Job 15:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why does your heart swell, and why do your eyes gaze in wonder as if you expect something grand? Job 15:12. Often, the faithful become so immersed in reflecting on heavenly matters that their appearances can seem bewildered. However, those who stray from the truth fail to understand how to harness the strength of quiet contemplation, leading them to believe that what they cannot grasp cannot possibly exist in anyone else.

In his second address, Eliphaz firmly disputes Job’s justifications, emphasizing that his claims lack validity and even contradict divine truth. Eliphaz implies that Job may view prayer as superfluous (15: 1-4). He aims to confront Job with his own words, accusing him of hypocrisy and arrogance, as Job attributes to himself the wisdom and discernment of the elders (5-12), while forgetting that all are unclean in the sight of God and mistakenly regards himself as justified (13-16). Eliphaz juxtaposes Job’s assertions with the ancient wisdom of their forebears, who were marked by both longevity and insight, asserting that the lives of the wicked are riddled with fear and their demise is dreadful, particularly due to their pride in the presence of God (17-35).