Bible Commentary

Job 22:21

The Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:21

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Acquaint now thyself with him (i.e. God), and be at peace; or, make, I beseech thee' a trial of him, and be at peace; i.e. risk everything, throw thyself upon his mercy, and so make thy peace with him.

To do so is well worth thy while, for thereby good shall come unto thee. It is a question what sort of "good" is meant. If we are to explain the "good" of this passage by , exclusively, Eliphaz will become a mere utilitarian, and he will be rightly characterized as "selfish and sordid" (Cook)—an anticipation of the Mammon of Milton.

But there seem to be no sufficient grounds for singling out , from the rest of the passage, and regarding them as forming its key-note. The "good" which Eliphaz promises to Job includes, besides "the gold of Ophir" and "plenty of silver," such things as "delight in the Almighty," and confident trust in him (verse 26), God's hearing of his prayers (verse 27), the shining of light upon his path (verse 28), his own payment of his vows (verse 27), his giving assistance to the poor and needy (verse 29), and even his deliverance of the guilty by the pureness of his hands (verse 30); so that other besides material considerations are clearly taken into account, and the worldly prosperity which Eliphaz promises forms a part only of the good result which he anticipates from the patriarch making his peace with the Almighty.

Recommended reading

More for Job 22:21

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

The Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:1-30Job 22:1-30 · The Pulpit CommentaryEliphaz returns to the attack, but with observations that are at first strangely pointless and irrelevant, e.g. on the unprofitableness of man to God (verses l, 2), and on the slight importance of Job's case (verse 3).…The Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:1-30Job 22:1-30 · The Pulpit CommentaryCensorious and uncharitable reasoning. Eliphaz again takes up the word. He does not contest Job's position, that life presents many examples of the prosperity of the godless, and of the calamities of the godly, but he s…The Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:1-30Job 22:1-30 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONMatthew Henry on Job 22:21-30Job 22:21-30 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryThe answer of Eliphaz wrongly implied that Job had hitherto not known God, and that prosperity in this life would follow his sincere conversion. The counsel Eliphaz here gives is good, though, as to Job, it was built up…The Good Counsel of Eliphaz; Encouragements to Return to God. (b. c. 1520.)Job 22:21-30 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleTHE GOOD COUNSEL OF ELIPHAZ; ENCOURAGEMENTS TO RETURN TO GOD. (B. C. 1520.) Methinks I can almost forgive Eliphaz his hard censures of Job, which we had in the beginning of the chapter, though they were very unjust and…The Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:21-30Job 22:21-30 · The Pulpit CommentaryAt this point a transition occurs. Eliphaz turns away from reproaches, open or covert, designed to exhibit Job as an example of extreme wickedness, and falls back on those topics which were the main subjects of his firs…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:1-30EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:1-30Censorious and uncharitable reasoning. Eliphaz again takes up the word. He does not contest Job's position, that life presents many examples of the prosperity of the godless, and of the calamities of the godly, but he s…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:1-30Eliphaz returns to the attack, but with observations that are at first strangely pointless and irrelevant, e.g. on the unprofitableness of man to God (verses l, 2), and on the slight importance of Job's case (verse 3).…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Job 22:21-30The answer of Eliphaz wrongly implied that Job had hitherto not known God, and that prosperity in this life would follow his sincere conversion. The counsel Eliphaz here gives is good, though, as to Job, it was built up…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Good Counsel of Eliphaz; Encouragements to Return to God. (b. c. 1520.)THE GOOD COUNSEL OF ELIPHAZ; ENCOURAGEMENTS TO RETURN TO GOD. (B. C. 1520.) Methinks I can almost forgive Eliphaz his hard censures of Job, which we had in the beginning of the chapter, though they were very unjust and…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:21-30At this point a transition occurs. Eliphaz turns away from reproaches, open or covert, designed to exhibit Job as an example of extreme wickedness, and falls back on those topics which were the main subjects of his firs…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:21Peace from the knowledge of God. Eliphaz has here stumbled on a great truth, which even his wrong-headedness cannot pervert, which is indeed a flash of Divine inspiration. Our unrest springs from our ignorance of God. I…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 22:21-30Peace with God. In clear words reconciliation with God is urged. "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace." Ignorance of God casts men off from the highest good—from the fellowship of their truest and best Friend…Joseph S. Exell and contributors