“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
- KJV Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
- NKJV “Cana man be profitable to God, Though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?
- NASB “Can a strong man be of use to God, Or a wise one be useful to himself?
- NLT “Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Eliphaz asks whether a man can be of any benefit to God, implying that human righteousness adds nothing to Him. He uses this truth to belittle Job's appeal for vindication.
Overview
Eliphaz states a real truth, that God gains nothing from human virtue (cf. Ps 16:2; Luke 17:10), but misapplies it to argue that God therefore has no stake in vindicating Job. While God is indeed self-sufficient, Scripture reveals He nonetheless delights in His people's righteousness and cares deeply for the upright (Prov 11:20). Eliphaz weaponizes a doctrine to dismiss Job's cry.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 17:10So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
- Gal 6:7–8Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.
- Job 35:6–8If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? If you multiply your transgressions, what do you do to Him?
- Prov 3:13–18Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,
- Ps 16:2I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”
- Job 21:15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
- Eccl 7:11–12Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.
- Matt 5:29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
- Prov 4:7–9Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
- Prov 9:12If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
- Deut 10:13and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 22:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.