Job 22:17
in Job 22They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?
KJV
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
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This verse in Job 22
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Which said unto God, Depart from us - Notes, Job 21:14. A very correct description of the old world. They had no wish to retain God in their knowledge. Probably Eliphaz here refers to what Job had said, Job 21:14-15. He had remarked, in describing the wicked, that they said unto God, “Depart from us,” and yet they lived prosperously. “But see,” says Eliphaz,’” a case” where they did this.
This site's exposition
the ancient path that wicked men have trod
on Job 22:15-18
Eliphaz points to the ancient path of men who "were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood". Henry and Gill tie it to Genesis 7. The words "Depart from us" render the same Hebrew as the defiance Job cited at 21:14.
This site's exposition
Depart from us
Barnes hears Eliphaz quoting Job's own words from Job 21:14, where the prosperous wicked tell God to depart. Eliphaz turns them to the generation of the flood. Henry notes that calling God the Almighty answers their question.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
Which said unto God, Depart from us. That this too blessed Job had said, who can doubt? But what we have unfolded in his words, on account of wearying the reader, we forbear to repeat. It goes on; And as though the Almighty could do nothing, so reckoned concerning Him. In this part likewise the wording, and not the statement, is changed. For what was expressed by blessed Job; What is the Almighty that we should serve Him? is expressed by Eliphaz, And as though the Almighty could do nothing, so reckoned concerning Him.
He explains what he means by path above when he says, "They told God: Depart from us," for in their affection they disdained both him and his spiritual goods. He describes their lack of faith in the intellect saying, "They thought the Almighty could do …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Which said unto God, depart from us,....
Eliphaz shows the absurdity of this in one word, and that is, calling God the Almighty; for, if he be so, what cannot he do? But it is not strange if those cast off all religion who neither dread God's wrath nor desire his favour. The aggravation of this sin: Yet he had filled their houses with good things,
He gives him very good counsel, assuring him that, if he would take it, God would return in mercy to him and he should return to his former prosperity,
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Antiquity is, moreover, no excuse for sin. It may be that men have long transgressed, but use in rebellion will not mitigate the treason before the eternal Throne. If you know better, it will not stand you in any place that God winked at the ignorance of others in former ages. If you have had more light than they, you shall have severer judgment than they—therefore plead not the antiquity of any evil custom as an excuse for sin.
Antiquity is, moreover, no excuse for sin. It may be that men have long transgressed, but use in rebellion will not mitigate the treason before the eternal Throne. If you know better, it will not stand you in any place that God winked at the ignorance of others in former ages. If you have had more light than they, you shall have severer judgment than they—therefore plead not the antiquity of any evil custom as an excuse for sin. It was an old way, but they who ran in it perished in it just as surely as if it had been a new way of sinning entirely of their own invention. Antiquity will be no consolation to those who perish by following evil precedents. It will serve no purpose to lost souls that they sinned as thousands sinned before them! And if they shall meet long generations of their ancestors lost in the same overthrow, they shall by no means be comforted by such grim companionship. Therefore, it becomes all of us to examine whether those religious dogmas which we have accepted on account of their apparent venerableness of age and universality of custom are, indeed, the Truth of God. We are not among those who believe that the traditions of the fathers are the ultimate tests of the Truth of God. We have heard the voice which says, "To the Law and to the Testimony. If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them." We would not affect novelty for its own sake—that were folly—neither will we adore and venerate antiquity for its own sake, for that would lead us into idolatry and superstition. Is the thing right? Then follow it, though you have discovered it but yesterday. Is it wrong? Then, though the road were trod by sinners of the first ages, yet do not pursue it unless you desire to meet with the same end as they.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הָאֹמְרִ֣ים | haomerim | who were saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לָ֭אֵל | lael | to <the> God | H410 → | 241 times |
| ס֣וּר | sur | depart | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מִמֶּ֑נּוּ | mimenu | from us | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| וּמַה־ | umah- | and what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| יִּפְעַ֖ל | yifal | will he do | H6466 → | 57 times |
| שַׁדַּ֣י | shadai | [the] Almighty | H7706 → | 48 times |
| לָֽמוֹ׃ | lamo | to them |
הָאֹמְרִ֣יםwho were saying
haomerimH559 →5305 times
לָ֭אֵלto <the> God
laelH410 →241 times
ס֣וּרdepart
surH5493 →299 times
מִמֶּ֑נּוּfrom us
mimenuH4480 →1188 times
וּמַה־and what?
umah-H4100 →752 times
יִּפְעַ֖לwill he do
yifalH6466 →57 times
שַׁדַּ֣י[the] Almighty
shadaiH7706 →48 times
לָֽמוֹ׃to them
lamo
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
Romans 1:28Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- Titus 1:16
They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
- Jeremiah 9:6
You dwell in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the LORD.
- Romans 1:24
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12
Through
Malachi 3:14You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
it leads to
- Isaiah 58:3
“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress…
- Isaiah 58:3
Through
Psalms 4:6Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 80:19
Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts; cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.
- Numbers 6:26
may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
- Psalms 80:19
About Job
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 859: “The Old Way of the Wicked” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XVI; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.