What does Job 15:14 imply about human nature and sinfulness? Verse and Translation “‘What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?’” (Job 15:14) Immediate Setting in Job Eliphaz is issuing his second speech. Responding to Job’s claims of innocence, he argues that moral purity is unattainable for humans. His point is rhetorical, yet it conveys a universal principle already affirmed in Job 4:17: no human can meet God’s standard of holiness. Canonical Resonance Job 15:14 anticipates: • 1 Kings 8:46—“there is no one who does not sin.” • Psalm 143:2—“no one living is righteous before You.” • Romans 3:10-12, 23—Paul’s conclusion of universal sinfulness. • 1 John 1:8—“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.” Doctrine of Original Sin Job, one of the oldest biblical books (Qumran 4QJob, c. 2nd century BC, matches MT text), already assumes humanity’s inherited corruption. Paul later formalizes it (Romans 5:12-19). The idea is not evolution of theology but early, consistent revelation. Theological Implications 1. Universal Depravity—Purity eludes every descendant of Adam and Eve. 2. Need for Divine Intervention—If righteousness cannot originate from humans, it must be imputed (Isaiah 53:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21). 3. Christological Trajectory—Only One “born of woman” yet sinless (Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 4:15) fulfills what Job 15:14 implies is impossible for the rest. Anthropological Insights Behavioral science repeatedly confirms moral fallenness: cross-cultural studies show deceit, aggression, and selfish bias as human constants. Classic experiments (Milgram 1963; Stanford Prison 1971) illustrate latent corruption surfacing under minimal provocation, empirically echoing Job 15:14. Historical Reception • Augustine (Enchiridion 27) cited Job 15:14 to prove inherited sin. • Luther, in his Lectures on Job (1526), used the verse to argue sola gratia. • Modern evangelical commentators (e.g., Franz Delitzsch, 19th c.) see the text as antecedent to Pauline hamartiology. Practical Application Recognizing inherent sinfulness dismantles self-righteousness, driving the seeker to grace. Evangelistically, one may ask, “Have you ever lied or coveted?” (cf. Romans 7:7). Personal acknowledgment of failure makes the gospel intelligible. Common Objections Answered Objection: Eliphaz is unreliable. Response: While his application to Job was misguided, his maxim about humanity is affirmed elsewhere in Scripture, making the statement itself true. Inspiration encompasses accurate recording of speeches, not blanket endorsement of every conclusion (cf. Satan’s words in Genesis 3). Conclusion Job 15:14 teaches that every human being, by nature and by birth, is tainted with sin and incapable of achieving God’s standard of purity. The verse sets the stage for Scripture’s unfolding narrative: only God’s redemptive act in the incarnate, crucified, and risen Christ resolves the problem Eliphaz describes. |
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