JobChapitre 22

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Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

"Can a man be of use to God? Can even the wisest be of profit to him?

Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does he gain anything if your ways are blameless?

Is it for your reverence that he rebukes you and brings you to judgment?

Is not your wickedness great, and your sins beyond counting?

For you took pledges from your brothers without cause and stripped the naked of their clothing.

You gave no water to the weary and withheld bread from the hungry.

The land belonged to the man of power, and the favored one lived on it.

You sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the strength of orphans.

That is why snares surround you and sudden terror overwhelms you,

why darkness blinds you and a flood of water covers you over.

Is not God in the heights of heaven? Look how high the loftiest stars are!

Yet you say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?

Thick clouds veil him, so he cannot see, as he walks the vault of heaven.'

Will you keep to the ancient path that wicked men have trodden?

They were snatched away before their time, their foundations washed out by a flood.

They said to God, "Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?"

Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things. So the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them:

"Surely our adversaries are wiped out, and fire has devoured what they left behind."

Come to terms with God and be at peace with him; then good will come to you.

Receive instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart.

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; put wrongdoing far from your tent,

and lay your gold in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the streambeds.

Then the Almighty himself will be your gold, your treasure of silver.

Then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

What you decide will be done, and light will shine on your ways.

When others are brought low, you will say, "Lift them up!" and he will save the downcast.

He will deliver even the guilty; by the cleanness of your hands he will be set free.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 22

Main Theme: Eliphaz's third speech, in which he accuses Job of hidden sins and urges him to repent.

Content: Eliphaz claims that Job's suffering must be due to serious sins, specifically accusing him of taking pledges unjustly, refusing food and water to those in need, and oppressing widows and orphans (vv. 6-9). He charges Job with believing that God is too exalted to see human deeds (vv. 12-14). Eliphaz concludes with a strong appeal for Job to turn back to God; if he does, he will be restored, blessed, and his prayers heard (vv. 21-30).

Key Words/Images:

Hidden Sin (vv. 5-9): Eliphaz assumes that suffering proves guilt and constructs a list of social sins Job is alleged to have committed.
God's Exaltation (vv. 12-14): Eliphaz distorts Job's position, accusing him of believing God is too distant to intervene.
Repentance and Restoration (vv. 21-30): A conditional promise of blessing if Job repents – "Turn back to the Almighty, and you will be restored."

Contexte historique

Events and Customs

This chapter contains Eliphaz's third and final speech to Job, in which he moves from general arguments about God’s justice (verses 2–4) to direct accusations against Job (verses 5–11), before concluding with an appeal for repentance (verses 21–30).

Eliphaz’s accusations against Job reflect specific social obligations that were fundamental in the ancient Near East. The charge of taking a pledge from brothers "without cause" (verse 6) refers to the practice of seizing clothing or property as security for loans—actions considered serious breaches of social duty. Denying water to the thirsty and bread to the hungry (verse 7) constituted grave violations of the obligation of hospitality, one of the most basic virtues in nomadic desert societies. The accusation of sending widows away empty-handed and crushing the arms of orphans (verse 9) points to the most vulnerable groups in society, who were under divine protection according to ancient Near Eastern legal understanding.

Places

Ophir is mentioned in verse 24 as a source of valuable gold. This was a legendary place known in antiquity for its exceptional gold. The reference serves as a cultural symbol of the highest form of wealth and prosperity.

Key Terms

The Hebrew word "חוּג" (chug) in verse 14, translated "the vault of heaven," describes a circular structure or sphere. This reflects ancient Near Eastern cosmology, in which the sky was perceived as a dome or vault over the earth.

The expression "אִישׁ זְרוֹעַ" (ish zeroa) in verse 8, literally "man of arm," denotes a person with power and influence. The "arm" symbolized strength and authority in Hebrew, and the phrase describes one who uses their position to acquire land and wealth at the expense of others.

Personnages1

Eliphaz1

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Mots-clés8

Eliphaz — One of Job's three friends who criticized and accused him of having sinned and thus caused his own suffering.
Righteousness — A moral principle that involves acting in accordance with divine laws and ethical norms.
Sin — An action or omission that breaks God's will and moral laws, leading to spiritual separation from God.
Condemnation — Criticism or rejection of a person based on their perceived faults or sins.
Blessing — A feeling of well-being and contentment that comes from living a good life in accordance with God's will and moral principles.
Prosperity — Money or material goods earned or received as a reward for work, investment, or other activities.
Restoration — The process of returning to a previous state of well-being, health, or prosperity after a period of suffering or loss.
Prayer — A form of communication with God in which one expresses gratitude, asks for help, or seeks guidance.