English Standard Version
Job 4:18
18Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
Job 4:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
- New International Version (NIV)If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness,
Context of Job 4:18
16It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice: 17'Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error; 19how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like the moth. 20Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
Read all of Job 4Job 4:18 word by word
הֵ֣ן בַּ֭עֲבָדָיו לֹ֣א יַאֲמִ֑ין וּ֝בְמַלְאָכָ֗יו יָשִׂ֥ים תָּהֳלָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 4:18
- Job 15:15Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight;
- Job 25:5Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
- Psalms 103:20Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
- Psalms 104:4he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.
- Isaiah 6:2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
- 2 Peter 2:4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
- Jude 1:6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
Commentaries on Job 4:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Behold, he put no trust in his servants - This verse is generally understood to refer to the fall of angels; for there were some of those heavenly beings who kept not their first estate: they did not persevere to the end of their probation, and therefore fell into condemnation, and are reserved in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day; Judges 1:6. It is said he put no trust in them - he knew that nothing could be absolutely immutable but…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Behold, he put no trust in his servants - These are evidently the words of the oracle that appeared to Eliphaz; see Schultens, in loc. The word servants here refers to angels; and the idea is, that God was so pure that he did not confide even in the exalted holiness of angels - meaning that their holiness was infinitely inferior to his. The design is to state that God had the highest possible holiness, such as to render the holiness of all others, no…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-21Verses 12-21 Eliphaz relates a vision. When we are communing with our own hearts, and are still, Psa 4:4, then is a time for the Holy Spirit to commune with us. This vision put him into very great fear. Ever since man sinned, it has been terrible to him to receive communications from Heaven, conscious that he can expect no good tidings thence. Sinful man! shall he pretend to be more just, more pure, than God, who being his Maker, is his Lord and Owner?…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-21The idea that God does not trust His servants and charges His angels with error is unique (but see Genesis 6:1–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. folly--Imperfection is to be attributed to the angels, in comparison with Him. The holiness of some of them had given way (2Pe 2:4), and at best is but the holiness of a creature. Folly is the want of moral consideration [Umbreit].Read the comment
Topics related to Job 4:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries