EGW → Biblical Foundation
Select an Ellen White book from the sidebar to see each passage mapped to the Bible verses it amplifies, cites, or echoes.
Scripture Index
Ellen White & Bible Cross-Reference
Job 16:2
"I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all."
"I was shown that my husband's course has not been perfect. He has erred sometimes in murmuring and in giving too severe reproof. But from what I have seen, he has not been so greatly at fault in this respect as many have supposed and as I have sometimes feared. Job was not understood by his friends. He flings back upon them their reproaches. He shows them that if they are defending God by avowing their faith in Him and their consciousness of sin, he has a more deep and thorough knowledge of it than they ever had. “Miserable comforters are ye all,” is the answer he makes to their criticisms and censures. “I also,” says Job, “could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.” But he declares that he would not do this. “I,” he says, “would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.” 3T 508.1"
The EGW passage directly quotes Job 16:2 ('Miserable comforters are ye all') and discusses the context of Job's interactions with his friends, making it a clear and intentional reference.
"Still another element of bitterness was added to his cup. His friends, seeing in adversity but the retribution of sin, pressed on his bruised and burdened spirit their accusations of wrongdoing. Ed 155.6"
While not a direct quote, the EGW passage echoes the sentiment expressed in Job 16:2, where Job laments the inadequacy and accusatory nature of his friends' counsel. Both passages highlight the added suffering caused by the friends' misinterpretations of Job's situation.
Job 16:20
"My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God."
"Some shortsighted, short-experienced friends cannot, with their narrow vision, appreciate the feelings of one who has been in close harmony with the soul of Christ in connection with the salvation of others. His motives are misunderstood and his actions misconstrued by those who would be his friends, until, like Job, he sends forth the earnest prayer: Save me from my friends. God takes the case of Job in hand Himself. His patience has been severely taxed; but when God speaks, all his pettish feelings are changed. The self-justification which he felt was necessary to withstand the condemnation of his friends is not necessary toward God. He never misjudges; He never errs. Says the Lord to Job, “Gird up now thy loins like a man;” and Job no sooner hears the divine voice than his soul is bowed down with a sense of his sinfulness, and he says before God, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” 3T 509.2"
The EGW passage explicitly references Job and his relationship with his friends, including the sentiment 'Save me from my friends,' which echoes the sentiment in Job 16:20. The passage also discusses Job's repentance after God speaks to him, further solidifying the connection.