Eliphaz challenges Job to examine whether emotions obscure the bigger picture of God’s purposes.
Eliphaz the Temanite, speaking during his second discourse with Job, poses a searching question when he says: “Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,” (v.12). Teman, where Eliphaz is from, was located in the region of Edom, south of the Dead Sea, known for its wise men (Jeremiah 49:7). Eliphaz lived sometime between 2000-1800 BC, presenting him as a contemporary figure during the time many scholars believe the patriarchs lived (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). By asking “Why does your heart carry you away?” (v.12), Eliphaz questions Job’s distraught emotions, suggesting that his inner turmoil might be giving him a distorted view of God’s justice.
The phrase “why do your eyes flash” (v.12) paints a picture of intense frustration or indignation welling up inside Job. Eliphaz points out that Job could be letting anger or despair dictate his perspective, thereby causing him to lash out or question the Almighty. In the broader context of Scripture, the heart (representing one’s inner thoughts and motivations) often determines the course of one’s life (Proverbs 4:23). Here, Eliphaz employs that spiritual principle to highlight Job’s unsettled heart and his emotional responses to suffering.
Connecting this to the joy and peace taught in the New Testament, followers of Christ are reminded that true contentment relies on trusting God’s sovereignty (Philippians 4:11-13). Eliphaz’s questioning approach might lack empathy, yet it underscores the timeless truth that unchecked emotions can lead us astray from reverence and trust in God. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Job’s integrity and relationship with God encompass far more than what Eliphaz’s reproach is willing to see.
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Job 15:12 meaning
Eliphaz the Temanite, speaking during his second discourse with Job, poses a searching question when he says: “Why does your heart carry you away? And why do your eyes flash,” (v.12). Teman, where Eliphaz is from, was located in the region of Edom, south of the Dead Sea, known for its wise men (Jeremiah 49:7). Eliphaz lived sometime between 2000-1800 BC, presenting him as a contemporary figure during the time many scholars believe the patriarchs lived (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). By asking “Why does your heart carry you away?” (v.12), Eliphaz questions Job’s distraught emotions, suggesting that his inner turmoil might be giving him a distorted view of God’s justice.
The phrase “why do your eyes flash” (v.12) paints a picture of intense frustration or indignation welling up inside Job. Eliphaz points out that Job could be letting anger or despair dictate his perspective, thereby causing him to lash out or question the Almighty. In the broader context of Scripture, the heart (representing one’s inner thoughts and motivations) often determines the course of one’s life (Proverbs 4:23). Here, Eliphaz employs that spiritual principle to highlight Job’s unsettled heart and his emotional responses to suffering.
Connecting this to the joy and peace taught in the New Testament, followers of Christ are reminded that true contentment relies on trusting God’s sovereignty (Philippians 4:11-13). Eliphaz’s questioning approach might lack empathy, yet it underscores the timeless truth that unchecked emotions can lead us astray from reverence and trust in God. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Job’s integrity and relationship with God encompass far more than what Eliphaz’s reproach is willing to see.