Job 4:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Which are obliterated rather than soft, meaning struck gently and profoundly."

Indeed, it is a challenge for humanity to remain guiltless. The state of being without fault surpasses human capability. Even the heavenly beings are not exempt from this fragility. As Eliphaz has noted, God does not place His trust in His messengers. Clearly, the Almighty does not have faith in the righteous—like those who place their confidence in their own strength—because He understands the frailty inherent in humanity and the ease with which they can succumb to temptation. The fallen angels serve as a reason for God's skepticism, as He perceives their shortcomings. He has removed them from their prior exalted status and diminished their rank due to their rebellious schemes against Him. If this is true for them, those who, despite their nature's weakness, still strive among the mighty, what then can be said about humanity, who is even more susceptible to transgression?

Job's pleas regarding his condition lead to objections from his friends and spark an extensive discussion about the reasons behind Job's affliction. Eliphaz takes the lead as the first challenger. After seeking permission to address Job, he expresses his astonishment that a man who has frequently offered solace and support to those in distress can now articulate such fervent grievances, particularly since his awareness of his own virtues should assure him of a joyful destiny. He draws upon personal experience, asserting that righteousness typically protects a person from downfall, whereas brutality and aggression cannot shield one from divine judgment. This prompts him to infer that if Job were truly upright, he would not be enduring such calamities.