What does Job 15:2 reveal about the importance of godly speech? The text of Job 15:2 “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge or fill his belly with the east wind?” What the imagery tells us • “Windy knowledge” paints a picture of empty words—sound without substance. • “The east wind” in Scripture often represents scorching, destructive force (Genesis 41:6; Jeremiah 18:17). Filling oneself with it suggests internalizing what ultimately harms. • Eliphaz assumes that truly wise people refuse such verbal emptiness; wisdom and weighty speech belong together. Key truths about godly speech • Wisdom measures words. Proverbs 10:19—“When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” • Content matters more than volume. Proverbs 15:28—“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” • Speech shapes the speaker. Luke 6:45—“For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Windy words reveal a heart that has not been filled with God’s truth. • Empty talk can be spiritually destructive. James 3:6 likens the tongue to “a world of unrighteousness,” able to set the course of life on fire. • God evaluates every utterance. Matthew 12:36—“I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” Practical checkpoints • Pause and weigh words before speaking; let silence be preferred to verbal drafts. • Pursue Scripture-filled conversation so that your speech overflows with truth, not “wind.” (Colossians 3:16) • Aim for edification. Ephesians 4:29—“Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up.” • Remember that words leave a spiritual footprint—either refreshing like a gentle breeze or scorching like the east wind. Takeaway Job 15:2 underscores that speech anchored in wisdom and truth is a mark of the godly, while empty, windy words betray a heart untethered to divine counsel. |
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