(story told in the book of Job)
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were three of Job’s friends who came to comfort him after he lost everything—his wealth, his children, and his health. When they first saw him, they were so shocked by his suffering that they wept, tore their clothes, and sat silently with him for seven days. In that quiet moment, their compassion was sincere. But when they began to speak, their words brought pain instead of comfort.
Eliphaz was the first to speak. He based his words on his personal experiences and visions, insisting that Job’s suffering must have come from sin. He told Job that God punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous, suggesting Job needed to confess his wrongs. Though his intentions seemed good, Eliphaz’s view of God’s justice was too simple and failed to show mercy.
Bildad spoke next, echoing the same idea but more sharply. He accused Job’s children of wrongdoing and told Job to repent so God would restore him. Bildad saw suffering only as punishment, not as a mystery that could have deeper meaning. His words lacked compassion for Job’s pain.
Zophar, the most blunt of the three, scolded Job for daring to question God’s fairness. He claimed that Job’s punishment was probably less than he deserved. Instead of listening to Job’s cries, Zophar focused only on his own assumptions about God’s judgment.
In the end, God rebuked all three friends for misrepresenting Him. Their error reminds us that while truth is important, love and humility matter just as much. Real comfort comes not from explaining someone’s suffering but from walking beside them with empathy and faith.