Job 4:7
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Original Language Analysis
זְכָר
Remember
H2142
זְכָר
Remember
Strong's:
H2142
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
נָ֗א
H4994
נָ֗א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
2 of 9
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
מִ֤י
H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
3 of 9
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
ה֣וּא
H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
4 of 9
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
אָבָ֑ד
I pray thee who ever perished
H6
אָבָ֑ד
I pray thee who ever perished
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
6 of 9
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
וְ֝אֵיפֹ֗ה
or where
H375
וְ֝אֵיפֹ֗ה
or where
Strong's:
H375
Word #:
7 of 9
what place?; also (of time) when?; or (of means) how?
Cross References
Psalms 37:25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.2 Peter 2:9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:Acts 28:4And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.Job 8:20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:Job 36:7He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature generally taught strict retribution: righteousness brings prosperity, wickedness brings ruin. Texts like Proverbs often present this pattern as normative. Eliphaz represents conventional wisdom that works in many cases but breaks down when encountering mysteries like Job's suffering. His theology will be explicitly condemned by God (42:7), teaching that human wisdom must submit to divine mystery.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Eliphaz's theology represent the human desire for simple explanations of suffering?
- In what ways do we still assume that suffering always indicates personal sin?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Eliphaz articulates the retribution theology that will dominate the friends' speeches: 'who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?' His rhetorical questions assume the innocent never suffer and the righteous never perish. The Hebrew uses zakhar (זָכַר, remember/recall) implying Eliphaz appeals to universal experience and wisdom tradition. This theology contains partial truth—sin does bring consequences—but fails as comprehensive explanation. Eliphaz cannot conceive of innocent suffering, making Job's situation incomprehensible except as evidence of hidden sin.