Topical Bible: Heathen: Eliphaz

◄ Heathen: Eliphaz ►

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Eliphaz is a prominent figure in the Book of Job, one of the poetic books of the Old Testament. He is identified as one of Job's three friends who come to comfort him during his time of intense suffering. Eliphaz is described as a Temanite, suggesting he hails from Teman, a region associated with Edom, known for its wise men (Jeremiah 49:7). This association with Edom, a nation often seen as antagonistic to Israel, provides a backdrop for understanding Eliphaz's perspective and approach.

Role in the Book of Job

Eliphaz is the first of Job's friends to speak, and his speeches are recorded in Job 4-5, 15, and 22. His approach is characterized by a reliance on traditional wisdom and a belief in the retributive justice of God. Eliphaz argues that suffering is a result of sin, and thus, Job's afflictions must be due to some wrongdoing on his part. He begins his discourse with a gentle rebuke, reminding Job of his past counsel to others in distress (Job 4:3-4): "Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands. Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling."

Eliphaz's theology is rooted in the belief that God is just and that the righteous will prosper while the wicked will suffer. He appeals to a vision he claims to have received, which emphasizes the frailty and imperfection of humans before a holy God (Job 4:17-19): "Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker? If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error, how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!"

Critique of Eliphaz's Perspective

While Eliphaz's speeches are eloquent and reflect a deep understanding of traditional wisdom, they are ultimately critiqued by God at the end of the book. The Lord rebukes Eliphaz and his friends for not speaking what is right about Him, as Job has (Job 42:7): "After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, 'My anger burns against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken the truth about Me, as My servant Job has.'"

Eliphaz's error lies in his rigid application of retributive justice, failing to account for the complexity of God's governance and the reality of innocent suffering. His insistence on Job's guilt, despite a lack of evidence, demonstrates a limited understanding of divine wisdom and justice.

Theological Implications

Eliphaz's speeches serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of assuming a simplistic view of God's justice. His perspective reflects a common human tendency to seek straightforward explanations for suffering, often leading to misguided judgments. The narrative of Job challenges readers to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty, even when His ways are beyond human comprehension.

In summary, Eliphaz represents a voice of conventional wisdom that is ultimately found lacking in the face of the profound mystery of divine providence. His interactions with Job highlight the need for humility and a deeper trust in God's character, beyond the confines of human understanding.

Nave's Topical Index

Job 4:1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Christian Sympathy
... Among other accusations against the afflicted patriarch, Eliphaz the Temanite had
the cruelty ... careth not for his own household is worse than a heathen man and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm

Sozomen as Author.
... Sozomen's history is as insistent in this regard as Eliphaz and his philosophic
confreres ... his narrative in vii.15, when Theodosius I. gives a heathen temple to ...
/.../sozomen/the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/part ii sozomen as author.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... recommend to others, and sink in their character below those heathen moralists,
whom ... the loud thunders of the law; a dreadful sound, as Eliphaz expresses it ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
... He told Eliphaz so. What Eliphaz thought, or was about to do, I know not;
but God said unto him, 'My wrath is kindled against thee ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm