Eliphaz
Job’s friend who came to comfort him, then insisted his suffering must be his own fault.
Old Testament · Patriarchal age (date uncertain) · Job · Also known as Eliphaz the Temanite, Friend of Job
About Eliphaz
Eliphaz the Temanite was the first of Job’s three friends. Hearing of Job’s disaster, they came "to mourn with him and to comfort him," and sat with him seven days in silence. Then Eliphaz spoke: "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent?" His speeches sound wise, and Paul even quotes one line, but they rest on one idea: suffering proves sin. By his third speech he was accusing Job outright: "Is not thy wickedness great?" At the end God said to him, "My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." Job prayed for them, and God accepted Job’s prayer.
This guide speaks about Eliphaz, not as him, because God himself said his words about God were not right. Teman was a town of Edom known for wisdom, and Esau had a son named Eliphaz, whose son was Teman. Whether Job’s friend belongs to that family isn’t said.
The story
To mourn with him
"Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite." They wept and sat with him on the ground "seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great."
Job 2:11-13
Who ever perished, being innocent?
When Job cursed the day he was born, Eliphaz answered: "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." He told of a vision: "a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up."
Job 4:1-17
Is not thy wickedness great?
Job kept protesting his innocence, and Eliphaz grew harsher. In his third speech he accused him of wrongs no one had seen: "Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing."
Job 22:1-11
Not the thing that is right
"The LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." They were to offer sacrifices, "and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept." "The LORD also accepted Job."
Job 42:7-9
Key moments
- Comes to comfort Job: Sits in silence seven days. (Job 2:11-13)
- First speech: "Who ever perished, being innocent?" (Job 4:7)
- A vision in the night: "A spirit passed before my face." (Job 4:15)
- Accuses Job: "Is not thy wickedness great?" (Job 22:5)
- Rebuked by God: Job prays for him. (Job 42:7-9)
Questions about Eliphaz
Was Eliphaz wrong about everything?
Not everything. Some of his lines are true in general: Paul even quotes him, "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." His mistake was to treat a general truth as a rule with no exceptions: "who ever perished, being innocent?" Applied to Job, that meant Job must be guilty. God’s verdict was clear: "ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."
What did Eliphaz get right?
His first response. He and the others came "to mourn with him and to comfort him," wept, and "sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." Many readers think that silent presence was the best comfort they gave. The trouble began when they started explaining.
Connected people
- Job: Friend
- Bildad: Fellow comforter
- Zophar: Fellow comforter
- Elihu: Spoke after him
- Esau: Possible family link
Read it yourself
Start with Job 2:11-13; 4:1-8; 42:7-9.