Job 22:2

Profitable. This verse contains the first of four questions that, taken together, have been viewed as a syllogism. According to such a scheme the first two questions (vs. 2, 3) constitute the major premise; the third question (v. 4), the minor premise; and the fourth question (v. 5), the conclusion. In v. 2 Eliphaz admits that a wise man may promote his own advantage, but he denies that any man can confer any favor upon God. He infers that Job considers God as under obligation to him, an inference that he believes is not justified.