Job 22 4

Job 22:4 kjv

Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?

Job 22:4 nkjv

"Is it because of your fear of Him that He corrects you, And enters into judgment with you?

Job 22:4 niv

"Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?

Job 22:4 esv

Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?

Job 22:4 nlt

Is it because you're so pious that he accuses you
and brings judgment against you?

Job 22 verses

Job 22 4 Meaning

Job 22:4 is a rhetorical question posed by Eliphaz the Temanite to Job. It implies Eliphaz's firm belief that God would never bring accusations or cause suffering upon someone purely because of their piety or righteousness. Instead, Eliphaz's unstated conviction, foundational to his theological system, is that if Job is experiencing severe divine rebuke and judgment, it must logically stem from hidden and grievous sins, not from his devotion to God. This question thus serves as an accusatory premise for Eliphaz's subsequent condemnation of Job.

Job 22 4 Context

Job 22:4 is delivered by Eliphaz the Temanite as part of his third, and most direct, speech against Job (Job 22:1-30). By this point in the narrative, Eliphaz and Job's other friends have exhausted their attempts at veiled accusations and indirect challenges. Eliphaz has become convinced that Job's unprecedented suffering must be the result of equally egregious, yet hidden, sins. The cultural context revolves around the prevailing theological understanding of the time, known as retribution theology, which posited a direct, mechanical correlation between one's actions and divine blessing or curse. Righteousness brought prosperity, and wickedness brought calamity. Eliphaz’s rhetorical question, therefore, serves as the logical cornerstone of his argument: since God is just and righteous, He would never punish a pious man. Thus, Job’s suffering inherently proves he is not pious, or at least not entirely.

Job 22 4 Word analysis

• "Is it for your piety":
  • Word: "piety" (Hebrew: יִרְאָתֶ֥ךָ yir’ateka).
  • Meaning: From the root yara, meaning "to fear" or "to revere." It refers to the "fear of the LORD," which in biblical thought is synonymous with wisdom, obedience, reverence, and righteous living (e.g., Prov 1:7; Ps 111:10).
  • Significance: Eliphaz frames the question, dismissing the idea that Job’s renowned reverence for God could be the cause of his suffering. This sets up his implied conclusion that it must be the opposite (lack of piety, or secret wickedness) that God is punishing. His question indicates a complete failure to grasp any dimension of suffering beyond that of punishment for sin.
• "that he rebukes you":
  • Word: "rebukes" (Hebrew: יִכְחֶךָ yikhakheka).
  • Meaning: From the root yakach, meaning to "reprove," "judge," "chide," or "contend with." It carries the connotation of a corrective or punitive judgment, or arguing a legal case against someone.
  • Significance: Eliphaz views Job's extreme affliction as God’s direct "rebuke," a severe disciplinary or punitive act. For him, such an act presupposes fault on Job’s part, reinforcing his retribution theology. He sees God as taking an adversarial stance.
• "and brings charges against you?":
  • Word: "brings charges against you" (Hebrew: וְיָבֹא֙ עִמְּךָ֥ בַמִּשְׁפָּֽט v'yavo 'imm'ka vamishpat).
  • Meaning: Literally "and come with you into judgment," or "enter into a lawsuit with you." Mishpat means "judgment," "justice," or "case." It is strong legal terminology.
  • Significance: This phrase intensifies the imagery of God as a prosecutor engaging Job in a legal battle, finding him guilty. Eliphaz believes God is executing justice on Job because of an actual case He has against him, thereby dismissing Job's assertions of innocence as self-deception or outright lies.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • The rhetorical question "Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you?" embodies Eliphaz’s central theological fallacy. He postulates a direct and undeniable link between God's action and Job's supposed hidden sin, rejecting the possibility of blameless suffering. This question forces a binary choice – either God is unjust (by punishing the pious), or Job is unpious (by being punished). Given his presupposition of God's perfect justice, Eliphaz concludes the latter, demonstrating his rigid interpretation of divine-human interaction and profound lack of empathy for Job.

Job 22 4 Bonus section

This verse stands in stark contrast to other biblical passages where God's discipline of the righteous is portrayed as an act of love for refinement, not retribution for hidden sin (e.g., Heb 12:5-11; Rev 3:19). Eliphaz's view has no room for suffering that strengthens faith, proves integrity, or reveals deeper truths about God's character. His pronouncements here pave the way for his blatant, unfounded accusations against Job in the verses immediately following (Job 22:5-9), revealing the severe implications of a narrow, inflexible theology. The whole Book of Job directly challenges such simplistic causality for suffering, instead pointing towards God's sovereignty and Job's eventual vindication and deeper understanding.

Job 22 4 Commentary

Job 22:4 encapsulates the flawed reasoning of Eliphaz and his friends. Through a rhetorical question, Eliphaz intends to corner Job, asserting that God would never prosecute the pious. This rigidly aligns with their retribution theology: God punishes only the wicked; since Job suffers, he must be wicked. This verse powerfully illustrates their theological blindness, as the very premise of the Book of Job, established by God Himself (Job 1:8), is Job's righteousness. Thus, Eliphaz's "logic" ironically limits God's sovereignty and demonstrates humanity's inability to fully comprehend the multifaceted purposes of suffering or God's higher ways (Isa 55:8-9). It's a prime example of judgmental application of limited human understanding to complex divine dealings.