Job 4 1

Job 4:1 kjv

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

Job 4:1 nkjv

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

Job 4:1 niv

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

Job 4:1 esv

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

Job 4:1 nlt

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job:

Job 4 verses

Job 4 1 Meaning

Job 4:1 marks a pivotal moment in the Book of Job, signifying the commencement of the prolonged dialogue between Job and his three friends. After a period of shared silence in response to Job's profound suffering, this verse introduces Eliphaz the Temanite as the first to break the silence and articulate a theological response to Job's lament in the preceding chapter. It indicates that the period of empathetic mourning has ended, and the process of challenging and debating Job's predicament is about to begin.

Job 4 1 Context

Job 4:1 is a critical transition point within the book of Job. Prior to this, the narrative describes Job's unparalleled suffering and his resolute refusal to curse God in the prologue (chapters 1-2). Chapter 3 records Job's first, agonizing lament where he expresses despair and wishes he had never been born. This verse then signals the end of the seven-day period of silent mourning by Job's friends (Job 2:13) and ushers in the core of the book: a series of debates concerning the nature of suffering and divine justice. Eliphaz, the eldest and perhaps most esteemed among the friends, is the first to speak, initiating the first cycle of theological discourses that directly challenge Job's perception of his circumstances. Historically, the Temanites, originating from Edom, were known for their wisdom (Jer 49:7; Obad 1:9), granting Eliphaz an immediate air of authority in such a discourse.

Job 4 1 Word analysis

• Then (וַיַּעַן – wa-ya’an): This temporal conjunction indicates an immediate sequence, showing Eliphaz’s response directly follows Job’s lament. It marks the shift from silent sympathy to verbal engagement and formal debate.
• Eliphaz (אֱלִיפַז – ’Eliyphaz): Meaning "My God is fine gold" or "My God is dispersed gold." As the first and possibly oldest or most respected of Job's friends, his name might subtly reflect his worldview where divine judgment is precise and of great value, leading to his assumption of Job's sin. He represents a common, experience-based wisdom tradition.
• the Temanite (הַתֵּימָנִי – ha-Teymani): Referring to Eliphaz’s origin from Teman, a region in Edom, historically renowned for its wisdom (Jer 49:7). This designation underscores Eliphaz's standing as a knowledgeable and esteemed sage, lending weight to his upcoming words in the ensuing debate.
• answered (וַיַּעַן – wa-ya’an): From the root ‘ānāh (עָנָה), this verb denotes not merely a polite reply but a direct and significant verbal response to Job's desperate cry. In the context of the Book of Job, "to answer" frequently introduces a theological counter-argument or formal address in a disputation, signaling the beginning of a challenge to Job's perspective. It sets the tone for a confrontational dialogue rather than simple comfort.
• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר – wa-yo’mer): A common Hebrew formula used to introduce direct speech. Coupled with "answered," it emphasizes that a formal, articulated, and considered speech is about to commence, rather than a casual remark. It signifies the solemnity and the argumentative nature of the words to follow.

• “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said”: This phrase introduces Eliphaz with full credentials (his name and respected lineage), setting the stage for a formal, wise man’s address. It marks the commencement of the literary and theological confrontation in the book, moving beyond Job's monologue to the heart of the dialogue, where differing theological positions are articulated and tested. The transition from Job’s raw, despairing cries to a formal "answer" signals a shift from pathos to theological argumentation.

Job 4 1 Bonus section

The structure of Job's speeches, beginning with Job 4:1, follows a recurring pattern: each of Job's friends speaks, and then Job responds to each one, with three such cycles occurring before the speeches of Elihu and ultimately God Himself. Eliphaz, by speaking first, sets the theological framework for the entire first cycle of arguments among the friends, influencing the subsequent speakers with his reliance on experience and a more generalized wisdom tradition of divine justice and retribution. This moment transitions the Book of Job from a narrative of affliction to a profound, dramatic debate.

Job 4 1 Commentary

Job 4:1 is the succinct opening line to Eliphaz’s initial discourse, serving as the dramatic transition from Job’s personal anguish to the theological scrutiny of his friends. Eliphaz, presented as a man of respected wisdom due to his Temanite heritage, takes the first step to engage Job directly. His action of "answering" implies he perceives Job's lament in Chapter 3 as a challenge or an expression that requires a considered theological response. This marks the end of sympathetic silence and the start of a period of theologically charged, and ultimately, misdirected counsel that compounds Job's suffering.