Job 22 17

Job 22:17 kjv

Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

Job 22:17 nkjv

They said to God, 'Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?'

Job 22:17 niv

They said to God, 'Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?'

Job 22:17 esv

They said to God, 'Depart from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

Job 22:17 nlt

For they said to God, 'Leave us alone!
What can the Almighty do to us?'

Job 22 verses

Job 22 17 Meaning

Job 22:17 recounts the words attributed to the wicked by Eliphaz, presenting a quintessential statement of human rebellion against divine authority. It encapsulates two profound aspects of godlessness: a desire to expel God from one's life, and a contemptuous questioning of His omnipotence and capacity to exact judgment. Eliphaz uses this extreme example to imply Job is among those who have cut themselves off from God, suggesting Job's suffering is a direct consequence of such a mindset.

Job 22 17 Context

Job 22:17 occurs in Eliphaz's third and final speech to Job. This chapter marks the peak of Eliphaz's judgmental accusations. He assumes that Job's profound suffering can only be explained by secret, grievous sins. Prior to this verse, Eliphaz enumerates various sins that would typically provoke divine judgment (e.g., extorting the poor, depriving the needy, etc.), directly applying them to Job. Verse 17 then provides a sweeping condemnation of those who overtly reject God, setting them up as a clear contrast to what a righteous person should be. Eliphaz presents this verse as the culmination of the wicked's blasphemous arrogance, indirectly implying Job has joined their ranks through his perceived defiance against God, simply because he protests his innocence. This aligns with the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, particularly the strict doctrine of retribution, where prosperity equated to righteousness and suffering to sin, without allowance for exceptions or divine testing.

Job 22 17 Word analysis

• They said (אָמְרוּ, ameru): This plural past tense verb highlights a collective mindset, depicting the typical attitude or common utterance of those living in opposition to God. It indicates a consistent posture rather than an isolated incident.
• to God (לָאֵל, la'el): The direct address using El, a common biblical name for God emphasizing His might and power, makes the defiance explicit. It is not merely a rejection of God's ways, but a personal affront directed at the divine Being Himself.
• Depart from us! (סוּרָה מִמֶּנּוּ, sura mimmenu):
  • sura: An imperative form, conveying a command or strong demand. It is an active expulsion.
  • mimmenu: "from us," expressing a desire for God's physical or spiritual absence, His removal from their lives, oversight, or realm of influence. This reflects a desire for autonomy apart from divine presence and moral standards.
• and (וּמַה, u-mah): The conjunctive "and" links the desire for separation with the questioning of divine power, showing these two attitudes are intimately connected in the rebellious heart.
• What can the Almighty do (יִפְעַל שַׁדַּי, yif'al shaddai):
  • yif'al: "He will do/make/accomplish," in the imperfect tense, suggesting continuous action or capability. The rhetorical "what can he do?" carries strong overtones of dismissive scorn and a challenge to God's effective power or willingness to intervene.
  • Shaddai: "Almighty," a powerful divine name often associated with God's omnipotence, His absolute power to perform His will, to bless, to judge, and to overwhelm. Using this specific name for God makes the rhetorical question even more blasphemous, directly scoffing at His most evident attribute.
• to us? (לָמוֹ, lamo): While literally meaning "to them" in classical Hebrew, here in poetic context, it typically serves as "to us" from the perspective of the wicked speaking. It underlines that this challenge is directed towards their own perceived immunity to God's intervention or judgment.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "They said to God, 'Depart from us!'": This phrase vividly portrays active and intentional rejection. It speaks of a profound desire for spiritual and moral independence, where God's presence, laws, or oversight are deemed unwelcome intrusions. It signifies a radical autonomy where God has no say.
  • "and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'": This second phrase escalates the rebellion from simple rejection to outright defiance and contemptuous dismissal of divine power. It expresses extreme hubris, demonstrating an illusion of invulnerability and a blasphemous underestimation of God's ability to execute justice or intervene in their affairs. This illustrates a practical atheism that denies God's active involvement or efficacy in the world.

Job 22 17 Bonus section

• Irony: The profound irony of Eliphaz using this verse is that Job, throughout his ordeal, passionately seeks a hearing from God and affirms His ultimate sovereignty, even in his distress. Job desires God's presence, not His departure.
• Traditional Theology's Limitation: Eliphaz's use of this quote exemplifies the limitations of a rigid, simplistic retribution theology. It attributes an outright defiant attitude to Job that he never held, solely to explain his suffering within a narrow theological framework that struggled with righteous suffering.
• Echoes in Human History: The sentiments of "Depart from us!" and "What can God do?" resonate through history. From ancient tyrants like Pharaoh to modern secular ideologies, there's a recurring human impulse to remove God from public life and private conscience, underestimating the consequences of such actions.

Job 22 17 Commentary

Job 22:17 stands as a poignant expression of ultimate human arrogance and ungodliness, representing the antithesis of a righteous heart. Eliphaz employs this archetypal statement of the wicked to subtly, yet pointedly, accuse Job. He asserts that those who suffer like Job must possess the very defiant spirit expressed in this verse. The two parts of the statement are mutually reinforcing: a desire for God's absence naturally leads to questioning His authority or capability to affect one's life. The wicked crave freedom from divine scrutiny and judgment, leading them to scoff at God's very power. This reflects a fundamental delusion of self-sufficiency and autonomy from the Creator. For Eliphaz, this hardened, godless attitude is the direct cause of Job's dire circumstances, overlooking God's complex and multi-faceted purposes for suffering, particularly in the case of the righteous. This verse, though used mistakenly against Job, truthfully describes the depth of human rebellion found throughout biblical narrative, where pride causes individuals and nations to reject God's rule and power, often leading to inevitable judgment.