Job 5:1-27

5:1 | According to Eliphaz, Job was abandoned and heaven would not answer his call for assistance because of his assumed wrongdoing.

5:3-7 | Eliphaz was convinced that trouble always starts somewhere; it does not just “happen” (come from the dust, nor spring from the ground). By saying that he had seen sinners prosper (take root), only to lose everything in the end, Eliphaz wrongly suggested that Job’s sin led to the death of his children.

5:8-27 | Speaking in spiritual platitudes, Job’s friend presumed to know the cause of Job’s suffering. Eliphaz also told him if he would just submit (do not despise) to the chastening of the Almighty, Job would reap a harvest of blessing. But no one can make such a prediction. Eliphaz modeled how not to address another person’s affliction.