Job 22 8

Job 22:8 kjv

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.

Job 22:8 nkjv

But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.

Job 22:8 niv

though you were a powerful man, owning land? an honored man, living on it.

Job 22:8 esv

The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.

Job 22:8 nlt

You probably think the land belongs to the powerful
and only the privileged have a right to it!

Job 22 verses

Job 22 8 Meaning

Job 22:8, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, asserts a conventional ancient Near Eastern belief: that prosperous and influential individuals (the "mighty man" and the "honorable man") possessed and inhabited the land, indicating their status and presumably, in Eliphaz's view, their righteousness or past good standing before God. However, in the context of his accusation, he subtly implies that Job, being such a man, must have gained his prosperity or managed it in a way that warranted divine judgment, contradicting Job's claim of innocence and uprightness. It frames Eliphaz's retributive theology, where blessing signals virtue and suffering implies sin.

Job 22 8 Context

Job 22:8 is part of Eliphaz's third and final speech to Job, marking his harshest accusations. Up to this point, Job has consistently defended his innocence against his friends' charges, arguing that his suffering is not due to any great sin. Eliphaz, frustrated by Job's defiance of their traditional theology, shifts from general assertions to specific, albeit unproven, accusations of Job's wickedness (vv. 5-9). This verse sets up Eliphaz's subsequent list of presumed misdeeds (vv. 9-11), implying that Job, having been powerful and honorable (and thus having "the land" and dwelling "in it"), must have abused his position, leading to his current suffering. It reflects the prevalent retribution theology where prosperity was a direct sign of divine favor, and adversity was punishment for sin. The Book of Job as a whole challenges this simplistic understanding.

Job 22 8 Word analysis

• But as for the mighty man:

  • mighty man (אִ֖ישׁ זְר֣וֹעַ, ’îš zə‘rôa‘): Lit. "man of arm" or "man of strength." ’îš is the common word for "man," while zə‘rôa‘ means "arm" and, by extension, "strength," "power," or "might."
  • Significance: Denotes someone possessing physical or, more commonly in this context, influential power, capability, authority, and often wealth. It speaks of a person with agency and resources. Eliphaz uses this to categorize Job's former status.

• he had the land:

  • he had (וְלָאִישׁ֮ לְכָ֣פִים הָאָ֣רֶץ, wəlā·’îš lə·ḵā·p̄îm hā·’ā·reṣ): This phrasing indicates possession or control. The term "he had" (implied in the structure, rather than a single verb) refers to the previous "mighty man."
  • the land (הָאָ֣רֶץ, hā·’ā·reṣ): Refers to a specific territory, property, or inherited land.
  • Significance: Ownership of land in ancient Israel was a sign of prosperity, stability, and divine blessing. It implied not just property but often influence and social standing within the community. For Eliphaz, having the land meant being blessed and powerful.

• and the honorable man:

  • honorable man (וּנְשׂ֥וּא פָנִים֮, ū·nə·śū pam·nîm): Lit. "one whose face is lifted/raised" or "one highly regarded." nāśā’ (to lift, bear) + pānîm (face). This idiom refers to a person of high status, respect, prestige, or dignity. Someone who is given special deference.
  • Significance: This phrase complements "mighty man," emphasizing Job's social standing, reputation, and perhaps moral esteem in the community, not just his wealth or power. Eliphaz acknowledges Job's past respectability.

• dwelt in it:

  • dwelt in it (יֵֽשֶׁב בָּֽהּ, yē·šeḇ bāh): From yāšaḇ (to sit, dwell, reside, settle). "In it" refers back to "the land."
  • Significance: Denotes stable, legitimate occupation and long-term possession of the land. It solidifies the image of prosperity and established authority, not just a temporary visit but rightful inhabitation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "the mighty man...he had the land; and the honorable man dwelt in it.": This pairing highlights two dimensions of Job's past elevated status: his power/wealth and his respect/reputation. Eliphaz uses this established fact of Job's former eminence to underscore his accusation. The verse is an observation of a general principle ("mighty and honorable men prosper") which Eliphaz then implicitly applies to Job, setting up his argument that such a man, now suffering, must have been profoundly wicked, despite appearances. The conventional wisdom states that the deserving inherit the land; Eliphaz sees Job as such a man but implies he was not truly deserving of such favor by the end.

Job 22 8 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of Eliphaz's statement lies in its 'observational' nature. He presents it not as an accusation per se, but as an undeniable truth about who enjoys property and respect: those with strength and honor. Then, by implication, he forces Job into this category. The unstated premise, however, is Eliphaz's erroneous belief that all suffering is a direct result of specific, personal sin. This verse also implicitly contrasts Eliphaz's view with what true divine blessing entails. While land and honor were indeed signs of favor, the Book of Job ultimately shows that righteousness can endure and thrive even in loss, challenging the direct causal link assumed by Eliphaz. The emphasis on "the land" reflects its immense significance as a symbol of stability, inheritance, and blessing in ancient Israelite thought, tying a person's identity and legacy to their holding of land.

Job 22 8 Commentary

Job 22:8 serves as a cornerstone in Eliphaz's final and most direct attack on Job. It's a statement of perceived conventional wisdom in ancient societies: power and honor are naturally correlated with possessing and residing in one's land. Eliphaz frames this truth in an accusatory way towards Job, arguing that Job's past status as a "mighty" and "honorable" man who "had the land" must have been built on or accompanied by hidden wickedness, because such a revered person wouldn't otherwise suffer. Eliphaz represents the 'prosperity gospel' of his time—success and comfort signify God's favor, while suffering signifies divine judgment for sin. He overlooks Job's prior piety, twisting his past blessings into potential proof of unconfessed sin, a profound misapplication of truth that the Book of Job comprehensively debunks. The verse exemplifies the narrow theological lens through which Job's friends viewed God's interaction with humanity.