Contradiction with Romans 12:15
Job 16:4 shows a lack of empathy by suggesting one could speak judgmentally to others in distress, whereas Romans 12:15 encourages rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep, highlighting empathy and compassion.
Romans 12:15: Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Contradiction with Galatians 6:2
Job 16:4 suggests speaking critically without offering support, while Galatians 6:2 emphasizes bearing one another's burdens, highlighting support and community.
Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Contradiction with Ephesians 4:29
Job 16:4 implies speaking critically to others, whereas Ephesians 4:29 advises speaking only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.
Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. [to...: or, to edify profitably]
Contradiction with 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Job 16:4 illustrates criticizing others, while 1 Thessalonians 5:11 encourages believers to comfort and edify one another.
1 Thessalonians 5:11: Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. [comfort: or, exhort]
Contradiction with Proverbs 15:1
Job 16:4 implies speaking harshly, whereas Proverbs 15:1 advises that a gentle answer turns away wrath, highlighting the importance of gentle communication.
Proverbs 15:1: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Paradox #1
The potential contradiction in Job 16:4 could be the challenge of empathizing with others' suffering. In the verse, Job suggests that if his friends were suffering and he were in their place, he might also speak critically or unsympathetically, highlighting the difficulty humans have in fully understanding and comforting those who are suffering without having experienced it themselves. This can raise questions about the consistency of expected empathy and compassion, especially when comparing human empathy to divine understanding and compassion.
Paradox #2
In Job 16:4, Job expresses frustration with his friends for their lack of empathy and understanding during his suffering. The potential contradiction here is the expectation of empathy and support from friends versus the reality of receiving judgment and criticism. This reflects a conflict between the ideals of compassion and the human tendency to blame or misunderstand others in distress.