The name Eliphaz likely derives from eli (my God) and paz (refined gold), meaning "My God is pure gold" — suggesting God's supreme value and preciousness. It is borne by two significant figures: Esau's eldest son (Genesis 36:4) and the most prominent of Job's three friends.
Eliphaz the Temanite speaks first among Job's comforters (Job 4–5; 15; 22). He appeals to traditional wisdom and personal mystical experience, insisting that suffering must be the result of sin. Though containing genuine wisdom, his theology is ultimately corrected by God (Job 42:7). His presence in the narrative teaches that even devout, well-intentioned counsel can miss the full picture of God's purposes. God's gold — unlike Eliphaz's theology — withstands every test.