Eliphaz

the friend of Job

Who was Eliphaz?

Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s three friends. Job 2:11
He came to comfort Job and sat with him seven days without saying a word. Job 2:11-13
Later he told Job that he was suffering for his sins. The Lord sent him to Job, so that Job would pray for him. Job 22:5; Job 42:7-8

From: Teman; a note in the NAB says the people of Teman were known for their wisdom Job 2:11; NAB note on Job 2, 11

What the Bible says

Job 2:11

Now when Job’s three friends heard all the evil that had befallen him, they came every one from his own place, Alphas the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment to come together and visit him, and comfort him.

Job 2:11-13

¹¹Now when Job’s three friends heard all the evil that had befallen him, they came every one from his own place, Alphas the Themanite, and Baldad the Suhite, and Sophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment to come together and visit him, and comfort him. ¹²And when they had lifted up their eyes afar off, they knew him not, and crying out they wept, and rending their garments they sprinkled dust upon their heads towards heaven. ¹³And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no man spoke to him a word: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Job 22:5; Job 42:7-8

And not for thy manifold wickedness, and thy infinite iniquities?

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Eliphaz

Before Jesus. Eliphaz heard about Job’s misfortunes. He agreed with Bildad and Zophar to go and comfort him. Job 2:11
Before Jesus. When they saw him, they wept and tore their cloaks. They sat with Job seven days and seven nights, without speaking. Job 2:12-13
With Jesus. He was the first of the friends to speak. He reminded Job that Job had encouraged many people. Job 4:1-4
With Jesus. He told him that no innocent person perishes, and that each one reaps what he sows. Job 4:7-8
With Jesus. He told of a vision in the night. A voice asked him whether a man can be just before God. Job 4:12-17
With Jesus. Eliphaz advised Job to turn to God and lay his case before him. He told him that blessed is the man whom God corrects. Job 5:8, 17
With Jesus. In his second speech, Eliphaz told Job that his own mouth condemned him. Job 15:1, 6
With Jesus. In his last speech, he accused Job of many sins against the poor. Job 22:5-9
With Jesus. In that last speech, Eliphaz also invited Job to make peace with God. He told him that if he returned to the Almighty, he would be restored. Job 22:21-23
Afterward. The Lord told Eliphaz that neither he nor his friends had spoken rightly about God, as Job had. Job 42:7
Afterward. Eliphaz and his friends offered the sacrifice the Lord commanded. The Lord accepted Job’s prayer for them. Job 42:8-9

Words of Eliphaz

“Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed? On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them…” Job 4:7-8

In his first speech, to explain Job’s suffering to him.

“Blessed is the man whom God correcteth: refuse not therefore the chastising of the Lord: for he woundeth, and cureth: he striketh, and his hands shall heal.” Job 5:17-18

In his first speech, to encourage Job.

“…who catcheth the wise in their craftiness, and disappointeth the counsel of the wicked…” Job 5:13

When he spoke of God’s power; Saint Paul quotes these words.

What they were like

A good friend at first: he traveled to comfort Job. Job 2:11
He knew how to keep quiet: he spent seven days in silence beside Job. Job 2:13
Sure of his own ideas: he thought that whoever suffers must have sinned. Job 4:7-8

The greatest thing they did

He obeyed the Lord: he brought the sacrifice the Lord commanded. Job 42:8-9

Not to be confused with

Eliphaz, son of Esau, had a son named Teman. Job’s friend is “Eliphaz the Temanite.” Genesis 36:10-11; Job 2:11

What people ask

Was Eliphaz a bad person?

The Bible does not put it that way: he came to comfort Job. A note in the NAB says his accusations were false, although he made them in good faith. Job 2:11; NAB note on Job 42, 7

Where did he go wrong?

He thought that whoever suffers must have sinned. The Lord told Eliphaz that he had not spoken rightly about God. Job 4:7-8; Job 42:7

Does the Bible quote Eliphaz anywhere else?

Yes. Saint Paul quotes one of his sayings: God catches the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Corinthians 3:19; Job 5:13

Who were the other two friends?

Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. Job 2:11

What did Job answer Eliphaz?

He told him that a friend should have compassion on someone who suffers. And that his friends had let him down, like a stream that dries up. Job 6:14-15

Did Eliphaz say anything true?

Yes. He said that God wounds, and he himself binds up the wound. His mistake was to believe that whoever suffers must have sinned. Job 5:18; Job 4:7-8

Where he went wrong He accused Job of sins Job had not committed. Job 22:5-9; NAB note on Job 42, 7 Little known At the end of the book, the…

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Who Eliphaz is connected to

Job · the friend who came to comfort him

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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