Job 22:15

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 22:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?
Job 22:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?] The evil way that wicked men have walked in ever since man apostatized from God, the way of Cain and his descendants, who were of the wicked one, and lived wicked lives and conversations; “the way of the old world”, as Mr. Broughton renders the phrase here, the imagination of the thoughts of whose hearts was evil, and that continually; who filled the earth with rapine and violence, and all flesh corrupted their way with all manner of impurity and wickedness, and indulged themselves in the gratification of their sensual lusts and pleasures; and were, as the Apostle Peter calls them, “the world of the ungodly”; and here, “men of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“marked--Rather, Dost thou keep to? that is, wish to follow (so Hebrew, Sa2 22:22). If so, beware of sharing their end. the old way--the degenerate ways of the world before the flood (Gen 6:5).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden? - Hast thou seen what has happened in former times to wicked people? Job had maintained that God did not deal with people in this world according to their character. To meet this, Eliphaz now appeals to ancient facts, and especially refers to the deluge, when the wicked were cut off by a flood for their sins. Schultens, Dr. Good, Noyes, and Reiske, however, suppose that tbe word here rendered “mark,” means to “pursue,” or “imitate,” and that the sense is,” Are you willing to adopt the principles of those wicked people who lived in the time of the deluge?” But the sense is not materially affected. The general design is to refer Job…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Old way - Heb. the way of antiquity, of men living in ancient times, their end or success. Job 22:16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the old way: Gen 6:5, Gen 6:11-13; Luk 17:26, Luk 17:27 Job 22:16”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“15 Wilt thou observe the way of the ancient world, Which evil men have trodden, 16 Who were withered up before their time, Their foundation was poured out as a stream, 17 Who said unto God: Depart from us! And what can the Almighty do to them? 18 And notwithstanding He had filled their houses with good- The counsel of the wicked be far from me! While in Psa 139:24 דרך עולם prospectively signifies a way of eternal duration (comp. Eze 26:20, עם עולם, of the people who sleep the interminably long sleep of the grave), ארח עולם signifies here retrospectively the way of the ancient world, but not, as in Jer 6:16; Jer 18:15, the way of thinking and acting of the pious forefathers which put their…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification