What is the meaning of Job 15:31? Let him not deceive himself • Right at the start, Eliphaz warns Job—and by extension every reader—against the danger of self-deception. Scripture is clear that the human heart is “more deceitful than all else” (Jeremiah 17:9). • Self-deception happens when a person ignores God’s revealed truth and convinces himself he is fine without repentance or dependence on the Lord. See also: • “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) • “If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he may become wise.” (1 Corinthians 3:18) • James echoes the same caution: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) • Practically, Eliphaz is pressing the listener to examine motives, align with Scripture, and refuse any mindset that contradicts God’s Word. with trust in emptiness • The phrase pictures a person leaning on something that has no substance—idols, riches, self-righteousness, or worldly philosophies. • “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8) • “Let not the rich man boast in his riches.” (Jeremiah 9:23) • “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches.” (1 Timothy 6:17) • Isaiah mocked idols that “cannot save” (Isaiah 45:20), and Jeremiah called them “broken cisterns that hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). • Trust that is not rooted in the living God is, by definition, empty. Jesus warned that building on sand ends in ruin (Matthew 7:26-27). • Job himself had earlier rejected such hollow confidence: “If I have made gold my trust… that too would be an iniquity” (Job 31:24-28). for emptiness will be his reward • A hollow faith inevitably produces a hollow outcome. As Hosea described, “They sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). • Proverbs reinforces the principle: “The wicked man earns deceptive wages” (Proverbs 11:18) and “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall” (Proverbs 11:28). • Paul applies the same truth: “The one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh” (Galatians 6:8). • God’s justice ensures that what a person pursues apart from Him ultimately collapses, leaving “emptiness” as the final portion. • By contrast, when trust is anchored in the Lord, the reward is abundant life (John 10:10) and imperishable treasure (1 Peter 1:4). summary Job 15:31 warns against the lethal cycle of self-deception: ignoring God, leaning on worthless supports, and ending in bitter loss. Scripture consistently testifies that misplaced trust yields only emptiness, while confidence in the Lord results in lasting reward. The verse invites every reader to reject illusions and rest securely in the unfailing character and promises of God. |
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