Job 22:7
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
Original Language Analysis
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
1 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מַ֭יִם
Thou hast not given water
H4325
מַ֭יִם
Thou hast not given water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
2 of 7
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
תַּשְׁקֶ֑ה
to drink
H8248
תַּשְׁקֶ֑ה
to drink
Strong's:
H8248
Word #:
4 of 7
to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to
Cross References
Job 31:17Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;Isaiah 58:7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?Matthew 25:42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:Ezekiel 18:16Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,Ezekiel 18:7And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern law codes emphasized obligations to the vulnerable—widows, orphans, the poor, and travelers. Hammurabi's Code, Hittite laws, and Mosaic legislation all mandated providing for the needy. Job's actual record (chapters 29, 31) shows exemplary fulfillment of these obligations. Eliphaz's false accusations demonstrate how rigid theological systems can lead to bearing false witness when reality doesn't cooperate with theory.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you been tempted to assume someone's suffering must result from hidden sin, even without evidence?
- What does Eliphaz's false accusation teach about the danger of defending our theology at the expense of truth?
- How does Job's actual record (chapters 29-31) challenge us to examine our own treatment of the poor and vulnerable?
Analysis & Commentary
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink (לֹא־מַיִם עָיֵף תַּשְׁקֶה, lo-mayim ayef tashqeh)—Eliphaz now invents specific sins to justify his theology. Providing water to the thirsty was fundamental covenant obligation (Isaiah 58:7, Matthew 25:35). The word ayef (עָיֵף) means weary, exhausted, or faint. Denying water violated basic hospitality and compassion laws that even predated Mosaic legislation.
Thou hast withholden bread from the hungry (וְלָרָעֵב תִּמְנַע־לָחֶם, velar'eb timna-lachem)—Ra'ev (רָעֵב) means hungry or famished. Mana (מָנַע) means withhold or keep back. Feeding the hungry appears throughout Scripture as covenant righteousness marker (Deuteronomy 15:7-11, Proverbs 22:9, Isaiah 58:7). Eliphaz's accusations are completely baseless—Job had actually fed the hungry and aided the needy (29:12-17, 31:16-22). When theology trumps facts, false witness results.