Job 13:4
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
Original Language Analysis
טֹֽפְלֵי
ye are forgers
H2950
טֹֽפְלֵי
ye are forgers
Strong's:
H2950
Word #:
3 of 7
properly, to stick on as a patch; figuratively, to impute falsely
רֹפְאֵ֖י
ye are all physicians
H7495
רֹפְאֵ֖י
ye are all physicians
Strong's:
H7495
Word #:
5 of 7
properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e., (figuratively) to cure
Cross References
Psalms 119:69The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.Jeremiah 8:22Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?Jeremiah 6:14They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.Job 16:2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.Jeremiah 23:32Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 46:11Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.Jeremiah 30:13There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.Mark 2:17When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Mark 5:26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,Ezekiel 34:4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Historical Context
Ancient physicians had limited diagnostic tools and often prescribed useless or harmful treatments. Job's metaphor would resonate as a scathing indictment of the friends' harmful counsel disguised as wisdom.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we avoid becoming 'physicians of no value' who misdiagnose spiritual conditions?
- What is the difference between speaking truth and wielding truth as a weapon?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.' Job's accusation escalates. 'Forgers' (טֹפְלֵי, tofeley) means plasterers or whitewashers—they cover truth with 'lies' (שָׁקֶר, shaqer—falsehood, deception). They're 'physicians of no value' (רֹפְאֵי אֱלִל, rofey elil—healers of worthlessness). The medical metaphor is devastating: doctors who misdiagnose and prescribe wrong treatment harm rather than heal. Ezekiel 13:10 uses similar imagery for false prophets whitewashing rotten walls. The friends' orthodox theology applied wrongly becomes destructive. This warns against theological malpractice—using truth to wound. The Reformed emphasis on applying Scripture correctly warns against this danger.