Job 4
Eliphaz accuses Job of sin and describes Job's trouble as evidence
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Text
Explanation
Eliphaz begins to speak
.1 ¶ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
 2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? 
 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
 4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
 5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
  1 - Eliphaz The first of Job's "friends" to speak. 
  2 - Grieved That is, "wearied" or "impatient."
  3 - Thou hast Job's good acts are acknowledged.
   5 - Now ... upon thee Job is now the one with feble knees and Eliphaz points Job's weakness.
 6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?   Thy fear Fear of God.
  Uprightness Integrity. The same Hebrew word is used in jb0101.
.7 ¶ Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
.8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
 9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. 
.10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
 11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
  7 - Who ever perished being innocent? Eliphaz's theory that trials are punishment for sin is developed through verse 11.
 12 ¶ Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. 
.13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
 14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. 
 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
 16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
  12 - Brought to me Not by the Lord.
 17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
 18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: 
 19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
 20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. 
 21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
  17 - Mortal man The word "mortal" is supplied and does not belong to the text.
  17 - More just than God Probably should be "just before God."
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