4. Fear. That is, reverence for God. Job had been not only bold but openly irreverent in his attitude toward God (see on 9:23). His self-confidence led him to challenge God and to request an opportunity to argue his case so as to show where God was unfair ( 13:3, 15, 22). He expressed complete confidence in his vindication ( 13:18). These statements Eliphaz interprets as akin to blasphemy.
Restrainest prayer. Or, “restrainest meditation,” “hinderest devout meditation.” Eliphaz believed that Job’s attitude of irreligion had an adverse effect not only upon himself but upon the spiritual life of others. If God treated the righteous and the wicked alike, the one would have little to hope for and the other, little to fear. There could be small ground of encouragement to pray to God. How could the righteous hope for His special blessing if He were disposed to treat the good and bad alike? Why was it not as well to live in sin as to be holy? How could such a God be the object of confidence or prayer? Eliphaz betrays his lack of understanding of the rewards and punishments beyond the present life. These will compensate for the inequalities of this life.