For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.

JOB 22:6KJV
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Job 22:6 (KJV)

What does Job 22:6 mean?

Job 22:6 accuses Job of taking something as security from his brother for no good reason and of leaving poor people without even their basic clothing. The verse describes an act of harshness or injustice, suggesting Job has mistreated the vulnerable by demanding a pledge and stripping the needy of what little they have.

In this verse, Eliphaz is speaking to Job, making a strong accusation as part of his argument that Job’s suffering must be deserved because of hidden wrongdoing. Eliphaz claims Job has exploited others, specifically by taking a "pledge" (something valuable held as security for a debt) from his own "brother" (a fellow person or relative) without cause, and by leaving those already "naked" even more exposed by taking their "clothing." The verse is part of a speech where Eliphaz lists supposed sins to explain Job’s misfortunes.

The Hebrew behind Job 22:6

  • חָבַל (chaval, “pledge”): This word refers to taking something as security for a debt. In ancient Israel, taking a pledge was regulated to protect the poor, so Eliphaz’s accusation is serious—he claims Job broke both social and moral expectations.
  • חִנָּם (chinnam, “for nought”): This means “for nothing” or “without cause.” Eliphaz is not just saying Job took a pledge, but that he did so without any just reason, making the act even more unjust.
  • פָּשַׁט (pashat, “stripped”): This verb means to remove clothing, often forcefully. Eliphaz accuses Job of literally or figuratively leaving the poor exposed and vulnerable.
  • עָרוֹם (arom, “naked”) and בֶּגֶד (beged, “clothing”): These words highlight the severity of the accusation—Job is said to have taken the only protection the poor had, emphasizing their helplessness.

Why Job 22:6 matters

  • This verse shows the intensity of Eliphaz’s accusations, revealing how Job’s friends believe suffering must be punishment for specific sins, even inventing charges when none are obvious.
  • Understanding the words for “pledge” and “for nought” clarifies that the accusation is not just about a business transaction, but about taking advantage of the defenseless, which was strongly condemned in Israelite law.
  • The verse connects to the wider argument in Job, where Job’s friends repeatedly insist on a cause-and-effect link between sin and suffering, a key theme in the book’s exploration of justice and innocence.

Where else these words appear

“naked” Hebrew H6174 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
  • Job 24:10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;
  • Isaiah 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

“pledge” Hebrew H2254 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 22:26 If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
  • Psalms 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
  • Isaiah 13:5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.

“nought” Hebrew H2600 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 29:15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
  • Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
  • Proverbs 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

“stripped” Hebrew H6584 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
  • 1 Samuel 27:10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
  • Nehemiah 4:23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.