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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 15:14 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/15-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/18_Job_15_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 15:14 - Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/job/15-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/job/15-14.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/job/">Job</a> > <a href="/job/15.htm">Chapter 15</a> > Verse 14</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/15-13.htm" title="Job 15:13">◄</a> Job 15:14 <a href="/job/15-15.htm" title="Job 15:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/15.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/15.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/15.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Can any mortal be pure? Can anyone born of a woman be just?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/15.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/15.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/15.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />What <i>is</i> man, that he should be clean? and <i>he which is</i> born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/15.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“What <i>is</i> man, that he could be pure? And <i>he who is</i> born of a woman, that he could be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/15.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“What is man, that he would be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he would be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/15.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/15.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/15.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/15.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“What is man, that he should be pure <i>and</i> clean, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous <i>and</i> just?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/15.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />What is a mere human, that he should be pure, or one born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/15.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/15.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/15.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />No human is pure and innocent, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/15.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/15.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Why should a mortal be considered faultless or someone born of a woman be considered righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/15.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Can any human being be really pure? Can anyone be right with God? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/15.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"What is mankind, that he can be blameless? Or does being born of a woman mean he'll be in the right?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/15.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/15.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/15.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/15.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be clean? and he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/15.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be clean? What is he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/15.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />What [is] man that he is pure, "" And that he is righteous, one born of woman?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/15.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> What is man that he is pure, And that he is righteous, one born of woman?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/15.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />What is man that he will be clean? and that he will be just, being born of woman?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/15.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />What is man that he should be without spot, and he that is born of a woman that he should appear just? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/15.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />What is man that he should be immaculate, and that he should appear just, having been born of woman?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/15.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />How can any mortal be blameless, anyone born of woman be righteous? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/15.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />What are mortals, that they can be clean? Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/15.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be innocent? Or he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/15.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Who is the man who is innocent, or who born of woman is going to be justified?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/15.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/15.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For who, being a mortal, <i>is such</i> that he shall be blameless? or, <i>who that is</i> born of a woman, that he should be just?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/15-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=2321" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/15.htm">Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth? <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: māh- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">What</a> <a href="/hebrew/582.htm" title="582: ’ĕ·nō·wōš (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'anash; properly, a mortal; hence, a man in general.">is man,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/2135.htm" title="2135: yiz·keh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be clear, clean or pure. A primitive root; to be translucent; figuratively, to be innocent.">he should be pure,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: yə·lūḏ (V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-msc) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">or one born</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">of woman,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: wə·ḵî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/6663.htm" title="6663: yiṣ·daq (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be just or righteous. A primitive root; to be right.">he should be righteous?</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a></span><br />for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/51-5.htm">Psalm 51:5</a></span><br />Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-20.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:20</a></span><br />Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/1-8.htm">1 John 1:8</a></span><br />If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Romans 5:12</a></span><br />Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/14-3.htm">Psalm 14:3</a></span><br />All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-6.htm">Isaiah 64:6</a></span><br />Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-9.htm">Jeremiah 17:9</a></span><br />The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Genesis 6:5</a></span><br />Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-10.htm">Romans 3:10-12</a></span><br />As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/20-9.htm">Proverbs 20:9</a></span><br />Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/8-46.htm">1 Kings 8:46</a></span><br />When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/6-36.htm">2 Chronicles 6:36</a></span><br />When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-18.htm">Mark 10:18</a></span><br />“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-17.htm">Matthew 19:17</a></span><br />“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?</p><p class="hdg">is man</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/9-2.htm">Job 9:2</a></b></br> I know <i>it is</i> so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/14-4.htm">Job 14:4</a></b></br> Who can bring a clean <i>thing</i> out of an unclean? not one.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/25-4.htm">Job 25:4-6</a></b></br> How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean <i>that is</i> born of a woman? … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/15-7.htm">Born</a> <a href="/job/14-4.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/job/14-4.htm">Pure</a> <a href="/job/13-18.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/job/12-4.htm">Upright</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/25-4.htm">Born</a> <a href="/job/15-15.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/job/15-15.htm">Pure</a> <a href="/job/17-9.htm">Righteous</a> <a href="/job/17-8.htm">Upright</a><div class="vheading2">Job 15</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/15-1.htm">Eliphaz reproves Job for impiety in justifying himself</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/15-17.htm">He proves by tradition the restlessness of wicked men</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/15.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/15.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>What is man, that he should be pure</b><br>This phrase questions the inherent purity of humanity, reflecting the biblical theme of human fallibility and sinfulness. In the context of the Book of Job, this rhetorical question underscores the belief that humans, by nature, are not pure due to the original sin introduced in <a href="/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3</a>. The idea of human impurity is echoed in <a href="/psalms/51-5.htm">Psalm 51:5</a>, where David acknowledges being sinful from birth. The rhetorical nature of the question suggests that purity is not achievable by human effort alone, pointing to the need for divine intervention and grace.<p><b>or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?</b><br>The phrase "born of woman" emphasizes the natural human condition, highlighting the universal experience of birth and the inherited sin nature. This reflects the biblical understanding that all humans are born into sin, as seen in <a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a>, which states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The question of righteousness is central to the biblical narrative, where true righteousness is seen as a gift from God rather than a human achievement. This anticipates the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, who, though born of a woman (<a href="/galatians/4-4.htm">Galatians 4:4</a>), lived a sinless life and offers His righteousness to believers (<a href="/2_corinthians/5-21.htm">2 Corinthians 5:21</a>). The phrase challenges the reader to consider the limitations of human righteousness apart from divine intervention.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the nature of righteousness and justice.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/eliphaz_the_temanite.htm">Eliphaz the Temanite</a></b><br>One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Eliphaz is speaking, offering his perspective on human nature and righteousness.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/teman.htm">Teman</a></b><br>A region in Edom, known for its wise men. Eliphaz is identified as a Temanite, suggesting he is considered wise and knowledgeable.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_heavenly_court.htm">The Heavenly Court</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Job includes the heavenly court where God and Satan discuss Job's faithfulness.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_human_condition.htm">The Human Condition</a></b><br>The broader theme of human imperfection and the struggle for righteousness is central to this passage and the Book of Job.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/human_imperfection.htm">Human Imperfection</a></b><br>The verse highlights the inherent imperfection of humanity. It serves as a reminder that no one can claim purity or righteousness on their own merit.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_god's_grace.htm">Dependence on God’s Grace</a></b><br>Recognizing our inability to be pure or righteous on our own should lead us to depend on God's grace and mercy for our justification and sanctification.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_humility.htm">The Role of Humility</a></b><br>Understanding our limitations should cultivate humility, preventing us from self-righteousness and encouraging us to seek God’s wisdom and guidance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_need_for_a_savior.htm">The Need for a Savior</a></b><br>This passage points to the necessity of a Savior, Jesus Christ, who provides the righteousness we cannot achieve on our own.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_repentance.htm">The Importance of Repentance</a></b><br>Acknowledging our sinful nature should lead us to continual repentance and a desire to align our lives with God’s will.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_15.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 15</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_job_15_14-16_and_genesis_1_31_align.htm">In Job 15:14–16, how do Eliphaz’s claims about universal impurity align with Genesis 1:31, which pronounces creation “very good”? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_all_sin_(rom_3_23_vs._job_1_1).htm">Does everyone sin? (Romans 3:23 vs. Job 1:1)</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_can_job_claim_purity_in_job_31_1-4.htm">In Job 31:1-4, how can Job claim such purity given other scriptures teach no one is entirely sinless?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_allow_innocent_suffering.htm">Why does God permit suffering of the innocent?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/15.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">What </span>is <span class= "bld">man</span>?--This is the ceaseless burden.�(See <a href="/job/4-17.htm" title="Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?">Job 4:17</a>; <a href="/job/9-2.htm" title="I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?">Job 9:2</a>; <a href="/job/25-4.htm" title="How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?">Job 25:4</a>, &c.)<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/15.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">What is man, that he should be clean?</span> A vain "beating of the air." Eliphaz had asserted the same truth in his first speech, when he said, "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he taxeth with folly: <span class="accented">how m</span>u<span class="accented">ch less in them that dwell in houses of clay</span> whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?" (<a href="/job/4-17.htm">Job 4:17-19</a>); and Job had given his full assent to it, when he exclaimed, "I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand" (<a href="/job/9-2.htm">Job 9:2, 3</a>). The true question was not whether Job or any other man was" clean," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> wholly <span class="accented">sinless</span> but whether Job had sinned so deeply and grievously that his sufferings were the natural and just punishment for his sins. And a mere repetition of the statement that all men were sinful and unclean was off the <span class="accented">point - nihil ad rem-</span>altogether futile and superfluous. <span class="cmt_word">And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?</span> (setup. <a href="/job/25-4.htm">Job 25:4</a>). The clause is a mere variant of the preceding one. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/15-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">What</span><br /><span class="heb">מָֽה־</span> <span class="translit">(māh-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is man,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱנ֥וֹשׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·nō·wōš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_582.htm">Strong's 582: </a> </span><span class="str2">Man, mankind</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he should be pure,</span><br /><span class="heb">יִזְכֶּ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(yiz·keh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2135.htm">Strong's 2135: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be translucent, to be innocent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or one born</span><br /><span class="heb">יְל֣וּד</span> <span class="translit">(yə·lūḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of woman,</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּֽׁה׃</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכִֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he should be righteous?</span><br /><span class="heb">יִ֝צְדַּ֗ק</span> <span class="translit">(yiṣ·daq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6663.htm">Strong's 6663: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be just or righteous</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/15-14.htm">OT Poetry: Job 15:14 What is man that he should be (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/15-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 15:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 15:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/15-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 15:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 15:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>