The Meaning of Job 22:18 Explained

Job 22:18

KJV: Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

YLT: And he hath filled their houses with good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)

Darby: Yet he filled their houses with good. But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

ASV: Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yet he filled  their houses  with good  [things]: but the counsel  of the wicked  is far  from me. 

What does Job 22:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 22:1-30 - "acquaint Thyself With God"
Eliphaz opens the third cycle of the discussion with a speech altogether too hard and cruel. He begins with an enumeration of Job's fancied misdeeds, Job 22:1-11. The fundamental position with Eliphaz was the absolute, even-handed justice of God. In contrast with the oriental magnate who is influenced by gifts, God at least was unimpeachable; and therefore, however Job might affirm the contrary, he must have deserved the chastisement which had befallen him.
Then follows his argument from the Deluge, Job 22:12-20. Evil men are always anxious to think that God does not notice them. This was, says Eliphaz, the policy of those who were destroyed by the Flood. They attempted to build society on atheistic lines, though he filled their houses with good things. The inference, of course, was that Job had been guilty of the same offense, Eliphaz concludes with a tender delineation of a holy life, Job 22:21-30. To be reconciled to God, to obey His Word, to put away iniquity and trust in earthly riches, are the conditions of blessedness. We shall gain more than we lose, Job 22:25. We shall inherit the confidence and joy of His presence, Job 22:26. Our prayers will be answered; we shall walk "in the light;" and our ministry to others will be full of helpfulness. Let us, then, acquaint ourselves with God and be at peace! [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 22

1  Eliphaz shows that man's goodness profits not God
5  He accuses Job of various sins
21  He exhorts him to repentance, with promises of mercy

What do the individual words in Job 22:18 mean?

And yet He filled their houses with good [things] but the counsel of the wicked is far from me
וְה֤וּא מִלֵּ֣א בָתֵּיהֶ֣ם ט֑וֹב וַעֲצַ֥ת רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים רָ֣חֲקָה מֶֽנִּי

וְה֤וּא  And  yet  He 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
מִלֵּ֣א  filled 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלֵא 
Sense: to fill, be full.
בָתֵּיהֶ֣ם  their  houses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
ט֑וֹב  with  good  [things] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וַעֲצַ֥ת  but  the  counsel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵצָה 
Sense: counsel, advice, purpose.
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
רָ֣חֲקָה  is  far 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רָחַק  
Sense: to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away.
מֶֽנִּי  from  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.