Job 11:4
For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
Original Language Analysis
לִקְחִ֑י
My doctrine
H3948
לִקְחִ֑י
My doctrine
Strong's:
H3948
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, something received, i.e., (mentally) instruction (whether on the part of the teacher or hearer); also (in an active and sinister sense) inve
Historical Context
Ancient legal disputes required accurate representation of an opponent's position. Zophar's mischaracterization would have been recognized as rhetorical manipulation, yet it often succeeds in group settings where the accused cannot adequately defend themselves.
Questions for Reflection
- How often do we argue against what we think someone believes rather than what they actually said?
- What safeguards can prevent us from misrepresenting others' positions in theological disputes?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Zophar misrepresents Job's claims. Job never said his 'doctrine' (לֶקַח, leqach—teaching, instruction) was pure or that he was 'clean' (בַּר, bar—pure, innocent) in God's eyes. Job acknowledged human sinfulness (7:21, 9:2-3) while maintaining he hadn't committed sins warranting his suffering. This is classic straw-man argumentation—Zophar attacks a position Job never held. The verse warns against eisegesis—reading into another's words what we expect or want to hear. Reformed theology's emphasis on careful exegesis applies not only to Scripture but to charitable listening to others.