Job 4:17

Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper · Job 4:1–21
Read Job 4

Translations

Modern
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?
Traditional
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
Literal
‘Shall a human be righteous more than God? Can a man be pure more than his Maker?
Latin
Numquid homo, Dei comparatione, justificabitur? aut factore suo purior erit vir?

Original

Hebrew
English
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?

Notes

The characters in the book often say that no one is truly righteous or pure (see 9:2; 15:14; 25:4; 35:7). This is because everyone is flawed (Psalms 14:3; 53:3; Romans 3:10–11). Eliphaz used these terms to say that humans are full of sin and God has no sin. Job and God used them to show that Job had fulfilled his duties to God. Job and Eliphaz never agreed on what these terms meant. Later, God said that Eliphaz had not spoken about him "accurately" (Job 42:7).

Theme notes and profiles

Job’s Innocence Sin Enters the World

Events

Glossary

Book of Job Eliphaz Sleep

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Depravity of Man: General Scriptures Concerning Dream of Eliphaz, of a Spirit Speaking to Him Faith: Exemplified God: Holiness of God: Judge, and his Justice Immortality: General Scriptures Concerning Man: Created Man: Mortal