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Verse Takeaways
1
A Cycle of Insults
All commentators note that Job is turning Eliphaz's own insult back on him. In the previous chapter, Eliphaz called Job's speech 'words of wind' (Job 15:2), and now Job retorts with the same accusation. This highlights how easily discussions about suffering can devolve into a fruitless cycle of trading insults rather than offering genuine comfort.
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Job
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Commentaries
4
Albert Barnes
On Job 16:3
18th Century
Theologian
Shall vain words? — The marginal note says: "In Hebrew, 'words of wind'"; that is, words devoid of thoughtful insight, and trifling…
Charles Ellicott
On Job 16:3
19th Century
Bishop
Shall vain words have an end? —The English idiom rather requires, “Shall not vain words have an end? fo…
John Gill
On Job 16:3
17th Century
Pastor
Shall vain words have an end ?
&c.] Or "words of wind" F11 , vain empty words, great swelling words of va…
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Matthew Henry
On Job 16:1–5
17th Century
Minister
Eliphaz had represented Job's discourses as unprofitable and pointless; Job here gives Eliphaz's words the same characterization. Those who pass cr…