Job 22:17
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Job 22:17
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Chapter Context
Job 22 is a wisdom dialogue chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of judgment, discipleship, righteousness. Written during the patriarchal period (literary composition later), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient wisdom traditions often wrestled with the problem of suffering and divine justice.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-30: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it foreshadows Christ's work through typology and prophetic elements. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Job and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Job 22:17
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Analysis
Which said unto God, Depart from us (הָאֹמְרִים לָאֵל סוּר מִמֶּנּוּ)—Sur mimmennu (depart from us) represents willful rejection of God's authority. Eliphaz quotes the wicked man's defiant cry (compare Job 21:14, where Job quoted this same phrase—but as the wicked's words, not his own!).
What can the Almighty do for them? (וּמַה־יִּפְעַל שַׁדַּי לָמוֹ)—This rhetorical question expresses practical atheism: God is irrelevant to our prosperity. Shaddai (Almighty) emphasizes God's power, making the dismissal more blasphemous. Crucially, Eliphaz has taken Job's quotation of the wicked out of context. Job cited this in chapter 21 to challenge retribution theology (the wicked prosper!), explicitly distancing himself from their philosophy (21:16). Eliphaz either hasn't listened or deliberately misrepresents Job's words.
Historical Context
The demand 'Depart from us' appears in wisdom literature as the ultimate expression of rebellion against God. Ancient Near Eastern thought recognized the connection between acknowledging deity and receiving blessing. To dismiss God was to invite curse—yet Job observed that the wicked often prospered despite this (21:7-13).
Reflection
- How does Eliphaz's misuse of Job's own words illustrate the danger of hearing selectively what confirms our biases?
- What is the difference between Job's honest wrestling with why the wicked prosper versus the wicked's dismissal of God?
- When have you seen someone's words twisted to mean the opposite of their actual intent?
Word Studies
- God: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) H410 - God (plural of majesty)
Cross-References
- References God: Malachi 3:14, Matthew 8:29, Romans 1:28
- Parallel theme: Job 21:10, Psalms 4:6, Isaiah 30:11, Matthew 8:34