Job 15:16 (KJV)

What does Job 15:16 mean?

Job 15:16 says that human beings are even more corrupt and impure than what has just been described, because people take in wrongdoing as easily and naturally as drinking water. The verse paints a strong picture of humanity’s tendency toward sin and moral failure.

In this verse, Eliphaz is speaking to Job during their debate about suffering and righteousness. Eliphaz argues that if even angels are not pure before God, then humans—who eagerly "drink iniquity"—are far worse. The verse uses vivid language to emphasize how easily people fall into wrongdoing, supporting Eliphaz’s claim that no one can claim to be truly innocent before God.

The Hebrew behind Job 15:16

• "abominable" (תָּעַב, taʿav): This word means something detestable or loathsome. Eliphaz uses it to stress just how far humans are from being pure in God’s eyes.
• "filthy" (אַלַּח, allach): This word carries the sense of being morally polluted or defiled, not just physically dirty. It highlights the deep moral stain Eliphaz sees in humanity.
• "drinketh" (שָׁתָה, shatah): The verb here means to drink, but the image is of someone taking in wrongdoing as easily as water—something essential and frequent, not rare or accidental.
• "iniquity" (עַוְלָה, avlah): This word refers to injustice, wickedness, or moral wrong. The verse repeats the idea to drive home how naturally people take in what is wrong.

Why Job 15:16 matters

• Job 15:16 shows how Eliphaz views human nature as deeply flawed, which is key to understanding his arguments throughout the book.
• The verse uses strong imagery to make the point that sin is not just an occasional slip, but something people take in easily and regularly.
• This verse connects to the larger debate in Job about whether suffering is always a result of personal sin, and whether anyone can claim to be truly righteous before God.