Job 6:14 Job Reflects In His Discourse The Thoughts of the Apostle John!

Job states to his “troublesome comforters” מְנַחֲמ֖י עָמ֣ל that they should use better discernment and human kindness and not speak to him or treat him with such unlovingness. (Job 16:1, 2)  A statement of his, however, has been variously translated – some correctly and some not.  The passage states:

In the original Hebrew:  למס מרעהו חסד ויראת שדי יעזוב׃

New International Version
"A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

New Living Translation
"One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.

English Standard Version
“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

New American Standard Bible
"For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

King James Version
To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Bible in Basic English
He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.

World English Bible"To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

New World Translation of the Holy ScripturesAs regards anyone who withholds loving-kindness from his own fellow, he will also leave off even the fear of the Almighty.

Which of these translations are truly accurate and literal?  Which of them reflect the correct basic thoughts?  The Hebrew word for “kindness” / “loving-kindness” or “loyalty” / “loyal-love” in this context is חֶסֶד (khesed).  The basic idea of this Hebrew word is a kindness-loyalty based upon love.  Consequently, those translations that have “kindness” or more correctly “loving-kindness” are accurate and literal.  But what is the correct meaning of the second part of the verse?

The line simply and literally reads “and the fear [respect] of the Almighty he forsakes.”  Since the first part of the verse tells us that one should not withhold loving-kindness from his fellow or friend – implying his fellow or friend may be in some sort of need in which he could help – than to not give such loving-kindness to his fellow/friend reflect the fact that he ‘forsakes the fear [respect] of the Almighty’ or has ‘left off the fear [respect] of the Almighty’.  Therefore, those translations that reflect the idea of those who do not show proper kindness to his friend/fellow also forsakes or leaves the proper fear of the Almighty is accurate.

The study of this verse shows that the versions which reflect accurate translation include the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the English Standard Version, the Bible in Basic English and the Douay-Rheims Holy Bible.  Most of the others reflect that loving-kindness is to be extended to one who has forsaken the Almighty which would be misplaced kindness for a servant of God.  The New Living Translation introduces a foreign element not reflected in the Hebrew text that despite showing kindness to one’s fellow one also is accusing him to God; this is not correct at all.  The New American Standard Bible changes the Hebrew to say that kindness should be shown so that one’s fellow will not forsake the fear of God; this is not in the Hebrew at all.

It is of interest to note that those few accurate translations agree with the statement / teaching of the apostle John when he wrote:  “Whoever has the world’s means of subsistence to support life and sees his brother in need and yet shuts off his tender compassion from him, how can the love of God remain in such a person?”  Something to which all who profess to be “Christian” or have the label “Servant of God” should give serious consideration – especially in these days of world-wide troubles that afflict us all. – 1 John 3:17; note John 13:35.

Job 4:12-21 Where Did Eliphaz the Temanite Receive His Information About God that Distorted His View of Job’s Sufferings?

Throughout the discourses by Eliphaz as contained in the book of Job, one central thought he clearly and consistently presents is that the Almighty God is just and righteous and as such would never punish a righteous person.  Although this is correct, his thinking had been trifled with and twisted.  This basic truth about Jehovah was turned in such a way before Eliphaz that he came to the conclusion that since God does not punish the righteous, then if a person was wicked He would punish and bring harm and destruction upon him and even his family and possessions.  Thus, his thinking toward Job was manipulated to believe that, despite Job’s appeals that he was innocent and righteous and had done no wrong and practiced nothing wicked, Job must be a liar and his present misery and misfortunes were clearly from God’s hand.  How did he come to this?

Looking at Eliphaz’s very first discourse to Job (chapter 4 and 5) we find he relates an experience he had one night with “a spirit” that imparted to him certain “wisdom” about God.  This encounter appears to be what twisted his thinking about God and Job.  The account reads:

“Now a word was stealthily brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it. In the troubling thoughts of the dreams in the night when a deep sleep falls on men, a dread gripped me and a terror and made all my bones shudder.  Then a spirit passes before my face; it made the hair of my flesh stand up!  It stood still, but I could not recognize its appearance; an image was before my eyes, and there was a calm then I heard a murmuring voice: ‘Can a mortal man be more righteous than God? Or an able-bodied man be more pure than his Maker?’” – Job 4:12-17.

The effect upon Eliphaz from this spiritual encounter is then reflected in his apparent words following the spirit’s statement:

“Look - God puts no faith in his servants and attributes faultiness to his angels [messengers], how much more to those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed more quickly than a moth?” – Job 4:18, 19.

Since this “spirit” that stealthily brought Eliphaz this “word” projects the thought that Jehovah the Almighty God does not have trust of faith in his own heavenly messengers, angels, than why would He have any faith or trust in mere mortal men who are made of dust and born imperfect - faulty?  (Job 14:1, 2)This sort of demonic reasoning twisted Eliphaz’s thinking to the point that he appears to have concluded that if God has no faith in angels – those who serve in his own divine presence and who are perfect, than he cannot have any real faith in those made of dust who do not serve in His presence.  Consequently, despite Job’s pleadings that he is innocent of sins deserving of the disasters that have befallen him, he obviously has sinned and is not telling truth.  He deserves from the Most High what he has and is receiving and should repent.  This is reflected in his further discourse to Job. – Job 5:1-7, 17, 18, 27; note 5:7-9.

This “spirit”, therefore, could not be one of those faithful messengers or angels of God.  Since this spirit cast aspersions upon Jehovah’s character and that of faithful angels and thus twisted Eliphaz’s thinking to doubt Job and falsely accuse him of secret sins, he could not be any other than Satan himself or one of his evil messengers, demons, to do his slanderous and malicious will. – Revelation 12:9, 10; Zechariah 3:1; Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8.

Scriptural & Translational Thoughts on Job - Job 2:4

An interesting statement is made by Satan to Jehovah as contained at Job 2:4.  The New International Version translates it this way, “Skin for skin!  A man will give all he has for his own life.”  The New American Standard Bible (Updated Edition) has, “Skin for skin!  Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.”  The New American Bible, a Catholic translation, states it this way, “Skin for skin!  All that a man has will he give for his life”  There is not any real difference between these three translations.  Young’s Literal Translation reads this way, “A skin for a skin, and all that a man hath he doth give for his life.”  The Concordant Version states “Skin in behalf of skin, for all that a man has would he give in behalf of his soul.”  The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures reads here “Skin in behalf of skin, and everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul.”

Many translations and versions read very similar.  But, what does “skin for skin” mean?  What was it that Satan was implying?  The Hebrew text is רוע דעב רוע.  Literally this is “skin for [or, against] skin” and simply means “skin in behalf of skin.”  This appears to come from the idea of sacrificing an animal or even another human in order for one to go free, which suggest that one type of skin that was worth less was surrendered as a replacement to save the more important life – oneself.

Thus Satan is saying to Jehovah that Job was selfish, self-centered and self-sparing; that he was willing for others to die in replacement of himself so that he could go free and suffer no harm.  Since it was Job’s children, servants and animals who perished, Satan made the accusation against Job that he would remain loyal and God-fearing as long as others died but himself be spared.  Wicked accusation.