What does "covered his face with fat" symbolize in Job 15:27? Setting the Verse in Context • Job 15 records Eliphaz’s second speech, describing the inner life and outward appearance of the wicked who refuse to heed God. • Verse 27 is Eliphaz’s snapshot of such a man: “For he has covered his face with fat and made his hips bulge with flesh.” The Literal Picture • In the ancient world, plentiful food was rare; a heavy, well-fed face signaled wealth and ease. • Eliphaz points to someone who has eaten to surplus—his face and body advertise abundance and self-indulgence. • The image is accurate and concrete—yet the Spirit, through Scripture, uses the physical condition to reveal a deeper heart issue. Symbolic Layers of “Covered His Face with Fat” • Self-indulgence and unchecked appetites – Fatness follows continual overconsumption. – It pictures a life driven by comfort rather than obedience (cf. Deuteronomy 32:15). • Pride rooted in prosperity – Plenty can foster arrogance: “Their eyes bulge with abundance; the imaginations of their hearts run wild” (Psalm 73:7). • Spiritual dullness – A “fat” face suggests thickness that mutes sensitivity; Eliphaz implies the man can no longer “feel” conviction (cf. Isaiah 6:10, literal “make the heart of this people fat”). • Hard-heartedness toward God and others – “They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance” (Psalm 17:10). – The external layer of fat mirrors an inner layer of callousness. How the Symbol Fits Eliphaz’s Argument • Eliphaz insists judgment always catches the ungodly. • He paints prosperity as temporary—fat now, but soon facing wrath (Job 15:29-35). • The vivid imagery prepares his hearers to expect a sudden reversal: the man who trusted in his own fullness will be emptied by God’s justice. Key Takeaways for Today • Material success can mask, but never cure, spiritual poverty. • Habits of excess numb the conscience; consistent repentance keeps the heart tender. • Scripture warns that pride often grows in seasons of plenty—stay watchful, grateful, and generous. |
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