The Meaning of Job 15:11 Explained

Job 15:11

KJV: Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?

YLT: Too few for thee are the comforts of God? And a gentle word is with thee,

Darby: Are the consolations of God too small for thee? and the word gently spoken to thee?

ASV: Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Are] the consolations  of God  small  with thee? is there any secret  thing  with thee? 

What does Job 15:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 15:1-35 - "the Heavens Are Not Clean"
The second colloquy, like the first, is commenced by Eliphaz. He begins by rebuking Job, Job 15:1-16. He complains that the words of Job proved him to be unwise, Job 15:2-3, and even impious, Job 15:4. His very speech testified to his iniquity, Job 15:5-6. With something of irony Eliphaz asks upon what Job's claim to superior wisdom rests. Was he the first man? Job 15:7. Or had he access to the secret counsel of God? Job 15:8. In refusing the counsel of his friends, Job 15:9-10, and the consolations of God they had offered, Job 15:11, r.v., had he not proved his want of wisdom? He had even proved his folly and his impiety, by attempting to assert his innocence before God, Job 15:12-14, in whose presence even the heavens were unclean, Job 15:15-16. It is clear that Eliphaz and his friends did not believe the sincerity of Job's protestations of innocence.
Eliphaz then attempts to instruct Job, Job 15:17-35. His theme is almost the same as that of his former speech. It is the righteousness of God as specially manifested in the punishment of the wicked. He claims that his doctrine is that of the wise men, Job 15:17-19; then proceeds to describe the wicked man as troubled in conscience and full of fear, Job 15:20-24; attributes this to his bold impiety, Job 15:25-28; and predicts his fearful doom, Job 15:29-35. The application of such teaching to Job must have been very painful. He insinuated that Job's terrible afflictions were God's testimony against his sin. We know better from John 11:4-5. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 15

1  Eliphaz reproves Job for impiety in justifying himself
17  He proves by tradition the restlessness of wicked men

What do the individual words in Job 15:11 mean?

[Are] too small for you the consolations of God and the word [spoken] gently with you
הַמְעַ֣ט מִ֭מְּךָ תַּנְחֻמ֣וֹת אֵ֑ל וְ֝דָבָ֗ר לָאַ֥ט עִמָּֽךְ

הַמְעַ֣ט  [Are]  too  small 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: מְעַט  
Sense: littleness, few, a little, fewness.
מִ֭מְּךָ  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
תַּנְחֻמ֣וֹת  the  consolations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: תַּנְחוּמֹות 
Sense: consolation(s).
אֵ֑ל  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
וְ֝דָבָ֗ר  and  the  word 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
לָאַ֥ט  [spoken]  gently 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb
Root: אַט 
Sense: gentleness, softness.
עִמָּֽךְ  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.