Eliphaz proclaims his intention to instruct Job with what he believes is informed, firsthand knowledge, emphasizing the limits of human wisdom and foreshadowing the divine perspective God will later provide.
“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare” (v.17). In this passage, Eliphaz the Temanite continues to address Job, insisting that he will now impart wisdom based on his own observations. Eliphaz, who lived in the region of Teman, likely located southeast of the Dead Sea near Edom, was one of Job’s friends who came to console him. Although we don’t have precise dates for Eliphaz, the events of Job are often placed in the general timeframe of the patriarchs (around 2000-1800 BC), a period when the cultural and familial narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would have been well-known. By calling Job to listen and promising to relay only what he has personally witnessed, Eliphaz establishes himself as a trustworthy narrator—at least from his own perspective—aiming to guide Job with conventional wisdom and traditional truths.
“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare” (v.17). shows Eliphaz explaining that the counsel he has to offer is not secondhand. He is emphasizing that his words are grounded in what he personally deems to be true, reinforced by his experiences and the traditions he has learned. In Eliphaz’s view, Job’s suffering must fit into a moral framework where wrongdoing leads to punishment. Eliphaz believes his own life experience confirms that pattern. However, while he appears sincere, his argument fails to account for the deeper complexities of Job’s suffering, which transcends human explanations and points ultimately to the sovereignty of God—a theme that finds its ultimate resolution in the wisdom of God (Job 38-41) and can be connected with the mystery of suffering that Jesus addresses when discussing divine purposes beyond immediate human understanding (John 9:1-3).
“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare” (v.17).
Eliphaz’s insistence on firsthand knowledge underscores the limitations of human perception. Even for those who genuinely seek to console or advise, our viewpoints can be skewed or incomplete. Ultimately, this verse foreshadows the book’s larger theme, revealing that only God holds the full truth behind all suffering and redemption. It is a reminder that wisdom—no matter how well-intended—must always be held with humility.
Eliphaz offers a lofty assertion of his own wisdom derived from personal experience, yet he does not add any new insight into God’s greater plan.
This verse highlights the need for humility in our search for answers and encourages a deeper reliance on God’s perspective over our own.
Eliphaz’s words remind us how easy it is to believe our experience forms the complete picture, when, in reality, God alone sees all.
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Job 15:17 meaning
“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare” (v.17). In this passage, Eliphaz the Temanite continues to address Job, insisting that he will now impart wisdom based on his own observations. Eliphaz, who lived in the region of Teman, likely located southeast of the Dead Sea near Edom, was one of Job’s friends who came to console him. Although we don’t have precise dates for Eliphaz, the events of Job are often placed in the general timeframe of the patriarchs (around 2000-1800 BC), a period when the cultural and familial narratives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would have been well-known. By calling Job to listen and promising to relay only what he has personally witnessed, Eliphaz establishes himself as a trustworthy narrator—at least from his own perspective—aiming to guide Job with conventional wisdom and traditional truths.
“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare” (v.17). shows Eliphaz explaining that the counsel he has to offer is not secondhand. He is emphasizing that his words are grounded in what he personally deems to be true, reinforced by his experiences and the traditions he has learned. In Eliphaz’s view, Job’s suffering must fit into a moral framework where wrongdoing leads to punishment. Eliphaz believes his own life experience confirms that pattern. However, while he appears sincere, his argument fails to account for the deeper complexities of Job’s suffering, which transcends human explanations and points ultimately to the sovereignty of God—a theme that finds its ultimate resolution in the wisdom of God (Job 38-41) and can be connected with the mystery of suffering that Jesus addresses when discussing divine purposes beyond immediate human understanding (John 9:1-3).
“I will tell you, listen to me; And what I have seen I will also declare” (v.17).
Eliphaz’s insistence on firsthand knowledge underscores the limitations of human perception. Even for those who genuinely seek to console or advise, our viewpoints can be skewed or incomplete. Ultimately, this verse foreshadows the book’s larger theme, revealing that only God holds the full truth behind all suffering and redemption. It is a reminder that wisdom—no matter how well-intended—must always be held with humility.
Eliphaz offers a lofty assertion of his own wisdom derived from personal experience, yet he does not add any new insight into God’s greater plan.
This verse highlights the need for humility in our search for answers and encourages a deeper reliance on God’s perspective over our own.
Eliphaz’s words remind us how easy it is to believe our experience forms the complete picture, when, in reality, God alone sees all.