Job 15 17

Job 15:17 kjv

I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;

Job 15:17 nkjv

"I will tell you, hear me; What I have seen I will declare,

Job 15:17 niv

"Listen to me and I will explain to you; let me tell you what I have seen,

Job 15:17 esv

"I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare

Job 15:17 nlt

"If you will listen, I will show you.
I will answer you from my own experience.

Job 15 verses

Job 15 17 Meaning

Job 15:17 is a statement by Eliphaz the Temanite to Job, acting as an assertion of authority and superior wisdom. Eliphaz demands Job's full attention, promising to share profound truths that he claims to have personally perceived. He positions himself as a source of authoritative revelation, intending to present his traditional theological understanding and observed realities as incontestable wisdom against Job's anguished questioning. This verse serves as Eliphaz's self-appointed introduction to the core of his second speech, setting the stage for his subsequent critique of Job's integrity and his defense of the conventional doctrine of retributive justice.

Job 15 17 Context

Job 15:17 is situated in Eliphaz's second speech (Job 15:1-35), marking a more confrontational and judgmental tone compared to his first address. Having initially expressed a measure of restraint, Eliphaz now openly accuses Job of blasphemy and ungodliness, inferring that Job's suffering is a direct consequence of his hidden sin. This verse acts as Eliphaz's self-important prelude to his arguments, presenting himself as a seasoned wise man about to impart profound truth drawn from age-old tradition and his own 'observations.' Historically, Eliphaz embodies the conventional wisdom of the ancient Near East, which largely adhered to a simplistic retribution theology: the righteous prosper, the wicked suffer. His words are not merely counsel but a subtle indictment of Job, subtly asserting that Job is speaking against God (vv. 4-5) and challenging established wisdom (vv. 7-8). This cultural context emphasizes deference to elders and tradition, making Eliphaz's opening declaration an effective, albeit flawed, attempt to gain authority in the debate.

Job 15 17 Word analysis

• I will show you: Hebrew אֶחָוְךָ֥ (eḥāv'kha). From the root חָוָה (havah), meaning to declare, make known, to teach. This is a promise of instruction. Eliphaz takes on the role of an authoritative teacher, claiming to reveal deep insight to Job.

• listen to me: Hebrew שְׁמַֽע־לִ֑י (shəma'-li). שְׁמַע (shema') is an imperative, "Hear!" or "Listen!", often implying obedience and careful consideration. לִי (li) means "to me." It's a direct, forceful command demanding undivided attention and implied acceptance of what is to be spoken. This contrasts with true hearing which requires discernment (Prov 1:5, 4:1).

• what I have seen: Hebrew וְזֶ֥ה חָ֝זִ֗יתִי (wəzeh ḥāzîtiy). וְזֶה (wəzeh) "and this" pointing to the preceding thought. חָזִיתִי (ḥāzîtiy) "I have seen" from חָזָה (hazah), to see, perceive, behold. This word can denote ordinary physical sight but is also frequently used for prophetic or revelatory vision (Isa 6:1; Ezek 13:6). Eliphaz here appeals to personal insight or even received wisdom from tradition, cloaking it with the authority of direct observation. It's not a claim of divine revelation, but rather a claim to deeply assimilated knowledge, akin to what one would gain from profound experience or deep wisdom. This stands in stark contrast to the divine 'seeing' that Job eventually experiences (Job 42:5).

• I will declare: Hebrew אֲסַפֵּֽרָה׃ (asapērâ). From the root סָפַר (sapar), meaning to count, number, recount, narrate, declare. This implies a careful and detailed account. Eliphaz isn't just speaking; he's asserting a structured, perhaps profound, presentation of his understanding, implying it is well-reasoned and thoroughly observed truth.

• "I will show you, listen to me": This phrase functions as a strong opening for Eliphaz's discourse, emphasizing his perceived authority and superiority in wisdom. It demands passive reception from Job. It sets up a pedagogical relationship, with Eliphaz as the master and Job as the pupil who must simply hear.

• "what I have seen I will declare": This clause elevates Eliphaz's forthcoming words beyond mere opinion to something observed, comprehended, and thus declared with conviction. The act of "seeing" (ḥāzîtî) combined with "declaring" (asapērâ) suggests an almost authoritative revelation, reinforcing Eliphaz’s polemical stance that he holds superior insight compared to Job's anguished questioning, which he deems foolish. This is a direct appeal to experiential authority, characteristic of the 'wisdom' he is about to impart, which largely reflects ancient, inherited wisdom from past generations (v. 18).

Job 15 17 Bonus section

Eliphaz represents the 'elder' statesman among Job's friends, often speaking first and having initial rhetorical power. His 'seeing' and 'declaring' is not unlike a spiritual 'discourse' presented as divinely informed, a characteristic posture of the self-proclaimed wise of that era. This verse specifically introduces his primary mode of persuasion: not a direct divine oracle, but knowledge drawn from extended experience and observation ("our fathers" - v. 18) and, by extension, presented as truth for universal application. The verse is a powerful example of intellectual arrogance veiled in an appeal to a supposed superior source of knowledge, a common challenge to humble receptiveness to truth (James 4:6).

Job 15 17 Commentary

Job 15:17 succinctly encapsulates Eliphaz’s method in his second speech: a dogmatic presentation of traditional wisdom under the guise of personal insight and experience. He aims to silence Job's lamentations and accusations against God's perceived injustice by asserting an undeniable truth drawn from ancient knowledge and 'what he has seen.' This 'seeing' is not necessarily divine revelation, but a deep absorption of common human understanding about suffering and sin, perhaps implying a sagacious perception of how God supposedly operates. Eliphaz seeks to establish his authority and the veracity of his teachings by claiming direct apprehension of truth. This claim sets the stage for his subsequent elaborate, yet flawed, argument that only the wicked truly suffer such calamity as Job experiences. Eliphaz, typical of Job’s friends, fails to acknowledge the limitations of human wisdom in grasping God's sovereign purposes (Prov 3:5-6; Rom 11:33), and his confident declaration here becomes ironic given his ultimate rebuke by God (Job 42:7).