What does Job 15:5 mean?
"For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty." - Job 15:5

Job 15:5 (KJV) reads, "For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty."
In this verse, Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, is speaking to Job in an attempt to persuade him to confess his sins and accept his suffering as punishment for those sins. Eliphaz accuses Job of speaking iniquity and using crafty language. This accusation is an attempt to discredit Job and his protests of innocence.
The book of Job is a complex and thought-provoking book in the Bible. It deals with the problem of human suffering and the question of why the righteous suffer. Job, a righteous and blameless man, experiences immense suffering, losing his wealth, children, and health. His friends come to comfort him, but as the book progresses, it becomes clear that their understanding of suffering is lacking.
Eliphaz's words in Job 15:5 reflect a common theme in the book of Job – the nature of suffering and the response of friends and family to it. Eliphaz and his friends cling to the traditional understanding that suffering is the result of sin, and therefore, Job must have sinned to deserve his suffering. This verse represents their attempt to convince Job of this belief, and it serves as a starting point for a larger discussion on the nature of suffering and the ways in which we attempt to understand it.
The context of this verse is important for understanding its meaning. Job is in the midst of his suffering, and his friends' attempts to comfort him ultimately lead to accusations and misunderstandings. Job's friends believe that his suffering is a direct result of his sin, but Job insists on his innocence and struggles to make sense of his suffering. This tension creates a dramatic backdrop for the dialogue between Job and his friends, and it raises important questions about the nature of suffering and the ways in which we attempt to explain it.
The symbolism in this verse is found in the imagery of the mouth and the tongue. Eliphaz accuses Job of speaking iniquity and using crafty language. This imagery can be seen as symbolic of the complex and often deceptive nature of human communication. Words have the power to hurt and deceive, and they can be used to manipulate and mislead. In the context of Job's suffering, Eliphaz's words serve as a reminder of the ways in which people can use language to control and oppress others. This verse also highlights the danger of making assumptions about others based on their words, and it serves as a caution against jumping to conclusions without understanding the full context of a person's situation.
Overall, Job 15:5 represents a key moment in the dialogue between Job and his friends. It reflects the theme of suffering and the ways in which we attempt to understand and explain it. The accusation made by Eliphaz is a reflection of human limitations in understanding the mysteries of suffering, and it serves as a reminder of the need for humility and compassion in the face of the suffering of others. This verse challenges us to consider the ways in which we respond to the suffering of others and to approach it with empathy and understanding rather than judgment and condemnation.
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Job 15:5 Artwork
Job 15:5 - "For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty."
"For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty." - Job 15:5
Job 5:15 - "But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty."
"But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty." - Job 5:15
Job 15:15 - "Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight."
job 42:5
Job 15:1 - "Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,"
Job 42:15 - "And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren."
Job 34:5 - "For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment."
Job 1:5 no words
Job 1:5 no words
Job 29:15 - "I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame."
Job 20:5 - "That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?"
Job 1:5 no words
Job 32:15 - "They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking."
Job 3:15 - "Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:"
Job 36:15 - "He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression."
Job 38:15 - "And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken."
Job 15:35 - "They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit."
Job 15:11 - "Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?"
Job 5:5 - "Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance."
Job 5:14 - "They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night."
Job 15:34 - "For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery."
Job 15:32 - "It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green."
Job 15:4 - "Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God."
Job 17:15 - "And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?"
Job 15:19 - "Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them."
Job 15:31 - "Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence."
Job 15:18 - "Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:"
Job 28:15 - "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof."