Eliphaz

Eliphaz is the name of two distinct men in the Hebrew Bible. The first is the firstborn of Esau, ancestor of an Edomite clan. The second is the senior of Job's three friends, the Temanite who opens the cycle of speeches and whom Yahweh ultimately rebukes by name. They are grouped under one entry, and the figures may be linked geographically — Teman, Eliphaz the Edomite's son, becomes the homeland of Eliphaz the comforter.

Son of Esau

Eliphaz is born to Esau by his wife Adah: "And Adah bore to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bore Reuel" (Ge 36:4). The Edomite genealogy of Genesis 36 names him as Esau's firstborn and lists his five sons — Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz — together with Amalek, born to Eliphaz by his concubine Timna (Ge 36:10-12). The same chapter then enumerates the chiefs descended from him: "These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, chief Gatam, chief Amalek" (Ge 36:15-16). The Chronicler echoes the line tersely: "The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah" (1Ch 1:35). Through Eliphaz, then, Edom acquires its leading clans, including the eponymous ancestor of Teman and the progenitor of Amalek.

Friend of Job

The second Eliphaz is one of three companions who come to console Job after the catastrophe: "Now when Job's three companions heard of all this evil that came upon him, they came every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him" (Job 2:11). He is named first throughout the cycle and speaks first in each of the three rounds.

First speech

Eliphaz opens cautiously, recalling Job's past role as a teacher and supporter of the weak (Job 4:3-4) before asking why Job himself now falters. He grounds his counsel in the principle that the innocent do not perish: "Remember, I pray you, who [ever] perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off? According to as I have seen, those who plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same" (Job 4:7-8). He then appeals to a night-vision in which a spirit asked, "Will common man be more just than God? Will [noble] man be more pure than his Maker?" (Job 4:17). The vision underwrites his doctrine that no creature can claim purity before God (Job 4:18-19). He concludes the speech with a positive turn, urging Job to seek God and to receive correction: "Look, happy is [the] common man whom God corrects: Therefore don't despise the chastening of the Almighty. For he makes sore, and binds up; He wounds, and his hands make whole" (Job 5:17-18). The promise that follows — deliverance in six and seven troubles, peace with stones and beasts, a full-aged grave — frames the speech as both warning and invitation (Job 5:19-26).

Third speech

By the third cycle Eliphaz drops the gentleness and indicts Job directly. "Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities" (Job 22:5). He charges Job with extortion against kin, withholding water and bread, sending widows away empty, and breaking the arms of the fatherless (Job 22:6-9), and explains Job's afflictions as the snares such conduct incurs (Job 22:10-11). The speech closes again with a call to return: "Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: By this good will come to you. Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up" (Job 22:21-23).

Yahweh's verdict

After Yahweh answers Job from the whirlwind, Eliphaz is singled out by name: "Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two companions; for you⁺ have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my slave Job has" (Job 42:7). Yahweh prescribes a burnt-offering of seven bullocks and seven rams and makes Job himself the mediator: "my slave Job will pray for you⁺; for him I will accept" (Job 42:8). Eliphaz complies — "So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according to as Yahweh commanded them: and Yahweh accepted Job" (Job 42:9). The arc that began with three friends sitting silently in the dust ends with Eliphaz brought low and restored only through the prayer of the man he had accused.