Job 4 6

Job 4:6 kjv

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

Job 4:6 nkjv

Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job 4:6 niv

Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?

Job 4:6 esv

Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job 4:6 nlt

Doesn't your reverence for God give you confidence?
Doesn't your life of integrity give you hope?

Job 4 verses

Job 4 6 Meaning

Job 4:6, spoken by Eliphaz to Job, presents a rhetorical question intended to challenge Job's response to his suffering. Eliphaz suggests that Job's past fear of God (piety) and the integrity of his ways should inherently be his source of confidence and hope, enabling him to withstand adversity. The implied expectation is that if Job truly possessed these virtues, he would not be in despair, subtly suggesting a deficiency in Job's character or piety that led to his affliction.

Job 4 6 Context

Job 4:6 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's first response to Job's lament in Job 3. Eliphaz, the oldest and perhaps wisest of Job's three friends, attempts to counsel Job from a position of assumed spiritual insight, emphasizing the traditional wisdom of their day. This wisdom largely adhered to the principle of divine retribution: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. Therefore, in Eliphaz's view, Job's immense suffering must indicate some hidden sin or failing on Job's part. Verse 6 specifically tries to recall Job's prior reputation for piety and integrity, setting up a contrast with his current state of despair and perceived lack of divine favor. It implicitly challenges Job to rely on his former piety as a shield, subtly accusing him of losing his way or of having a deficient fear of God. The historical and cultural context involves a tribal, ancient Near Eastern worldview where suffering was directly linked to divine judgment for sin, and prosperity was a sign of divine blessing and righteousness.

Job 4 6 Word analysis

• Is not: A rhetorical question (הֲלֹא - halo in Hebrew). Eliphaz isn't genuinely asking for information; he expects Job to agree, leading Job towards Eliphaz's implied conclusion about Job's suffering. This serves to gently (at first) lead Job to a realization Eliphaz believes Job must face.
• your fear: (יִרְאָתְךָ - yir'ateka) Refers to "your reverence" or "your piety." In the biblical context, "fear of the LORD" often signifies profound respect, humble submission, and faithful obedience to God. It is often synonymous with wisdom (Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7) and is considered the foundation of a right relationship with God. Eliphaz acknowledges Job's renowned past piety (cf. Job 1:1, "a blameless and upright man, who feared God and turned away from evil").
• of God: Implied in "your fear" based on the wider context of Eliphaz's address and the book of Job, which centers on Job's relationship with God.
• your confidence: (כִּסְלָתֶךָ - kislatēkhā). The Hebrew word kisla (כֶּסֶל) can be translated as "confidence," "hope," or "trust," and sometimes (related to a root meaning "foolish" or "fat") can even denote "folly" or "false confidence." In this context, given the parallel with "hope," the sense is positive: Eliphaz refers to the steadfastness and security Job should possess because of his piety. The ambiguity may hint at Eliphaz's own wavering belief in Job's integrity, but the primary sense is the positive confidence piety should bring.
• and the integrity: (וְתֹם - wəṯōm) From tūmmâ (תּוּמָה) or tōm (תֹּם), meaning "blamelessness," "completeness," "uprightness," or "perfection." This refers to Job's blameless character and ethical conduct, as described in Job 1:1. It emphasizes an internal moral consistency, not sinless perfection.
• of your ways: (דְּרָכֶיךָ - dərākheykhā) Refers to Job's conduct, actions, and lifestyle. The "ways" (derekh) metaphorically represent the course of one's life.
• your hope?: (תִּקְוָה - tiqvāh and תּוֹחַלְתֶּךָ - tokha'ltekha). Both Hebrew words mean "hope" or "expectation." Tiqvāh in the first clause and tokha'ltekha in the second. The parallelism reinforces the idea that Job's blamelessness should provide an anchor for his future and sustain him through his current crisis. Eliphaz assumes a direct, reciprocal relationship: righteous living leads to unwavering hope and a protective buffer from misfortune.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Is not your fear of God your confidence,": This phrase encapsulates Eliphaz's argument that Job's demonstrated piety (fear of God) should logically result in internal steadfastness and assurance (confidence) even amidst suffering. It functions as an appeal to Job's known character.
• "and the integrity of your ways your hope?": This parallel clause extends the thought, stating that Job's blameless conduct (integrity of ways) should be the very source and foundation of his enduring expectation for future well-being and divine favor (hope). It highlights the outward demonstration of righteousness correlating with inner certainty.
• The rhetorical nature: Both clauses, presented as questions, are accusatory in essence. Eliphaz isn't affirming Job's piety but questioning why it isn't functioning as his confidence and hope in this crisis. This implies either Job's piety was insufficient or insincere, or the standard retribution theology is flawed in Job's specific case – Eliphaz will argue the former.
• Underlying Retribution Theology: The entire verse reflects the prevailing doctrine of retribution, where prosperity is linked to righteousness and suffering to sin. Eliphaz assumes this, suggesting that if Job were truly righteous, he wouldn't be suffering or, at least, his fear and integrity should cushion the blow.

Job 4 6 Bonus section

The word kisla (כֶּסֶל), translated "confidence" or "hope" in Job 4:6, holds a significant semantic range in Hebrew. While it can mean "confidence" in a positive sense, especially when paired with hope, it is often related to "loins" or "flank," implying physical stoutness, and by extension, a certain "security" or "boldness." However, kisla can also be connected to the root kāsal, meaning "to be foolish" or "to be dull." Some scholarly interpretations suggest Eliphaz's subtle use of this word could carry a double meaning: "Is not your piety your confidence?" (positive), or "Is not your piety your foolish self-confidence?" (negative, suggesting an over-reliance on one's own righteousness). This possible ambiguity highlights Eliphaz's manipulative rhetorical style, allowing him to subtly accuse Job without overtly condemning him from the outset, thus setting the stage for his subsequent, harsher pronouncements. Eliphaz is not presenting a theology of faith in trial, but a theology of results from faithfulness.

Job 4 6 Commentary

Job 4:6 serves as the rhetorical foundation for Eliphaz's critique of Job. He ostensibly appeals to Job's former virtue, framing his current despair as a contradiction to Job's reputation for piety and integrity. Eliphaz posits a simple equation: genuine fear of God and righteous living must result in unwavering confidence and hope, even in the face of calamity. If Job's confidence is shattered and his hope seems lost, then, Eliphaz reasons, there must be a flaw in his righteousness or his understanding of God. This verse reveals the limited, experience-based theology of Job's friends, who, while holding to partial truths about God's justice, fail to comprehend the complexities of divine purposes, innocent suffering, and the nature of faith. For them, suffering always indicates prior sin, thus precluding the possibility of blameless affliction. Eliphaz's words, while superficially encouraging, are designed to nudge Job toward confession of sin, misapplying a general principle of divine order to a unique case of suffering for divine purposes.