Job 4 12

Job 4:12 kjv

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

Job 4:12 nkjv

"Now a word was secretly brought to me, And my ear received a whisper of it.

Job 4:12 niv

"A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it.

Job 4:12 esv

"Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it.

Job 4:12 nlt

"This truth was given to me in secret,
as though whispered in my ear.

Job 4 verses

Job 4 12 Meaning

Job 4:12 introduces Eliphaz's claim of having received a personal and profound divine revelation. He states that a significant message, referred to as a "word," was conveyed to him not overtly, but "secretly" or "stealthily," so subtly that his ear could only perceive it as a faint "whisper" or a mere "trace." This verse serves to establish the perceived authority and solemnity of the wisdom Eliphaz is about to impart, presenting it as a direct communication from the spiritual realm rather than his own human opinion.

Job 4 12 Context

This verse is found within Eliphaz's first speech to Job, immediately following Job's despairing lamentations in chapter 3, where Job curses the day of his birth due to his intense suffering. Eliphaz, the eldest and seemingly most respected of Job's three friends, attempts to counsel Job by presenting his traditional view of divine justice: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. Job 4:12 sets the stage for Eliphaz's profound and fear-inducing revelation described in the subsequent verses (Job 4:13-17). He frames his forthcoming arguments not as personal conjecture, but as a divine disclosure received through an intense spiritual encounter. This claim lends significant weight to his pronouncements in the ancient Near Eastern context, where divine communications were seen as ultimate authority.

Job 4 12 Word analysis

• Now: (Heb. וְאֵלַי - v'eilai, "and to me" or "and indeed, to me"). This particle links the statement to the ongoing discourse and emphasizes Eliphaz as the direct recipient, underscoring the personal nature of the revelation he received.
• a word: (Heb. מִלָּה - millah, "word," "message," "matter," or "thing"). This is not just a casual utterance but implies a significant communication or weighty pronouncement. It suggests a piece of information, a decree, or a weighty utterance with authoritative content.
• was secretly brought: (Heb. תֻגַּב - tuggav, Hophal perfect of the root גוב, gub). This is a rare form and significant. The Hophal stem indicates a passive sense ("it was caused to be brought"). The root gub can mean "to go in," "to withdraw," "to cut off." In this context, it suggests that the word was not openly declared but "slipped in," "stolen away," or "brought stealthily." It emphasizes the elusive, hidden, and almost mystical manner of its delivery, implying something profound and not easily grasped. Some interpretations also link it to "formation" or "molding," suggesting the word was shaped into his mind.
• and my ear: (Heb. וַתִּקַּח אָזְנִי - vattikkaḥ ozni, "and my ear received"). The verb וַתִּקַּח (vattikkaḥ), from לקח (laqakh), means "to take" or "to receive." This signifies active reception by Eliphaz's hearing organ, validating the experience as directly sensory and personal, not just a vague thought.
• received: (see 'and my ear'). Implies that his ear "captured" or "apprehended" the communication, though subtly.
• a whisper of it: (Heb. שֵׁמֶץ - shemetz, "a trace," "a whisper," "a hint," "a faint sound," "a vestige"). This word highlights the extreme subtlety of the revelation. It wasn't a booming voice or clear declaration, but something fleeting, almost imperceptible. This makes the "word" mysterious and exclusive, reinforcing Eliphaz's perceived spiritual sensitivity or insight into deep matters, accessible only to him. It also ironically hints at the incomplete or partial nature of the revelation's full meaning for Eliphaz.

Words-group analysis

• "Now a word was secretly brought to me": This phrase establishes Eliphaz's claim of having received a profound message from a supernatural source. The "secretly brought" aspect underscores the solemnity and unusual nature of the event, implying that this was not common knowledge or an open revelation, but something reserved for him, thereby enhancing his authority in his friends' and his own eyes.
• "and my ear received a whisper of it": This emphasizes the intimate, personal, and yet incredibly subtle way the message was perceived. The contrast between a "word" (implying substance) and a "whisper" (implying minimal sound) creates a paradoxical effect, portraying the divine communication as profound yet veiled, barely audible yet deeply impactful on Eliphaz. This adds to the mystical aura surrounding his upcoming declaration.

Job 4 12 Bonus section

• Irony of the "Whisper": The word shemetz (whisper/trace) could be seen as deeply ironic. While Eliphaz presents it as proof of his profound divine encounter, it also literally means a mere "trace" or "fragment." This subtly prefigures the divine judgment on Eliphaz's discourse in Job 42:7, indicating that his revelation, while perhaps genuine in some form, provided only a partial and misinterpreted understanding of God's ways, far from the full truth concerning Job's suffering.
• Eliphaz's Psychological State: Some interpretations suggest that the "secretly brought word" might have been a manifestation of Eliphaz's own subconscious thoughts, deeply held theological convictions, or a vivid dream, which he sincerely perceived as divine revelation. This highlights the human tendency to attribute one's own biases or limited understanding to divine will, especially in times of profound crisis or theological wrestling.

Job 4 12 Commentary

Job 4:12 serves as the prelude to Eliphaz's "divine" justification for the conventional wisdom he holds, asserting that Job's suffering must stem from his own sin. By claiming to have received this revelation not through a dramatic spectacle, but through a deeply personal and subtle whisper, Eliphaz elevates his impending counsel above mere human opinion, granting it the weight of spiritual authority. The subtle nature of the revelation, conveyed as a "whisper" or "trace," suggests an intimate connection to the divine. Ironically, while Eliphaz indeed received a revelation (Job 4:13-17), his interpretation and application of it to Job were deeply flawed. The "whisper" might imply a partial or incomplete understanding, as later highlighted by God's own assessment that Eliphaz and his friends "have not spoken of Me what is right" (Job 42:7). This verse reveals a human attempt to authenticate one's words by claiming divine inspiration, a sincere conviction perhaps, but one that ultimately leads to misjudgment of God's ways concerning suffering.