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Job 4

21 verses

TL;DR

Eliphaz confronts Job, challenging his perception of divine justice and warning that suffering may be a divine response to injustice.

Summary

In this chapter Eliphaz, a Temanite, replies to Job after his previous lament. He questions whether Job's communication with God causes sorrow, noting that God has previously lifted the weak. Eliphaz reminds Job that the righteous are seldom vindicated and that the wicked ultimately meet their downfall. He uses lion imagery to illustrate how the mighty can be humbled by God. Eliphaz then recounts a personal vision in which he encounters a spirit that questions human justice versus divine justice, highlighting the futility of trusting human judgment. The passage underscores the tension between human suffering and divine justice.

Outline
  1. Eliphaz's challenge to Job's appeal to God and reminder of God's prior help to the weak
  2. Warning that the righteous may suffer and the wicked are ultimately punished, illustrated by lion imagery
  3. Eliphaz's visionary experience questioning human justice versus divine justice
Themes
Divine justice and human sufferingThe fallibility of human judgmentThe humility of the powerful
Keywords
justicesufferingdivinehumilityvisionconfidence
People
EliphazJobGod
Places
Teman
Things
lionblasts of Godspiritvoiceimagefeartrembling
Key Verses
  • Job 4:5: Eliphaz confronts Job directly, highlighting the personal impact of divine judgment
  • Job 4:10: Uses vivid lion imagery to illustrate how the powerful can be humbled
Questions
  • Why does Eliphaz emphasize that the weak have been lifted before, and what does that suggest about divine compassion?
  • What does the lion imagery reveal about the perceived nature of power and its vulnerability?
  • How does Eliphaz's vision challenge Job's confidence in human justice?
  • In what ways does the chapter address the tension between divine will and human suffering?
Sentiment

mixed
Eliphaz's remarks are both admonishing and reflective, presenting a complex view of divine justice.