Eliphaz the Temanite begins his first speech, recounting a terrifying night vision where a spirit told him that no mortal is righteous before God. He argues that the innocent never perish and suggests Job's suffering must stem from some hidden sin, for mankind is prone to trouble as sparks fly upward.
Read Job Chapter 4 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Job
Righteous man whose faith is tested through catastrophic suffering
Eliphaz
First friend who argues suffering results from sin
Bildad
Second friend who appeals to traditional wisdom about punishment
Zophar
Third friend who harshly accuses Job of hidden sin
Elihu
Young man who speaks last, emphasizing God's justice and discipline
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
PrologueChapters 1-2
Dialogue with FriendsChapters 3-31
Three cycles of speeches between Job and his friends debating the cause of his suffering.
Elihu's SpeechesChapters 32-37
God SpeaksChapters 38-41
EpilogueChapters 42
Bible Bites
Job Has 42 Chapters of Testing
The book of Job contains exactly 42 chapters, ending with God restoring Job's fortunes after his lengthy trials. Job received twice what he had lost and lived 140 more years.
Job 42