Job 15 18

Job 15:18 kjv

Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:

Job 15:18 nkjv

What wise men have told, Not hiding anything received from their fathers,

Job 15:18 niv

what the wise have declared, hiding nothing received from their ancestors

Job 15:18 esv

(what wise men have told, without hiding it from their fathers,

Job 15:18 nlt

And it is confirmed by the reports of wise men
who have heard the same thing from their fathers ?

Job 15 verses

Job 15 18 Meaning

Job 15:18 states a core belief of Eliphaz: that the true wisdom concerning life, suffering, and divine justice has been faithfully transmitted from ancient generations of wise men without alteration or concealment. Eliphaz appeals to this revered, inherited wisdom as an undeniable standard against which Job's perceived rebellious statements should be measured. It asserts the permanence and transparency of established truth handed down from one's ancestors.

Job 15 18 Context

Job 15:18 is found within Eliphaz's second speech to Job. This chapter marks a significant escalation in the friends' accusations. Eliphaz, speaking on behalf of Job's companions, is asserting the long-held traditional view that suffering is a direct consequence of sin. He implies Job's great suffering must therefore mean great hidden sin. Eliphaz portrays Job as defying divine order and rejecting time-honored truths. The verse itself acts as a foundation for Eliphaz's argument, suggesting that his understanding is not personal opinion but deeply rooted, widely accepted, and openly transmitted ancestral wisdom. He juxtaposes Job's unusual and questioning speech against this established, irrefutable wisdom passed down through righteous generations. Historically and culturally, ancient near eastern societies placed immense value on ancestral knowledge and oral tradition, seeing it as embodying proven, time-tested truths, often with divine origin or sanction.

Job 15 18 Word analysis

• what (אֲשֶׁר - asher): This is not an interrogative "what" but a relative pronoun meaning "that which" or "what" in a declarative sense. It refers to the body of knowledge or pronouncements. Its use here points to an established, definite collection of wisdom rather than a question. It introduces the subject matter, emphasizing its profound nature.
• wise men (חֲכָמִים - chakhamim): From the root chakham, signifying not merely intellectual sharpness but a practical, moral, and often spiritual sagacity. These were respected elders, teachers, and figures of authority whose wisdom was believed to stem from experience, observation, and often divine insight. In the ancient world, "wise men" held significant cultural weight as custodians of truth and order. Their pronouncements were considered authoritative and binding.
• have declared (יַגִּידוּ - yaggidu): Derived from the verb nagad, meaning "to tell," "to declare," "to announce," or "to report." This verb implies a formal and authoritative pronouncement, often with the intent of making something known clearly and emphatically. It signifies a public and intentional transmission, not just a casual mention. The tense suggests an ongoing or habitually declared truth.
• and have not concealed (וְלֹא־כָחֲדוּ - wəlo'-kakhădu): From the root kachad, meaning "to hide," "to conceal," or "to deny." The negation "lo'" ("not") emphasizes the complete transparency and open access to this wisdom. It contrasts sharply with any idea of secret knowledge or hidden doctrines. This is a polemic against Job's perceived new claims; Eliphaz suggests that if Job's claims were true, they would have been part of this openly declared ancestral wisdom. This implies that anything truly wise and divine would have been passed down openly, whereas error or rebellion is characterized by a departure from such established truths.
• from their fathers (מֵאֲבוֹתָם - me'avotam): This phrase emphasizes the lineal, generational transmission of knowledge. "Fathers" here refers to ancestors, the previous generations from whom this wisdom was received. It signifies antiquity, continuity, and an unbroken chain of authoritative teaching. This source gives the wisdom immense credibility and sanctity, implying it has been tested by time and affirmed by a succession of revered figures.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "what wise men have declared": This group highlights the origin of the wisdom – from revered and authoritative sources. It's not individual speculation but the collective consensus and proclamation of those deemed wise. The phrasing establishes an undisputed source of knowledge.
• "and have not concealed from their fathers": This phrase clarifies the mode of transmission. It signifies that the wisdom was not discovered anew by the current generation but was received from the past generations and then openly passed on to the subsequent ones. The emphasis on "not concealed" implies a transparent and full disclosure, reinforcing its integrity and accessibility, unlike anything Job might be suggesting that seems "new" or revolutionary. It stresses the tradition's unbroken, pure lineage.

Job 15 18 Bonus section

This verse subtly underscores the conflict within the book of Job: the static nature of human wisdom, even that carefully preserved, versus the dynamic, often inexplicable, dealings of a sovereign God. Eliphaz represents the "wisdom of the world" (1 Cor 1:20), deeply logical within its own framework but unable to fully grasp the complexities of God's justice beyond the simple cause-and-effect. The fact that Job's suffering is not due to secret sin directly challenges the foundational "wise men's declaration" that Eliphaz so relies upon. It foreshadows God's ultimate revelation, which will transcend and correct the limited human understanding presented by the friends. The absence of "concealment" in the ancient wisdom implies its comprehensiveness, but Job's experience suggests there are "hidden things" of God yet to be revealed (Isa 48:6; 1 Cor 2:7).

Job 15 18 Commentary

Job 15:18 forms a crucial pillar in Eliphaz's argument against Job. It establishes Eliphaz's fundamental epistemology: truth, particularly about divine justice, is an inherited, communal wisdom passed down faithfully through generations of wise ancestors. He presents this wisdom as unimpeachable because it is openly declared, historically rooted, and widely affirmed. For Eliphaz, Job's questioning and assertions of innocence stand in direct opposition to this time-honored, transparent tradition. He implies that if Job's experience (suffering without sin) were truly valid, it would contradict this foundational wisdom. The verse functions as Eliphaz's call to submit to the "ancients" rather than to individual experience or perception. It underscores the clash between Job's struggle for a fresh revelation of God's ways and his friends' static, inherited theological framework.

Examples for practical usage:

• Valuing proven truth: The verse reminds us of the importance of valuing enduring truths and the wisdom passed down through generations within faith communities (e.g., doctrines affirmed across church history).
• Discerning between human tradition and divine revelation: While valuing ancient wisdom, it also indirectly challenges us to discern between human traditions, however ancient, and direct divine truth from Scripture, especially when human traditions may conflict with God's Word (e.g., Matt 15:3).