Eliphaz
The Voice of Experience Turned Accuser
Name Information
- Meaning: "My God is fine gold"
- Language of Origin: Hebrew
- Gender Usage: Masculine
Eliphaz the Temanite was one of Job’s friends who came to comfort him but instead accused him of sin as the cause of his suffering. Though he spoke with wisdom-sounding words, his assumptions misrepresented God’s justice.
⏰ Patriarchal Period (uncertain)
Roles
- Friend of Job
Relationships
- Friend: Job
Story
Came with Bildad and Zophar to console Job.
Initially sat in silence for seven days.
Began speaking with authority but wrongly accused Job.
Rebuked by God for misrepresenting Him.
Spiritual Significance
- First to speak among Job’s friends, appealing to personal experience and visions.
- Accused Job of wrongdoing, urging him to repent.
- Misrepresented God’s character by assuming all suffering is caused by sin.
What We Can Learn
- Even well-meaning friends can speak hurtfully when they make false assumptions.
- We must be careful not to misrepresent God’s justice.
- True comfort listens more than it accuses.
Memory Verses
Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
— Job 4:7
Key Passages
- Job 2:11–4:21
- Job 15
- Job 22
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