reason that you are so fearfully punished by God

a Exod. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:6, 10, etc.

10 That is, of those of your kindred. See Gen. 24 on verse 27.

11 That is, wrongfully, namely, because there was no necessity for it; or, because you took that away in pawn, which you should not have taken by pawn; or, taking more of the value than that which was lent was worth; or, being paid, yet did keep the pawn in your hands, having taken it not so much to ensure yourself what was lent, but to wrest your neighbor’s goods out of his hand and keep it for yourself. See Exod. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:6, 10, etc.

12 That is, those who could hardly cover their nakedness because of poverty. Thus the poor are called Isa. 58:7. Or, who were made poor by your robbery of their goods.

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

8But as for the 13mighty man, he had the earth; and the 14honourable man dwelt in it.

13 Hebr. a man of the arm; that is, one who commits violence and oppressed the people; for such you opened the land. Compare this manner of speaking with the annotation at Job 11 on verse 2. Arm for violence, also Job 35:9; 38:15.

14 Hebr. accepted by face, that is, one who by reason of some outward quality is ranked and placed before others, who are of less appearance. See of the like accepting, or respecting of persons Lev. 19 on verse 15.

9Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the 15arms of the fatherless have been broken.

15 Understand all the help and strength, which was still left for the orphans. See 2 Chron. 32 on verse 8.

10Therefore 16snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

16 Namely, all those miseries and adversities, which now compass and confound you as so many snares. Compare Job 18:8, 9, etc.; 19:6 with the annotations.

11Or darkness, that thou canst not 17see; and abundance 18of waters cover thee.

17 That is, does not comprehend as indeed you ought in what extremity of misery you are plunged, and for what causes, that is, the sins, whereof in the previous verse. Darkness for misery, see Gen. 15 on verse 12; for sins Isa. 5:20; Eph. 5:11.

18 Understand the same misery; for, the words waters, floods, streams, etc. are frequently taken for all manner of adversity. See 2 Sam. 22 on verse 17.

1219Is not God 20in the height of heaven? and behold 21the height of the stars, 22how high they are!

19 After Eliphaz in the previous verses had charged godly Job of some sins, which he would have committed against his neighbor, he burdens him now yet further with that whereby he would have sinned directly against God in the denial of His eternal Providence; according to this sense, the words of this verse would be the words of Job. Otherwise they may be understood as the words of Eliphaz, wherewith he would exhort Job that God, sitting so high and seeing so low, is well able to discern to whom He shall impart good or evil, which is well said indeed, but not so well applied to the person of Job.

20 That is, is God not the Most High, and has He not His dwelling place above all visible creatures, yea, above the stars also?

21 Hebr. the head.

22 Namely, thereby to consider how high God is, being much higher yet than any star.

13And thou 23sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through 24the dark cloud?

23 Job had not said this, but Eliphaz, wresting Job’s words, made this perverse construction of them.

24 Understand hereby that darkness which is between the highest dwelling of God and this earth here below, in which space there are the clouds and thick mists in the air. Seeing that men are not able to see through it, their corrupt understanding judges that God Himself is also not able to discern through it what is going on here in this world. This absurd judgment Eliphaz wrongfully imputes here unto Job, together with what also follows in the next verse.

14Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and 25he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

25 That is, He mindeth Himself in the governing of the world with things celestial and universal, not with terrestrial and the particular.

15Hast thou marked 26the old way which wicked men have trodden?

26 That is, the former course, which the wicked of old have held to run into destruction. Thus the word age or eternity is taken Isa. 57:11; Jer. 2:20; 28:8.

16Which were 27cut down 28out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:

27 Other, being destroyed or cut off. Hereby some understand in general the afflictions and judgments of God over the wicked, which are often compared to water, as in this verse, and to fire, as in verse 20. Some apply it in particular to the deluge.

28 Namely, the full time of their life, whereunto, according to the course of nature and the state of their bodily health, they might possibly have attained, if they had not perished by a violent death of suffocation. Compare Psalm 55:23.

17Whichb said unto God, 29Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

b Job 21:14.

29 These are the words which Job had previously related of the wicked who grew old in their riches and prosperity, Job 21:14. The same words Eliphaz now applies in his speech, saying that the wicked did perish by calamities in general or in particular by the deluge, because they had uttered these words.

18Yet he filled their houses with good things: 30butc the counsel of the wicked 31is far from me.

30 These words Job had used before in Job 21:16, but Eliphaz seems to revive them with this opinion that they suited him better than Job, whom he judged to be wicked.

c Job 21:16.

31 Or, be.

1932Thed righteous see it, and 33are glad: and 34the innocent laugh them to scorn.

32 Namely, Noah with his own; for, these words (as some perceive) still relate to the history of the deluge.

d Psalm 107:42.

33 Namely, not in the destruction of the wicked, but in the demonstration of God’s righteousness towards them, and His mercy to themselves.

34 Namely, Noah.

20Whereas 35our substance is not cut down, but the 36remnant of them the 37fire consumeth.

35 That is, the life and wellbeing of those who were devout and feared God; among whom Eliphaz reckons himself also, reputing himself as one of their followers and companions in godliness.

36 Other, their excellence.

37 Understand the fire of God’s indignation and wrath. Also Deut. 32:22; Psalm 18:8; Isa. 26:11; 66:16; Ezek. 22:31. Or, the adversity, which proceeds from God’s indignation, Job 15:34. Some understand here the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in particular.

21Acquaint now thyself 38with him, and 39be at peace: 40thereby 41good shall come unto thee.

38 That is, with God, namely, to fear and to serve Him uprightly as thy Lord and thy Father.

39 Namely, through patience in the present affliction and hope of the deliverance to come. The word peace signifies the inward and spiritual rest and quietness of the heart, as Judges 6:23; 19:20; Isa. 57:21; Col. 3:15. Or, thou shalt have peace, that is, be prosperous and in health. See Gen. 37 on verse 14.

40 Other, therein, or in these things is thy income good.

41 Compare Job 21:13 and the annotation.

22Receive, I pray thee, the 42law from 43his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

42 Other, instruction.

43 Namely, of God. Understand by the mouth of God His Word, or His ministers, who dispense and declare His Word. See Isa. 11:4; 2 Thes. 2:8.

23If thou returne to the Almighty, thou shalt 44be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy 45tabernacles.

e Job 8:5, 6.

44 That is, restored into your former state, or through God’s blessing thrive and prosper. Thus the word to build is taken Psalm 28:5; Jer. 12:16; 31:4; Mal. 3:15. Compare Gen. 16 on verse 2 and Job 5:24.

45 That is, houses and dwelling places. See 2 Kings 13 on verse 5.

24Then shalt thou lay up 46gold as dust, and 47the gold of Ophir as the 48stones of the brooks.

46 That is, shall gather abundance of wealth. To lay the gold upon or by the dust seems to imply the heaping of it like dust, or, to make no other account of gold by reason of the mighty abundance one has, than of the dust one treads upon, and which needs no care or locks to keep it. Other, the gold shall be laid up upon the dust or one shall lay, etc., that is, God shall by His blessing make the gold come easily before thee.

47 See 1 Kings 9 on verse 28.

48 That is, not in high and permanent places where it would seem to be guarded well, but in the lower parts at the foot of a rock, against which the strong streams do flow and easily uncover, and likewise could carry away what lies there. The sense is, he would have the gold in such abundance, that he would not value it much, and take as little care to keep it in a safe place.

25Yea, the Almighty shall be thy 49defence, and thou shalt have 50plenty of silver.

49 The Hebrew word is in the plural, whereby is given to understand the abundance. Other, thy protection.

50 Hebr. silver of strengths.

26For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face 51unto God.

51 That is, cheerfully call upon and expect all manner of good from Him.

27Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou 52shalt pay thy vows.

52 That is, because He shall be bountiful to thee, fulfilling thy desires, thou shalt also be thankful unto Him, rejoicing in His benefits. Compare Psalm 50:14; 61:8.

28Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be 53established unto thee: and the light shall shine 54upon thy ways.

53 That is, it shall be brought to pass and be settled for thee. Also Num. 30:4; Isa. 7:7; 8:10.

54 That is, your undertakings, works and acts shall thrive and prosper through God’s blessing.

2955When men are cast down, then thou 56shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shallf save 57the humble person.

55 That is, when one shall be cast down, namely, through some misery and adversity.

56 That is, shall pray fervently to God that he may be raised up again out of his affliction and be delivered.

f Prov. 29:23.

57 Hebr. the bowed down or beaten down of eyes. Do contrast here the high or haughty eyes, of which see Prov. 6:17.

30He shall deliver the island 58of the innocent: and it is delivered 59by the pureness of thine 60hands.

58 That is, not only the godly, but also the ungodly and guilty ones God shall help by your prayer, Gen. 18:32. Other, an innocent one shall deliver an island, or, he shall deliver the island of the innocent.

59 Understand the prayers which are made with lifting up pure hands to God, and come forth out of an upright and believing heart, 1 Tim. 2:8.

60 Hebr. palms.