Eliphaz
“God is fine gold, or my God is strength”
Summary
The chief of Job's three friends who debated with him about the cause of his suffering, and also the name of Esau's firstborn son and father of Teman.
☩Eliphaz in Job
Eliphaz the Temanite was the leading spokesman among the three friends who came to console Job in his affliction. Being likely descended from Teman, son of the earlier Eliphaz son of Esau, he was probably an Edomite. He appears to have been the oldest of the speakers, and his language is more mild and sedate than that of Bildad and Zophar. He opens each cycle of debate, and on him falls the main burden of arguing that God's retribution is perfect and that suffering must prove prior sin. Despite his eloquent descriptions of God's majesty and purity, his fundamental premise was wrong—Job was suffering not for sin but as part of a greater divine purpose. At the end, God's anger was kindled against Eliphaz and his two friends for not speaking rightly of Him, and they were required to offer sacrifice and have Job intercede for them.
☩Son of Esau
The earlier Eliphaz was Esau's firstborn son by his wife Adah. He became the father of Teman and several other Edomite chiefs, including Kenaz. Through his concubine Timna, he also fathered Amalek, ancestor of the Amalekites. The region of Teman in Edom, noted for its wisdom, took its name from his son.
Related Verses15 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Eliphaz," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Eliphaz," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.George Morrish, "Eliphaz," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).