Job 15:6
Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
Original Language Analysis
יַרְשִֽׁיעֲךָ֣
condemneth
H7561
יַרְשִֽׁיעֲךָ֣
condemneth
Strong's:
H7561
Word #:
1 of 7
to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate
פִ֣יךָ
Thine own mouth
H6310
פִ֣יךָ
Thine own mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
2 of 7
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ
thee and not I yea thine own lips
H8193
וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ
thee and not I yea thine own lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
5 of 7
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
Cross References
Luke 19:22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:Matthew 12:37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.Job 9:20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern legal proceedings relied heavily on witness testimony and self-incriminating statements. Eliphaz manipulates this framework to make Job appear guilty by his own admission—a tactic still used in coercive interrogations today.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you seen someone use 'just asking questions' or 'just observing' to mask harsh judgment?
- How do you distinguish between genuinely letting scripture speak and weaponizing someone's words against them?
- What does this verse teach about the responsibility we bear for interpretations we claim are 'neutral'?
Analysis & Commentary
Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee—Eliphaz claims neutrality: 'I'm not condemning you—you're condemning yourself.' The Hebrew legal terminology yarshi'echa (יַרְשִׁיעֲךָ, 'condemns you') and ya'anu (יַעֲנוּ, 'testify') creates a courtroom scene where Job is both defendant and prosecution witness. Eliphaz positions himself as mere observer of Job's self-incrimination.
This is sophisticated blame-shifting: Eliphaz delivers harsh judgment while claiming he's simply agreeing with Job's own words. It's a rhetorical strategy that allows maximum condemnation with minimum responsibility. Yet God's verdict in 42:7 reverses everything—Eliphaz's 'neutral observation' was in fact false testimony, while Job's passionate protests were truthful speech.