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Job 41 · a question people ask

Eliphaz and Elihu asked questions close to 41:11. What does the book say about their words?

In the text

Eliphaz (22:1) asked, "Can a man be profitable to God?" (22:2), and "Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect?" (22:3). Elihu (35:1) asked, "If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?" (35:7). The LORD, answering Job out of the whirlwind (40:6), asks, "Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?" (41:11). In English the questions are close; in Hebrew the words differ: 35:7's give is another verb than 41:11's first given (tap first given). After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, he said to Eliphaz, "My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has" (42:7), and Elihu isn't named there. The book doesn't say which words 42:7 has in view, whether 41:11 takes up anything Eliphaz or Elihu said, or what 41:11 says of Job's own words. These notes set the verses side by side and don't decide.

The verses

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, “Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him that you make your ways perfect?”
Job 22:1-3 · World English Bible
“Moreover Elihu answered,”
Job 35:1 · World English Bible
“If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?”
Job 35:7 · World English Bible
“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:”
Job 40:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Job 41

Job 41: Can you draw out Leviathan?

In the middle of Leviathan, the LORD asks, "Who then is he who can stand before me?" (41:10), and "Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?" (41:11), where first given is one Hebrew verb, which Strong's gives as "precede". And the pride Leviathan is king over (41:34) is a word the Hebrew Bible uses only there and in 28:8.

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions