KJV ORIGINAL
What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
What is any human being, that they should be pure? And anyone born of a woman—how could they be truly righteous?
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The speaker is emphasizing that all humans are fundamentally flawed and cannot achieve perfect purity or righteousness on their own.
📚 Historical Context
This is spoken by Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, during their debate about why Job is suffering. Eliphaz is arguing that since all humans are inherently sinful, Job must have done something wrong to deserve his troubles. This reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature's exploration of human nature and divine justice.
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