The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

Job 4

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

1

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

WhatsApp Copy

2

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

WhatsApp Copy

3

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

WhatsApp Copy

4

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

WhatsApp Copy

5

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

WhatsApp Copy

6

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

WhatsApp Copy

7

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

WhatsApp Copy

8

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

WhatsApp Copy

9

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

WhatsApp Copy

10

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

WhatsApp Copy

11

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

WhatsApp Copy

12

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

WhatsApp Copy

13

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

WhatsApp Copy

14

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

WhatsApp Copy

15

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

WhatsApp Copy

16

It 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,

WhatsApp Copy

17

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

WhatsApp Copy

18

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

WhatsApp Copy

19

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

WhatsApp Copy

20

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

WhatsApp Copy

21

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

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

Job 4 contains the first speech of Eliphaz. He suggests that the innocent do not perish and that Job must have some hidden sin that caused this judgment based on a mystical vision he had.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. The Danger of Generalizations: Eliphaz assumed that "trouble only comes to the wicked" (v. 7-8). We must be careful not to judge others' spiritual state based solely on their outward circumstances.
2. Subjective vs. Objective Truth: Eliphaz relied on a "vision" (v. 12). We must test all personal experiences against the objective Word of God.
3. Fragile Human Strength: We are but "dwellers in houses of clay" (v. 19). True strength must come from God, not from our own perceived righteousness.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

Keep us, Lord, from being "miserable comforters." Grant us wisdom to speak words that heal rather than words that falsely accuse those who are already suffering. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!