Brothers and sisters, we come today to one of the most sobering sections of Scripture—the dialogue between Job and his friends. These men—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—speak much about God, justice, and suffering. They quote truths that, in isolation, might seem right. Yet they grievously misapply these truths, turning them into instruments of accusation rather than comfort.
Their error is not in recognizing that God is just, nor in affirming that sin brings consequences. Their error lies in assuming they fully understand God’s justice, reducing divine providence to a rigid system where righteousness always results in prosperity and suffering must always be the result of sin. This is the danger of a theology that is correct in principle but applied without wisdom, humility, or the fear of the Lord.
Let us examine five major theological errors Job’s friends commit and see how Scripture corrects their faulty reasoning.
THEY
APPLIED THE PRINCIPLE OF RETRIBUTIVE JUSTICE
Job’s friends operate under a strict cause-and-effect understanding of God’s justice. They assume that if Job is suffering, it must be because of his sin. This is an oversimplification that does not account for God’s greater purposes in suffering.
Eliphaz, the first to speak, sets the tone for this flawed reasoning:
Job 4:7–8 ESV “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
Eliphaz
He argues that prosperity is always a sign of righteousness, and affliction is always the result of sin.
Biblical Correction
Righteous people
Psalm 34:19 ESV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Hebrews 11:35–38 ESV
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Suffering is
James 1:2-4 teaches that trials refine and sanctify believers.
James 1:2–4 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Eliphaz
Job was declared “blameless and upright” by God Himself (Job 1:1).
This same error exists today. Many believe that suffering always means they have fallen out of favor with God. Yet Scripture teaches that suffering is often a tool of sanctification rather than punishment.
Bildad’s Error: A
Bildad takes Eliphaz’s argument further, even going so far as to say that Job’s children must have died because of their own sin:
Job 8:3–4 ESV
Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
Bildad presumes to speak for God, declaring with certainty that Job’s children perished because of their wrongdoing. He assumes immediate divine justice, failing to recognize that God’s purposes are often hidden.
Biblical Correction
God’s justice is sometimes
The wicked often prosper for a time.
Ecclesiastes 8:11–13 ESV
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Judgment belongs to God in His perfect timing.
Romans 2:5–6 ESV
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works:
God’s ways are
Romans 11:33 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Jesus
John 9:2–3 ESV
And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Bildad speaks with an air of authority but lacks true wisdom. We must be cautious not to claim to know God’s purposes when He has not revealed them.
Zophar’s Error: Assuming
Zophar is the most brutal of Job’s friends. He assumes that Job must be guilty and essentially tells him to stop pretending to be righteous:
Job 11:13–15 ESV
“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.
Zophar assumes hidden sin in Job’s life, despite having no evidence. He accuses Job of being a hypocrite, implying that he deserves even worse punishment than what he has received.
Job 11:6 ESV
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
Biblical Correction
Only God
1 Corinthians 4:5 ESV
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
God’s
Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Not all suffering is
John 9:1-3 – Suffering may be for God’s glory rather than punishment.
Zophar represents the legalistic mindset that assumes suffering must be divine punishment. His words bring condemnation rather than comfort, showing a deep misunderstanding of God’s purposes in affliction.
THEY
PRESUMPTUOUSLY ABOUT GOD
Eliphaz: Speaking as If He
Eliphaz is the first to speak, and he presents a half-truth—God does indeed perform wonders beyond human comprehension. But he misapplies this truth in a way that minimizes Job’s suffering.
Job 5:8–9 ESV
“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
At first, his words sound wise and reverent. But Eliphaz speaks as if he knows exactly what Job must do—appeal to God, and everything will be resolved.
What is wrong with Eliphaz’s words?
He assumes Job has not already
Job is already crying out to God, yet Eliphaz speaks as if Job has not humbled himself before the Lord.
James 1:19 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Lesson: Before offering advice, we must
He speaks in
Yes, God does great wonders, but Eliphaz does not explain how this truth applies to Job’s situation.
Proverbs 25:20 ESV
Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.
Lesson: We must
He
Eliphaz speaks as if he would handle Job’s suffering better—but suffering is often beyond human control.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 ESV
In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
Biblical Correction
God’s
Romans 11:33–36 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Instead of assuming we have all the answers, we must
Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Bildad: Assuming God’s Justice Is Always Im_mediate_
Bildad takes Eliphaz’s flawed logic further, arguing that Job must be unrighteous because God never allows the righteous to suffer.
Job 8:20 ESV
“Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
Bildad’s statement seems reasonable—but it ignores the reality of suffering in the lives of the righteous.
What is wrong with Bildad’s words?
He assumes that suffering must be divine
Lesson: Scripture teaches that God
Psalm 11:5 ESV
The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
Psalm 34:19 ESV
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He speaks with
Proverbs 18:2 ESV
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Lesson: Bildad does not acknowledge that God’s purposes are often
He contradicts Scripture, which shows that the wicked often prosper.
Psalm 73:3–12 ESV
For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.
They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.
And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
Jeremiah 12:1 ESV
Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
Biblical Correction
God’s justice is sometimes delayed but never
Romans 2:5–6 ESV
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works:
Ecclesiastes 8:11–13 ESV
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Suffering does not necessarily mean divine
Job 1:8–12 ESV
And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Hebrews 12:5–11 ESV
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Zophar: Harshly Assumes Job
Zophar, the most severe of the three friends, accuses Job of hidden sin and claims that Job’s suffering is actually less than he deserves.
Job 11:6 ESV
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
Zophar assumes Job is secretly wicked and speaks as if he has special knowledge of God’s judgment.
What is wrong with Zophar’s words?
He wrongly assumes
Job 1:1 ESV
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
John 7:24 ESV
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
He
Yes, we all deserve judgment, but Zophar uses this truth to accuse rather than to offer hope.
Romans 8:1 ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
He
Isaiah 55:8–9 ESV
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Job 42:7 ESV
After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
Biblical Correction
God alone
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
We should be __slow __to judge others’ suffering.
James 4:12 ESV
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
The Underlying Problem: Speaking for God
True Revelation
Job’s friends fall into a dangerous pattern:
They
Proverbs 3:5 ESV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Lesson: We must always
They
Job 28:12 ESV
“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Romans 11:33 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
They
James 3:1 ESV
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Lesson: It is
Brothers and sisters, as we reflect on the errors of Job’s friends, let us take these lessons to heart. Their misapplied theology caused unnecessary pain, misrepresented God’s justice, and revealed the dangers of speaking for God without true knowledge. Their example serves as a warning, but also as an opportunity for us to examine our own words and attitudes.
Examine Your Own Heart Before Speaking
Before we offer counsel or judgment on another’s suffering, let us pause and ask:
Am I speaking from Scripture, or from my own assumptions?
Am I offering truth in love, or am I seeking to be right?
Have I taken the time to listen and understand, or am I rushing to conclusions?
Action Step: This week, take time to reflect before you speak. Listen with compassion and speak with humility.
Practice James 1:19
James 1:19 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Be a Comforter, Not a
Job needed encouragement, but instead, his friends became his accusers. Likewise, when we see others suffering, our role is not to assume guilt but to offer grace.
Action Step: Reach out to someone who is struggling. Offer words of encouragement from Scripture, pray for them, and remind them of God’s faithfulness.
Trust in God’s Sovereignty, Even When It Is
One of the greatest errors of Job’s friends was reducing God’s justice to a human formula. We must resist the urge to explain every hardship with simplistic answers. Instead, let us trust that God’s ways are higher than ours.
Action Step: When facing trials—either in your own life or in the lives of others—resist the temptation to seek quick explanations. Instead, meditate on Romans 11:33
Romans 11:33 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Speak with
It is dangerous to speak for God without true knowledge. The world does not need more people offering shallow, uninformed theology—it needs believers who are rooted in the Word and speak with both truth and grace.
Action Step: Commit to studying Scripture deeply so that your words reflect God’s truth, not just human wisdom. Spend time in God’s Word this week, praying for discernment in how you speak to others.
Ultimately, the greatest comfort we can offer is not an answer to suffering, but a Savior who suffered for us. Jesus Christ bore the ultimate suffering on the cross so that we might have eternal hope. When comforting others, let us not simply offer explanations—let us offer Christ.
Action Step: Look for an opportunity to share the hope of the gospel with someone who is struggling. Remind them that our greatest suffering has been borne by Christ, and in Him, we have the assurance of eternal joy.
Job’s friends got many things wrong, but we have the opportunity to get it right. Let us be people who speak truth with humility, offer compassion instead of condemnation, and trust in God’s sovereignty rather than our own understanding.
May we be slow to judge, quick to love, and faithful to represent the heart of Christ in our words and actions.