Job 4:7 - “Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Job 4:7" mean?
Job 4:7, "“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?" is part of Eliphaz's speech to Job. To understand the verse, we need to understand the context and Eliphaz's overall argument.
Context:
Job has just endured immense suffering: the loss of his children, his possessions, and his health.
Eliphaz is one of Job's friends who has come to comfort (and advise) him.
Eliphaz's main argument, and the view of his other friends, is that suffering is a direct result of sin. In other words, good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people. They believe God operates on a simple principle of reward and punishment.
Meaning of the Verse:
Eliphaz is essentially saying this: "Think about it, Job. Has anyone truly innocent ever perished? Where have you ever seen truly upright people cut off in their prime?"
He's employing a rhetorical question. He expects the answer to be "no." His logic is:
1. Premise: God is just.
2. Premise: God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous.
3. Conclusion (implied): If you are suffering, you must have done something wrong.
Eliphaz is suggesting, subtly but unmistakably, that Job's suffering is evidence of his hidden sin. He's implying that Job is not as innocent as he claims to be.
Why this is Problematic:
The problem is that Eliphaz's logic is flawed. Job's story is a test case that challenges this simplistic view of divine justice. The Book of Job ultimately argues that:
Suffering is not always a direct result of sin.
God's ways are often beyond human understanding.
It is possible to be righteous and still suffer.
In summary, Job 4:7 is a loaded question designed to persuade Job that his suffering is deserved because he has secretly sinned. The verse highlights the flawed theology that the Book of Job ultimately seeks to debunk.
Job 4:7 - “Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
What does "Job 4:7" mean?
Job 4:7, "“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?" is part of Eliphaz's speech to Job. To understand the verse, we need to understand the context and Eliphaz's overall argument.
Context:
Job has just endured immense suffering: the loss of his children, his possessions, and his health.
Eliphaz is one of Job's friends who has come to comfort (and advise) him.
Eliphaz's main argument, and the view of his other friends, is that suffering is a direct result of sin. In other words, good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people. They believe God operates on a simple principle of reward and punishment.
Meaning of the Verse:
Eliphaz is essentially saying this: "Think about it, Job. Has anyone truly innocent ever perished? Where have you ever seen truly upright people cut off in their prime?"
He's employing a rhetorical question. He expects the answer to be "no." His logic is:
1. Premise: God is just.
2. Premise: God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous.
3. Conclusion (implied): If you are suffering, you must have done something wrong.
Eliphaz is suggesting, subtly but unmistakably, that Job's suffering is evidence of his hidden sin. He's implying that Job is not as innocent as he claims to be.
Why this is Problematic:
The problem is that Eliphaz's logic is flawed. Job's story is a test case that challenges this simplistic view of divine justice. The Book of Job ultimately argues that:
Suffering is not always a direct result of sin.
God's ways are often beyond human understanding.
It is possible to be righteous and still suffer.
In summary, Job 4:7 is a loaded question designed to persuade Job that his suffering is deserved because he has secretly sinned. The verse highlights the flawed theology that the Book of Job ultimately seeks to debunk.