Job 22:27 (KJV)

What does Job 22:27 mean?

Job 22:27 says that if you pray to God, He will listen to you, and you will fulfill the promises you have made to Him. The verse highlights a relationship where God hears prayer and expects faithfulness in return.

In this verse, Eliphaz is speaking to Job, urging him to turn back to God. Eliphaz claims that if Job sincerely seeks God, God will respond favorably, and Job will be able to keep any vows he has made. The verse is part of Eliphaz’s argument that restored relationship with God brings blessing and restored order.

The Hebrew behind Job 22:27

• The word for prayer, פָּלַל (palal), often means to intercede or plead, suggesting a heartfelt, earnest approach to God rather than a routine request.
• The word for hear, שָׁמַע (shama‘), means to listen with attention or respond, emphasizing that God is not distant but attentive to those who reach out to Him.
• The word for pay, שָׁלַם (shalam), means to complete or fulfill, highlighting the seriousness of keeping promises made to God.
• The word for vows, נֶדֶר (neder), refers to specific promises or commitments made to God, which were common in ancient worship and seen as binding.

Why Job 22:27 matters

• This verse clarifies that Eliphaz sees prayer as a two-way relationship: God listens, but the person praying is also expected to act faithfully.
• It shows Eliphaz’s belief that Job’s suffering is due to a broken relationship with God, and that restoration is possible through repentance and renewed devotion.
• The verse connects to the larger debate in Job about whether suffering is always linked to personal wrongdoing, revealing the assumptions of Job’s friends.