Job 22:4
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
Original Language Analysis
הֲֽ֭מִיִּרְאָ֣תְךָ
thee for fear
H3374
הֲֽ֭מִיִּרְאָ֣תְךָ
thee for fear
Strong's:
H3374
Word #:
1 of 5
fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence
יֹכִיחֶ֑ךָ
Will he reprove
H3198
יֹכִיחֶ֑ךָ
Will he reprove
Strong's:
H3198
Word #:
2 of 5
to be right (i.e., correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or convict
יָב֥וֹא
of thee will he enter
H935
יָב֥וֹא
of thee will he enter
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
3 of 5
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Job 14:3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?Psalms 143:2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.Revelation 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Psalms 76:6At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.Psalms 39:11When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.Psalms 80:16It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.Job 34:23For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.Job 7:12Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?Job 9:19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?Job 19:29Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern religion operated on strict reciprocity—divine beings rewarded righteousness and punished wickedness. Eliphaz articulates this view perfectly: God doesn't discipline the pious, therefore Job's suffering proves hidden sin. This theology couldn't accommodate the prologue's revelation (chapters 1-2) that Job's suffering results from testing, not punishment. The book's message partly aims to expand ancient Israel's understanding beyond simplistic retribution theology.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Eliphaz's inability to conceive of righteous suffering limit his understanding of God's purposes?
- What does Job's desire to argue his case before God teach about honest faith versus the friends' presumption to defend God?
- How do we avoid Eliphaz's error of assuming all suffering results from personal sin?
Analysis & Commentary
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? (הֲמִיִּרְאָתְךָ יוֹכִיחֶךָ, hamiyir'atekha yokhichekha)—Eliphaz's rhetorical question drips with sarcasm. Yir'ah (יִרְאָה) means fear or reverence, while yakach (יָכַח) means reprove, correct, or enter into judgment. Eliphaz mockingly asks if God disciplines Job because of Job's piety—an absurd suggestion in Eliphaz's theology. His intended meaning: 'God certainly isn't punishing you because you're too righteous!'
Will he enter with thee into judgment? (יָבוֹא עִמְּךָ בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, yavo immekha bamishpat)—Mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means judgment, justice, or legal case. Eliphaz cannot imagine God prosecuting the righteous, so he concludes Job must be wicked. Ironically, Job has repeatedly demanded exactly this—to present his case in God's court (9:32-35, 13:3, 13:18-22, 23:3-7). Eliphaz's theology has no category for mystery or testing; suffering must equal punishment for sin.