Bible Commentaries

The Second Series of Controversies

CHAPTER 15 Eliphaz’s Second Address

1. Tells Job that he is self-condemned (Job 15:1-6)

2. Charges him with pride (Job 15:7-16)

3. The wicked and their lot (Job 15:17-35)

Job 15:1-6. His second address is not as lofty as his first. Job’s language has evidently annoyed him very much. He characterizes his words as vain, unprofitable, which can do no good. He charges him with having cast off fear and having become one who restrained devotion before God. He tells Job that what he has spoken only confirms their views of him, that he is a wicked man and suffers justly for his sins.

Thine own mouth condemneth thee and not I

Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Job 15:7-16. Wrong as Eliphaz’s rebuke is, he adds still another charge. He tells him he is filled with pride. What Job knows they know also. “What knowest thou, that we do not know? What understandeth thou, which is not in us?”

And why does Thine heart carry thee away?

And why do thine eyes wink? (in pride)

That thou shouldest turn thine anger against God

And cause such words to issue from thy mouth.

Then, as he did in his first address, Eliphaz speaks once more of the holiness of God. “Behold He putteth no trust in His holy Ones. Yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight.”

Job 15:17-35. Here we have another description of the wicked, their miserable lot and what is in store for them. What he said was meant to terrify Job. Every word must have cut deep into Job’s miserable soul, for he knew with Eliphaz he was a wicked, impious man. We see that Eliphaz said nothing new. He restated the former argument.