What Does Job 15:5 Mean?

For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty—Eliphaz escalates from criticizing Job's words to diagnosing their source: 'avonecha (עֲוֹנְךָ, 'your iniquity'). He claims Job's mouth betrays hidden sin, and that Job deliberately chooses leshon arumim (לְשׁוֹן עֲרוּמִים, 'tongue of the crafty/shrewd'). The word arum describes the serpent in Genesis 3:1—Eliphaz effectively calls Job satanic.

This accusation follows a dangerous logic: if you defend yourself against charges of sin, your defense proves your guilt. Job is trapped in a hermeneutical circle where any protest confirms the accusation. This is the psychology of spiritual abuse—making the victim's self-defense evidence of their guilt. The book condemns this reasoning absolutely.