Job 22:1-7

1 Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,

2 Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?

3 For what matters it to the Lord, if thou wert blameless in works? or is it profitable that thou shouldest perfect thy way?

4 Wilt thou maintain and plead thine own cause? and will he enter into judgment with thee?

5 Is not thy wickedness abundant, and thy sins innumerable?

6 And thou hast taken security of thy brethren for nothing, and hast taken away the clothing of the naked.

7 Neither hast thou given water to the thirsty to drink, but hast taken away the morsel of the hungry.

Job 22:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 22

This chapter contains the third and last reply of Eliphaz to Job, in which he charges him with having too high an opinion of himself, of his holiness and righteousness, as if God was profited by it, and laid thereby under obligation to him, whereas he was not, Job 22:1-3; and as if he reproved and chastised him, because of his fear of him, whereas it was because of his sins, Job 22:4,5; an enumeration of which he gives, as of injustice, oppression, cruelty to the poor, and even of atheism and infidelity, for which snares and fears were around him, and various calamities, Job 22:6-14; and compares his way and course of life to that of the men of the old world, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, and suggests that his end would be like theirs, unless he repented, Job 22:15-20; and then concludes with an exhortation to him to return to God by repentance, and to reform, when he should see happy times again, and enjoy much outward and inward prosperity, and be an instrument of doing much good to many, Job 22:21-30.