God’s Word Translation
Job 4:18
18“You see, God doesn’t trust his own servants, and he accuses his angels of making mistakes.
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,
- English Standard Version (ESV)Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
- New King James Version (NKJV)If He puts no trust in His servants, If He charges His angels with error,
Context of Job 4:18
16Something stood there. I couldn’t tell what it was. A vague image was in front of my eyes. I heard a soft voice: 17‘Can ⌞any⌟ mortal be righteous to God? Can ⌞any⌟ human being be pure to his maker?’ “You see, God doesn’t trust his own servants, and he accuses his angels of making mistakes. 19How much more will he accuse those who live in clay houses that have their foundation in the dust. Those houses can be crushed quicker than a moth! 20From morning to evening, they are shattered. They will disappear forever without anyone paying attention.
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 15:15If God doesn’t trust his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight,
- Job 25:5Even the moon isn’t bright, and the stars aren’t pure in his sight.
- Psalms 103:20Praise the Lord, all his angels, you mighty beings who carry out his orders and are ready to obey his spoken orders.
- Psalms 104:4You make your angels winds and your servants flames of fire.
- Isaiah 6:2Angels were standing above him. Each had six wings: With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
- 2 Peter 2:4God didn’t spare angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, where he has secured them with chains of darkness and is holding them for judgment.
- Jude 1:6He held angels for judgment on the great day. They were held in darkness, bound by eternal chains. These are the angels who didn’t keep their position of authority but abandoned their assigned place.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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