Job 22:18

Authorized King James Version

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Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Original Language Analysis

וְה֤וּא H1931
וְה֤וּא
Strong's: H1931
Word #: 1 of 8
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
מִלֵּ֣א Yet he filled H4390
מִלֵּ֣א Yet he filled
Strong's: H4390
Word #: 2 of 8
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
בָתֵּיהֶ֣ם their houses H1004
בָתֵּיהֶ֣ם their houses
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 3 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
ט֑וֹב with good H2896
ט֑וֹב with good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 4 of 8
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
וַעֲצַ֥ת things but the counsel H6098
וַעֲצַ֥ת things but the counsel
Strong's: H6098
Word #: 5 of 8
advice; by implication, plan; also prudence
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים of the wicked H7563
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים of the wicked
Strong's: H7563
Word #: 6 of 8
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
רָ֣חֲקָה is far H7368
רָ֣חֲקָה is far
Strong's: H7368
Word #: 7 of 8
to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
מֶֽנִּי׃ H4480
מֶֽנִּי׃
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 8 of 8
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

Analysis & Commentary

Yet he filled their houses with good things (וְהוּא מִלֵּא בָתֵּיהֶם טוֹב)—Mille (filled) indicates abundance; tov (good things) means material prosperity. Eliphaz acknowledges God's generosity even to the wicked—a fact that contradicts strict retribution theology but which he doesn't explore.

But the counsel of the wicked is far from me (וַעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים רָחֲקָה מִמֶּנִּי)—This is Job's own statement from 21:16! Eliphaz quotes Job's explicit distancing from the wicked's philosophy and somehow uses it to accuse Job of holding that philosophy. The logical incoherence reveals Eliphaz's desperation. He must convict Job to preserve his theological system, even if it requires ignoring Job's plain words. This is the tragedy of the comforters: their theology has blinded them to both Job's actual character and his actual arguments.

Historical Context

The tension between God's blessing of the wicked and justice theology troubled ancient sages (Psalm 73, Ecclesiastes, Habakkuk). Rather than modifying the retribution principle, Eliphaz doubles down, creating a caricature of Job's position to maintain his worldview.

Questions for Reflection