Eliphaz’s words remind us that divine judgment is both powerful and authoritative, reflecting God’s holiness and perfect justice.
In this passage, Eliphaz the Temanite speaks to Job about the power and anger of God. He asserts, “By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end” (v.9). Teman was located in the region of Edom, generally believed to be southeast of what is now the nation of Israel. Historical references place Eliphaz’s dialogue with Job sometime around the second millennium BC, after the time of Abraham (who could be dated around 2000-1800 BC in biblical chronology). Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, represents the line of thought that humans cannot stand before God on their own merits, because His righteous power far exceeds the scope of human understanding.
When Eliphaz says, “By the breath of God they perish” (v.9), he draws attention to God’s sovereign control over life and death. Scripture often uses the imagery of breath to convey God’s animating power (Genesis 2:7), and here it represents a decisive moment of judgment. The phrase, “And by the blast of His anger they come to an end” (v.9), highlights the idea that God’s justice is not arbitrary but guided by His perfect standard of righteousness. Eliphaz’s words, though severe, align with biblical teachings elsewhere that emphasize reverence before a holy God. In the broader story of Job, these ideas challenge readers to consider that only through reliance on the Lord’s grace—fully realized centuries later in the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15)—can someone stand confidently in the presence of the Almighty.
Job 4:9 meaning
In this passage, Eliphaz the Temanite speaks to Job about the power and anger of God. He asserts, “By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end” (v.9). Teman was located in the region of Edom, generally believed to be southeast of what is now the nation of Israel. Historical references place Eliphaz’s dialogue with Job sometime around the second millennium BC, after the time of Abraham (who could be dated around 2000-1800 BC in biblical chronology). Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends, represents the line of thought that humans cannot stand before God on their own merits, because His righteous power far exceeds the scope of human understanding.
When Eliphaz says, “By the breath of God they perish” (v.9), he draws attention to God’s sovereign control over life and death. Scripture often uses the imagery of breath to convey God’s animating power (Genesis 2:7), and here it represents a decisive moment of judgment. The phrase, “And by the blast of His anger they come to an end” (v.9), highlights the idea that God’s justice is not arbitrary but guided by His perfect standard of righteousness. Eliphaz’s words, though severe, align with biblical teachings elsewhere that emphasize reverence before a holy God. In the broader story of Job, these ideas challenge readers to consider that only through reliance on the Lord’s grace—fully realized centuries later in the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:15)—can someone stand confidently in the presence of the Almighty.