How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
The verse stands within the long debate between Job and his three friends about his afflictions spanning Job 4-31, specifically as the close of Job's answer to Zophar's second speech on the portion of the wicked. In it Job dismisses the attempted comfort of his friends as vain, because falsehood still remains in their answers and answers containing such falsehood cannot truly console him. That rejection is a rejection of unjust condemnation, for their false answers condemn him unjustly.
The falsehood lies not in general principle but in application, since their statements were generally true that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, yet were false as applied to Job. They misapplied true principle because they reasoned only from their own wisdom and observation, having never known a thoroughly good man to be so afflicted. Job for his part knew his own integrity and could not understand God's dealings with him, yet he did not charge God foolishly. Behind the perplexity God was working out an end that would glorify Himself and bring comfort and hope to suffering ones and blessing to Job.
The answer in which the verse occurs teaches that the wicked prosper here in this life while their punishment is future.
The verse stands within the long debate between Job and his three friends about his afflictions spanning Job 4-31, specifically as the close of Job's answer to Zophar's second speech on the portion of the wicked. In it Job dismisses the attempted comfort of his friends as vain, because falsehood still remains in their answers and answers containing such falsehood cannot truly console him. That rejection is a rejection of unjust condemnation, for their false answers condemn him unjustly.
The falsehood lies not in general principle but in application, since their statements were generally true that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, yet were false as applied to Job. They misapplied true principle because they reasoned only from their own wisdom and observation, having never known a thoroughly good man to be so afflicted. Job for his part knew his own integrity and could not understand God's dealings with him, yet he did not charge God foolishly. Behind the perplexity God was working out an end that would glorify Himself and bring comfort and hope to suffering ones and blessing to Job.
The answer in which the verse occurs teaches that the wicked prosper here in this life while their punishment is future.