ELIPHAZ. - The most eloquent of Job’s friends (Job 2, 11), a native of Teman, a region belonging to a tribe descended from Esau’s grandson (Gen. 36, 11), renowned for wisdom (Jer. 49, 7; Abd. 8). In the threefold dispute, the central part of the poem (v. GIOBBE), E. always speaks first; he proceeds by maxims, in the manner of the wise, and upholds the then common idea: only he who has sinned suffers; Job therefore cannot be righteous; by asserting the contrary, he offends God; let him humble himself and invoke mercy.
In the 1st discourse (Job 4-5), E. tactfully avoids accusing Job and speaks in general terms. But Job proclaims his righteousness. Then E., in the 2nd discourse, more harshly, accuses him, albeit indirectly, of impiety (Job 15). In the 3rd (Job 22), as Job persists in his innocence, E. without any consideration attributes to him the most
serious faults. In the final intervention, God humbles E. and commands him to appease His wrath through Job’s intercession (Job 42, 7-9).