Job 22 27
What is Job 22:27 about? Read the meaning and summary with full commentary explained, historical context, verse insights, word analysis, and cross-references.
Job chapter 22 - Eliphaz’s Specific (and False) Accusations
Job 22 documents Eliphaz’s third speech, where he abandons all subtlety and accuses Job of specific social sins like stripping the naked and withholding water from the weary. He assumes that because Job is suffering greatly, his sins must have been equally great, regardless of the lack of evidence.
Job 22:27
ESV: You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.
KJV: Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
NIV: You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
NKJV: You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, And you will pay your vows.
NLT: You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows to him.
Meaning
This verse from Eliphaz’s speech expresses a principle: if one returns to God and makes peace with Him, they will find their prayers heard and will be enabled to fulfill their sacred promises. It connects true repentance and reconciliation with God to the blessings of divine responsiveness and restored ability to perform religious duties. While Eliphaz misapplies this principle to Job’s specific suffering, the core truth of God's receptiveness to genuine entreaty and commitment remains biblically sound.
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 8:5-6 | If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes... he would then prosper thy habitation | Seeking God leads to prosperity |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | If my people... humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face... then will I hear | Hearing prayer after repentance |
| Ps 34:15 | The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry | God's ears open to righteous' cry |
| Ps 50:14-15 | Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me | Thanksgiving, vows, and calling on God |
| Ps 65:2 | O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. | God as the hearer of prayer |
| Ps 66:13-14 | I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows... | Act of paying vows |
| Ps 66:18 | If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: | Sin hinders prayer hearing |
| Ps 91:15 | He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble | Calling on God, promise of answer |
| Ps 145:18-19 | The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him... he will hear their cry | God is near to those who call |
| Prov 28:13 | He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth... shall have mercy | Confession leads to mercy |
| Isa 1:19 | If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: | Willingness and obedience bring blessings |
| Isa 58:9 | Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am | Calling God, promised answer |
| Jer 29:12-13 | Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray... ye shall seek me... | Seeking and calling God |
| Lam 3:55-57 | I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon... thou drewest near | God hears from dire situations |
| Mal 3:7 | Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. | Call to repentance and return to God |
| Matt 7:7-8 | Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock... opened. | Principles of asking and receiving |
| Luke 11:9-10 | Ask, and it shall be given you... | Assurance of answered prayer |
| John 14:13-14 | Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do... | Prayer in Jesus' name answered |
| Jas 4:3 | Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. | Improper motives hinder prayer |
| 1 Jn 5:14-15 | And this is the confidence that we have in him... if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: | Asking according to God's will |
| Deut 23:21 | When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it | Importance of paying vows |
| Eccl 5:4-5 | When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it... | Promptness in paying vows |
| Num 30:2 | If a man vow a vow unto the Lord... he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. | Sanctity of vows |
Context
Job 22:27 is spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s three friends. In this chapter, Eliphaz intensifies his accusations against Job, asserting that Job’s great suffering must be due to hidden, severe wickedness (Job 22:5-11). He calls on Job to humble himself before God, make things right, and return to the Almighty (Job 22:21-23). Verses 25-30 then describe the blessings that Eliphaz believes would follow such a repentance: abundant gold, delight in God, answered prayer, success in endeavors, and even intercessory power. Eliphaz’s theology reflects a common Old Testament belief in strict retributive justice – that God always blesses the righteous with material prosperity and punishes the wicked with suffering. While his description of God's character and blessings of obedience contain truth, Eliphaz wrongly applies this to Job, failing to comprehend the deeper spiritual reasons for Job’s trials. The historical context reflects a time when covenants and vows were binding and serious commitments, central to Israelite and ancient Near Eastern religious and social life.
Word analysis
- Thou shalt make thy prayer: (Hebrew: תַּעְתִּיר, ta'tîr). From the root `athar`, meaning to make a petition, entreat, or pray earnestly. It can also carry the nuance of "to multiply" or "to make abundant," suggesting fervent, perhaps prolonged and numerous prayers. This indicates more than a casual request; it implies pouring out one's heart to God.
- unto him: (Hebrew: אֵלָיו, elayv). Clearly directs the prayer to God, emphasizing that it is an address specifically to the divine presence.
- and he shall hear thee: (Hebrew: יִשְׁמָעֲךָ, yishmāʿǎḵā). From `shama'`, meaning to hear, listen, pay attention, and respond favorably. It signifies more than just auditory perception; it implies God's active, responsive attention and willingness to act on the petition.
- and thou shalt pay thy vows: (Hebrew: וּשְׁלֵּם נְדָרֶיךָ, ûšallem nədārêḵā).
- pay: From `shalem`, meaning to be complete, sound, to render, fulfill, or make restitution. It denotes completing or fulfilling an obligation.
- thy vows: From `neder`, a solemn promise or pledge made to God, often involving dedication of property, service, or abstinence, made in exchange for a requested blessing or in thanksgiving. These were binding and serious religious commitments. The ability to pay vows suggests a return to a state of spiritual and even material wellness, enabling one to honor obligations to God that might have been neglected or impossible during hardship.
- "make thy prayer unto him": This phrase describes the act of sincere supplication. It implies seeking God's face, humbling oneself, and laying before Him one's desires and needs with an earnest and sincere heart.
- "he shall hear thee": This segment assures divine attentiveness and intervention. It promises that God will not only listen but will act in response to the prayer, signifying divine favor and interaction.
- "and thou shalt pay thy vows": This part highlights the restored capacity for religious obedience and integrity. It means that, as a result of God's blessing and answered prayer, the individual will be enabled to fulfill previous commitments to God, signifying a return to right relationship and covenant faithfulness.
Commentary
Job 22:27 presents a traditional Israelite understanding of God's responsiveness to those who truly turn to Him. Eliphaz argues that repentance, reconciliation, and sincere prayer lead to a renewed relationship with God where divine ears are open to requests. The subsequent ability to fulfill one's vows signifies not only a spiritual restoration, but often a practical one, as vows might involve offerings or specific actions that require means or opportunity. While Eliphaz's diagnosis of Job's specific sin was inaccurate, the general principle holds: humility, earnest prayer, and a desire to align with God's will unlock His responsive favor and enable faithful worship. It speaks to God's desire for active fellowship, where human earnestness meets divine grace, leading to the spiritual strength and provision needed to honor Him in all things. This verse subtly contrasts human efforts with divine enablement: prayer is human, but being heard and empowered to fulfill sacred duties is divine.
Bonus section
This verse implies a polemic against the notion that prayer is futile, especially for one perceived to be in trouble or under divine disfavor. Eliphaz posits that God will hear, directly challenging any despair or cynicism about the effectiveness of communion with the Almighty. It also implicitly highlights the seriousness of vows in ancient Israel; their fulfillment was a sign of integrity and devotion, and the capacity to pay them was seen as a mark of divine blessing. The very act of being able to fulfill sacred obligations signified a restoration of life and honor, in stark contrast to the despair and destitution Job experienced. It emphasizes the foundational connection between communion with God and the living out of covenant obligations.
Read job 22 chapter and explore various translations, from word-for-word KJV and ESV to thought-for-thought NIV and NLT.
Witness the danger of ‘logic-driven’ counseling as Eliphaz creates a false narrative to make his theology fit Job’s circumstances. Begin your study with job 22 summary.
Eliphaz suggests that Job has 'sent widows away empty,' a direct hit at Job’s reputation for charity. The ‘Word Secret’ is *Sakan*, meaning to be of use or to profit; Eliphaz questions if a man can even be of any benefit to God, suggesting God is indifferent to Job’s ‘righteousness’ anyway. Discover the riches with job 22 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Explore job 22 images, wallpapers, art, audio, video, maps, infographics and timelines