Reconcile now
The Hebrew root for "reconcile" is "סָכַן" (sakan), which implies becoming familiar or accustomed to something. In the context of Job, this word suggests a call to align oneself with God's ways and wisdom. Historically, reconciliation with God is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, emphasizing the need for repentance and restoration of a right relationship with the Creator. This call to immediate action ("now") underscores the urgency and importance of turning towards God without delay, reflecting a timeless truth that remains relevant for believers today.

and be at peace with Him
The phrase "be at peace" comes from the Hebrew word "שָׁלוֹם" (shalom), which encompasses not just the absence of conflict but a state of completeness, welfare, and harmony. In the ancient Near Eastern context, peace with God was seen as the ultimate blessing, a state where one lives in accordance with divine order and purpose. This peace is not merely external but deeply internal, affecting the heart and soul. The exhortation to be at peace with God implies a surrender to His will, trusting in His sovereignty and goodness.

thereby good will come to you
The word "good" in Hebrew is "טוֹב" (tov), which signifies that which is beneficial, pleasant, or desirable. In the biblical narrative, goodness is often associated with God's favor and blessings. The promise that "good will come to you" serves as an assurance that aligning oneself with God and His purposes leads to a life marked by His blessings. This reflects a principle found throughout Scripture: obedience to God brings about His favor and the fulfillment of His promises. Historically, this was a message of hope and encouragement to the faithful, affirming that God's goodness is a reward for those who seek Him earnestly.

(21) Acquaint now thyself with him.--As he himself had done in Job 5, and as Zophar had done in Job 11, Eliphaz proceeds to give Job some good advice. "Thereby good shall come unto thee," or "Thereby shall thine increase be good;" or perhaps he means that peace and rest from the obstinate questionings he was disturbed with would come to him thereby.

Verses 21-30. - At this point a transition occurs. Eliphaz turns away from reproaches, open or covert, designed to exhibit Job as an example of extreme wickedness, and falls back on those topics which were the main subjects of his first exhortation (Job 5:8-27), viz. an earnest appeal to Job to return to God, to repent and amend (vers. 21-23) and a lavish outpouring of promises, or prophecies, that in that case he should be delivered from all his troubles, should recover his wealth and prosperity, obtain of God all that he should pray for, succeed in all his enterprises, and be able to help and ease others, even those who might be guilty in God's sight (vers. 24-30). Verse 21. - Acquaint now thyself with him (i.e. God), and be at peace; or, make, I beseech thee a trial of him, and be at peace; i.e. risk everything, throw thyself upon his mercy, and so make thy peace with him. To do so is well worth thy while, for thereby good shall come unto thee. It is a question what sort of "good" is meant. If we are to explain the "good" of this passage by vers. 24, 25 exclusively, Eliphaz will become a mere utilitarian, and he will be rightly characterized as "selfish and sordid" (Cook) - an anticipation of the Mammon of Milton. But there seem to be no sufficient grounds for singling out vers. 24, 25 from the rest of the passage, and regarding them as forming its key-note. The "good" which Eliphaz promises to Job includes, besides "the gold of Ophir" and "plenty of silver," such things as "delight in the Almighty," and confident trust in him (ver. 26), God's hearing of his prayers (ver. 27), the shining of light upon his path (ver. 28), his own payment of his vows (ver. 27), his giving assistance to the poor and needy (ver. 29), and even his deliverance of the guilty by the pureness of his hands (ver. 30); so that other besides material considerations are clearly taken into account, and the worldly prosperity which Eliphaz promises forms a part only of the good result which he anticipates from the patriarch making his peace with the Almighty.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Reconcile
הַסְכֶּן־ (has·ken-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5532: To be familiar with, to minister to, be serviceable to, be customary

now
נָ֣א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

and be at peace
וּשְׁלם‪‬ (ū·šə·lm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

with Him;
עִמּ֑וֹ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

thereby
בָּ֝הֶ֗ם (bā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

good
טוֹבָֽה׃ (ṭō·w·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

will come to you.
תְּֽבוֹאַתְךָ֥ (tə·ḇō·w·’aṯ·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go


Job 22:21 NIV
Job 22:21 NLT
Job 22:21 ESV
Job 22:21 NASB
Job 22:21 KJV

Job 22:21 BibleApps.com
Job 22:21 Biblia Paralela
Job 22:21 Chinese Bible
Job 22:21 French Bible
Job 22:21 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 22:21 Acquaint yourself with him now and be (Jb)