The big picture
Job 4 opens in verse 1 with “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered…”, and closes in verse 21 with “Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” Repeated or prominent terms include lion, fear, perish, stood, strengthened. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 21Job 4:1-7
1–7: Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Job 4:1–7 opens with “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,” and reaches “Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 4 develops its own movement around lion, fear, perish, stood, strengthened, with particular weight carried by strengthened, assay, commune.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Job 4:1-7
King James Version1Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
7Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Job 4:8-14
8–14: Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap…
Job 4:8–14 opens with “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” and reaches “Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 4 develops its own movement around lion, fear, perish, stood, strengthened, with particular weight carried by lion, abroad, blast.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 4:8-14
King James Version8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
12Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
13In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Job 4:15-21
15–21: A spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
Job 4:15–21 opens with “Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:” and reaches “Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 4 develops its own movement around lion, fear, perish, stood, strengthened, with particular weight carried by stood, angels, charged.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:” The line’s distinctive content terms include face, flesh, hair. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
Job 4:15-21
King James Version15Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 4:1 begins with “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,”
Where the chapter turns
Job 4:12 forms a natural hinge: “Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.”
The final note
Job 4:21 leaves the reader with “Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words lion, fear, perish, stood, strengthened, voice help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.