The wise man (1–13). Eliphaz thought himself a wise man, so he rebuked Job for his sins. For one thing, Job’s words were so much “hot air” and revealed that he had no fear of God. Job claimed to be wise but was really surpassed in that virtue by his three friends, all of whom were older than he. (Is age a guarantee of wisdom?) Most of all, Job had refused the “consolations” God had sent him through his friends (v. 11). If the words of the three men were “gentle,” what would their harsh words be like! How difficult it is for us to accurately hear ourselves or see ourselves.
The wicked man (14–35). Eliphaz painted this picture of Job. All of us are born in sin (vv. 14–16; Rom. 3:9–23), but some sinners are worse than others. Eliphaz described the fate of the wicked: pain, fear, dreadful noises, hunger, poverty, darkness, and then death. Eliphaz did not explain why the ungodly seem to prosper in this world while the godly often suffer. His theology was “cut and dried.” He had an answer for everything, but he had no help for Job.
