Job 4:1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Original Language Analysis
וַ֭יַּעַן
answered
H6030
וַ֭יַּעַן
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 4
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
אֱלִיפַ֥ז
Then Eliphaz
H464
אֱלִיפַ֥ז
Then Eliphaz
Strong's:
H464
Word #:
2 of 4
eliphaz, the name of one of job's friends, and of a son of esau
Historical Context
Eliphaz represents the wisdom tradition's conventional teaching that suffering results from sin. His speeches, while containing truth, fail to account for innocent suffering - the book's central problem.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you offered theological explanations when someone needed compassionate silence?
- How can truth become harmful when spoken at the wrong time?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Eliphaz begins as the eldest and most sympathetic of Job's friends, yet his theology of retribution will prove inadequate. The dialogues reveal how even well-meaning comfort can wound when it prioritizes theological systems over compassionate presence. True comfort acknowledges mystery rather than offering premature answers.