Job 15:13 - John Trapp Complete Commentary

Bible Comments

That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest [such] words go out of thy mouth?

Ver. 13. That thou turnest thy spirit against God] A foul fault surely, but merely for want of a fair interpretation. It is as if Eliphaz should have said, Thy spirit was right when thou bravely barest up under the afflicting hand of God, Job 1:13,22, but because patience hath not had her perfect work, as appeareth by thine angry expostulations, thy contesting with God, and chatting against him and his proceedings, therefore I conclude that thou art not perfect and entire, all is not right. Why doth thy spirit swell against God (so the Vulgate rendereth it)? "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him," that is certain, Habakkuk 2:4, Quid tumet contra Deum Spiritus tuus.

And lettest such words go out of thy mouth?] Contumelious and blasphemous words, not fit to be named. Bona verba, quaeso Eliphaz. True it is, Job had spoken some things more freely than was fitting, and not without a tincture of bitterness. But charity would have made the best of those speeches which you thus odiously aggravate against him; and have taught you to use the same equity toward others that you would have others use toward yourself. That faith (and so that love) is easily wrought which teacheth men to believe and think well of themselves, and worse of others. We will make a good exposition if we have but a good disposition.

Job 15:13

13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?