Job 15:2
New International Version
“Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind?

New Living Translation
“A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk! You are nothing but a windbag.

English Standard Version
“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

Berean Standard Bible
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

King James Bible
Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

New King James Version
“Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

New American Standard Bible
“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

NASB 1995
“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?

NASB 1977
“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

Legacy Standard Bible
“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill his belly with the east wind?

Amplified Bible
“Should a wise man [such as you] utter such windy and vain knowledge [as we have just heard] And fill himself with the east wind [of withering, parching, and violent accusations]?

Christian Standard Bible
Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill himself with the hot east wind?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill himself with the hot east wind?

American Standard Version
Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?

Contemporary English Version
Job, if you had any sense,

English Revised Version
Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Should a wise person answer with endless details and fill his stomach with the east wind?

International Standard Version
"Should a wise person respond with knowledge based on wind? Should he fill his stomach with a wind storm from the east?

Majority Standard Bible
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?

NET Bible
"Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?

New Heart English Bible
"Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?

Webster's Bible Translation
Should a wise men utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

World English Bible
“Should a wise man answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Does a wise man answer [with] vain knowledge? And fill his belly [with] an east wind?

Young's Literal Translation
Doth a wise man answer with vain knowledge? And fill with an east wind his belly?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall a wise one answer knowledge of wind, and fill his belly with the east wind?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking in the wind, and fill his stomach with burning heat?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Will a wise man answer as if he were speaking wind, and will he fill his stomach with fire?

New American Bible
Does a wise man answer with windy opinions, or puff himself up with the east wind?

New Revised Standard Version
“Should the wise answer with windy knowledge, and fill themselves with the east wind?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Should a spiritually minded man answer with knowledge and then become enraged?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Will the wise of spirit answer in knowledge and anger fill his belly
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Should a wise man make answer with windy knowledge, And fill his belly with the east wind?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Will a wise man give for answer a mere breath of wisdom? and does he fill up the pain of his belly,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eliphaz: Job Does Not Fear God
1Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: 2“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind? 3Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?…

Cross References
Job 8:2
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.

Job 11:2-3
“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? / Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

Job 18:2
“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.

Job 34:35
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’

Job 35:16
So Job opens his mouth in vain and multiplies words without knowledge.”

Job 38:2
“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

Proverbs 18:2
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 29:4
You will be brought low, you will speak from the ground, and out of the dust your words will be muffled. Your voice will be like a spirit from the ground; your speech will whisper out of the dust.

Isaiah 29:14
Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”

Jeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?


Treasury of Scripture

Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?

a wise man

Job 11:2,3
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? …

Job 13:2
What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.

James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

vain knowledge.

Job 6:26
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Job 8:2
How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

fill

Hosea 12:1
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

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Job 15
1. Eliphaz reproves Job for impiety in justifying himself
17. He proves by tradition the restlessness of wicked men














Does a wise man
The phrase "wise man" in Hebrew is "חָכָם" (chakam), which denotes someone possessing wisdom, discernment, and understanding. In the context of the ancient Near East, wisdom was highly valued and often associated with the ability to live righteously and make sound judgments. The rhetorical question posed here challenges Job's wisdom, suggesting that true wisdom would not lead to the kind of responses Job has been giving. This sets the stage for a discussion on the nature of true wisdom, which, from a conservative Christian perspective, is rooted in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 9:10).

answer with empty counsel
The term "empty counsel" translates from the Hebrew "דַּעַת רוּחַ" (da'at ruach), literally meaning "knowledge of the wind." This phrase implies advice or speech that is devoid of substance or value, akin to chasing the wind. In the biblical context, words are powerful and should be used to edify and build up. The critique here is that Job's words lack the depth and truth expected from someone who is wise. This serves as a reminder of the importance of speaking truthfully and meaningfully, aligning with the biblical principle that our words should reflect God's wisdom.

or fill his belly
The imagery of filling one's belly suggests consumption and satisfaction. In this context, it implies being satiated with something that is ultimately unfulfilling or harmful. The metaphorical use of "belly" here can be seen as a critique of indulging in futile or destructive thoughts and words. From a conservative Christian viewpoint, this can be a call to fill oneself with the Word of God, which truly satisfies and nourishes the soul (Matthew 4:4).

with the hot east wind
The "hot east wind" is a reference to the "קָדִים" (qadim), a scorching wind from the desert that is often associated with destruction and desolation in the Bible (e.g., Genesis 41:6, Jonah 4:8). This metaphor suggests that Job's words are not only empty but also potentially harmful and destructive. In the biblical narrative, the east wind is a force of nature that brings about change, often as a form of divine judgment. This serves as a caution against allowing our words to become like this wind—destructive rather than constructive. From a conservative Christian perspective, it underscores the importance of aligning our speech with God's truth, which brings life and healing rather than harm.

(2) Should a wise man utter vain knowledge . . .--Job therefore is not wise, and his words have been vain and windy.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Does a wise
הֶֽחָכָ֗ם (he·ḥā·ḵām)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2450: Wise

man answer
יַעֲנֶ֥ה (ya·‘ă·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

with empty
ר֑וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

counsel
דַֽעַת־ (ḏa·‘aṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

or fill
וִֽימַלֵּ֖א (wî·mal·lê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

his belly
בִּטְנֽוֹ׃ (biṭ·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

with the hot east wind?
קָדִ֣ים (qā·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6921: The fore, front part, the East


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OT Poetry: Job 15:2 Should a wise man answer with vain (Jb)
Job 15:1
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