Eliphaz אֱלִיפַז
A Temanite, one of Job's three friends.
Who is Eliphaz in the Bible?
Eliphaz the Temanite was one of three friends who came to comfort Job during his suffering, as recorded in Job 2:11. Coming from Teman, a region renowned for wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7), Eliphaz engaged in lengthy dialogues with Job throughout the book, attempting to explain the cause of Job's afflictions. In his speeches (Job 4:1, 15:1, and 22:1), Eliphaz emphasized God's justice and sovereignty while suggesting that Job's suffering resulted from sin, urging him to repent. However, God ultimately rebuked Eliphaz and his companions for not speaking rightly about Him, unlike Job himself, and required them to offer sacrifices with Job's intercession for their forgiveness (Job 42:7-9). Eliphaz's role illustrates the limits of human wisdom in understanding divine purposes and the danger of making hasty judgments about another's suffering.
Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Biography
Eliphaz the Temanite was one of the three friends who visited Job during his time of suffering (Job.2.11). He is described as coming from Teman, an area known for its wisdom (Jer.49.7). Eliphaz, along with Bildad and Zophar, engaged in a series of dialogues with Job, attempting to explain the reasons behind Job's afflictions (Job.4-25). In his speeches, Eliphaz emphasizes the justice and sovereignty of God, suggesting that Job's suffering is a result of sin and urging him to repent (Job.4.1; 15.1; 22.1). However, at the end of the book, God rebukes Eliphaz and his two friends for not speaking what is right about Him, unlike Job (Job.42.7). God instructs them to offer sacrifices and have Job pray for them to be forgiven (Job.42.9). The Bible does not provide any further information about Eliphaz's life outside of his interactions with Job.
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJob 5 verses
- Job 2:11
"Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him."
- Job 4:1
"Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:"
- Job 15:1
"Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:"
- Job 22:1
"Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:"
- Job 42:7
"After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֱלִיפַז |