Job 15:2
in Job 15“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?
KJV
Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
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This verse in Job 15
Commentary
9 notes on this verseShould a wise man utter vain knowledge - Or rather, Should a wise man utter the science of wind? A science without solidity or certainty. And fill his belly with the east wind? - בטן beten, which we translate belly, is used to signify any part of the cavity of the body, whether the region of the thorax or abdomen; here it evidently refers to the lungs, and may include the cheeks and fauces.
This site's exposition
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied
on Job 15:1-3
Eliphaz opens his second speech with scorn, where his first speech in chapter 4 began with courtesy. The verb in "argue with useless words" is Job's word for pleading his case at 13:6. Henry notes that Eliphaz's three speeches grow more severe as Job keeps answering instead of yielding.
This site's exposition
fill his belly with the hot east wind
Eliphaz turns Job's claim to wisdom at 12:3 and 13:2 against him. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the Hebrew calls such counsel windy knowledge, and the east wind was the most destructive wind of that region. To Eliphaz, Job's words are a scorching storm.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
After hearing Job's response, Eliphaz does not answer the depth of his reasoning but tries to calumniously misrepresent certain words Job has spoken and interpret them according to their superficial meaning, not the depth of their meaning. He first reproaches Job's statement in the beginning …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Bildad began thus ( ch. viii. It is common for angry disputants thus to represent one another's reasonings as impertinent and ridiculous more than there is cause, forgetting the doom of him that calls his brother Raca, and Thou fool. That there is in the world a great deal of vain knowledge, science falsely so called, that is useless, and therefore worthless.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Fill - Satisfy his mind and conscience. East wind - With discourses not only unprofitable, but also pernicious both to himself and others; as the east-wind was in those parts.
Should a wise man utter vain knowledge,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
a wise man--which Job claims to be. vain knowledge--Hebrew, "windy knowledge"; literally, "of wind" (Job 8:2). In Ec 1:14, Hebrew, "to catch wind," expresses to strive for what is vain. east wind--stronger than the previous "wind," for in that region the east wind is the most destructive of winds (Isa 27:8).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Should a wise man - Referring to Job, and to his claims to be esteemed wise; see Job 12:3; Job 13:2, Job 13:6. The argument of Eliphaz here is, that the sentiments which Job had advanced were a sufficient refutation of his pretensions to wisdom. A wise man would not be guilty of “mere talk,” or of using language that conveyed no ideas. Utter - literally, answer. It refers to the replies which Job had made to the arguments of his friends. Vain knowledge - Margin, “Knowledge of wind.” So the Hebrew; see Job 6:26; Job 7:7. The “wind” is used to denote what is unsubstantial, vain, changing. Here it is used as an emblem of remarks which were vain, empty, and irrelevant. And fill his belly - Fill his mind with unsubstantial arguments or sentiments - as little fitted for utility as the east wind is for food. The image is, “he fills himself with mere wind, and then blows it out under pretence of delivering the maxims of wisdom.” With the east wind - The east wind was not only tempestuous and vehement, but sultry, and destructive to vegetation. It passed over vast deserts, and was characterized by great dryness and heat. It is used here to denote a manner of discourse that had in it nothing profitable.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֶֽחָכָ֗ם | hechakham | ¿ a wise [person] | H2450 → | 138 times |
| יַעֲנֶ֥ה | yaaneh | does he answer | H6030 → | 331 times |
| דַֽעַת־ | daat- | knowledge of | H1847 → | 92 times |
| ר֑וּחַ | ruach | wind | H7307 → | 378 times |
| וִֽימַלֵּ֖א | vimale' | so may he fill? | H4390 → | 249 times |
| קָדִ֣ים | kadim | east wind | H6921 → | 69 times |
| בִּטְנֽוֹ׃ | bitno | belly his | H990 → | 72 times |
הֶֽחָכָ֗ם¿ a wise [person]
hechakhamH2450 →138 times
יַעֲנֶ֥הdoes he answer
yaanehH6030 →331 times
דַֽעַת־knowledge of
daat-H1847 →92 times
ר֑וּחַwind
ruachH7307 →378 times
וִֽימַלֵּ֖אso may he fill?
vimale'H4390 →249 times
קָדִ֣יםeast wind
kadimH6921 →69 times
בִּטְנֽוֹ׃belly his
bitnoH990 →72 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- Galatians 5:23
Through
Hosea 12:1Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
it leads to
- Hosea 11:12
Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
- Hosea 11:12
Through
Job 8:2“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
it leads to
- Job 6:26
Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
- Job 6:26
Through
Job 6:26Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
it leads to
- Job 8:2
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
- Job 8:2
About Job
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.