1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?
2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
6 Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
1 Call H7121 now, if there be H3426 any that will answer H6030 thee; and to which of the saints H6918 wilt thou turn? H6437
2 For wrath H3708 killeth H2026 the foolish man, H191 and envy H7068 slayeth H4191 the silly one. H6601
3 I have seen H7200 the foolish H191 taking root: H8327 but suddenly H6597 I cursed H5344 his habitation. H5116
4 His children H1121 are far H7368 from safety, H3468 and they are crushed H1792 in the gate, H8179 neither is there any to deliver H5337 them.
5 Whose harvest H7105 the hungry H7457 eateth up, H398 and taketh H3947 it even out H413 of the thorns, H6791 and the robber H6782 swalloweth up H7602 their substance. H2428
6 Although affliction H205 cometh not forth H3318 of the dust, H6083 neither doth trouble H5999 spring out H6779 of the ground; H127
7 Yet man H120 is born H3205 unto trouble, H5999 as the sparks H1121 H7565 fly H5774 upward. H1361
8 I would seek H199 H1875 unto God, H410 and unto God H430 would I commit H7760 my cause: H1700
9 Which doeth H6213 great things H1419 and unsearchable; H369 H2714 marvellous things H6381 without number: H4557
10 Who giveth H5414 rain H4306 upon H6440 the earth, H776 and sendeth H7971 waters H4325 upon H6440 the fields: H2351
11 To set up H7760 on high H4791 those that be low; H8217 that those which mourn H6937 may be exalted H7682 to safety. H3468
12 He disappointeth H6565 the devices H4284 of the crafty, H6175 so that their hands H3027 cannot perform H6213 their enterprise. H8454
13 He taketh H3920 the wise H2450 in their own craftiness: H6193 and the counsel H6098 of the froward H6617 is carried headlong. H4116
14 They meet H6298 with darkness H2822 in the daytime, H3119 and grope H4959 in the noonday H6672 as in the night. H3915
15 But he saveth H3467 the poor H34 from the sword, H2719 from their mouth, H6310 and from the hand H3027 of the mighty. H2389
16 So the poor H1800 hath hope, H8615 and iniquity H5766 stoppeth H7092 her mouth. H6310
17 Behold, happy H835 is the man H582 whom God H433 correcteth: H3198 therefore despise H3988 not thou the chastening H4148 of the Almighty: H7706
18 For he maketh sore, H3510 and bindeth up: H2280 he woundeth, H4272 and his hands H3027 make whole. H7495
19 He shall deliver H5337 thee in six H8337 troubles: H6869 yea, in seven H7651 there shall no evil H7451 touch H5060 thee.
20 In famine H7458 he shall redeem H6299 thee from death: H4194 and in war H4421 from the power H3027 of the sword. H2719
21 Thou shalt be hid H2244 from the scourge H7752 of the tongue: H3956 neither shalt thou be afraid H3372 of destruction H7701 when it cometh. H935
22 At destruction H7701 and famine H3720 thou shalt laugh: H7832 neither shalt thou be afraid H3372 of the beasts H2416 of the earth. H776
23 For thou shalt be in league H1285 with the stones H68 of the field: H7704 and the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 shall be at peace H7999 with thee.
24 And thou shalt know H3045 that thy tabernacle H168 shall be in peace; H7965 and thou shalt visit H6485 thy habitation, H5116 and shalt not sin. H2398
25 Thou shalt know H3045 also that thy seed H2233 shall be great, H7227 and thine offspring H6631 as the grass H6212 of the earth. H776
26 Thou shalt come H935 to thy grave H6913 in a full age, H3624 like as a shock of corn H1430 cometh in H5927 in his season. H6256
27 Lo this, we have searched H2713 it, so it is; hear H8085 it, and know H3045 thou it for thy good.
1 Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?
2 For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them:
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns; And the snare gapeth for their substance.
6 For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7 But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
8 But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;
9 Who doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number:
10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;
11 So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety.
12 He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19 He will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing.
25 Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of grain cometh in in its season.
27 Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
1 Pray, call, is there any to answer thee? And unto which of the holy ones dost thou turn?
2 For provocation slayeth the perverse, And envy putteth to death the simple,
3 I -- I have seen the perverse taking root, And I mark his habitation straightway,
4 Far are his sons from safety, And they are bruised in the gate, And there is no deliverer.
5 Whose harvest the hungry doth eat, And even from the thorns taketh it, And the designing swallowed their wealth.
6 For sorrow cometh not forth from the dust, Nor from the ground springeth up misery.
7 For man to misery is born, And the sparks go high to fly.
8 Yet I -- I inquire for God, And for God I give my word,
9 Doing great things, and there is no searching. Wonderful, till there is no numbering.
10 Who is giving rain on the face of the land, And is sending waters on the out-places.
11 To set the low on a high place, And the mourners have been high `in' safety.
12 Making void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.
13 Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,
14 By day they meet darkness, And as night -- they grope at noon.
15 And He saveth the wasted from their mouth, And from a strong hand the needy,
16 And there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth.
17 Lo, the happiness of mortal man, God doth reprove him: And the chastisement of the Mighty despise not,
18 For He doth pain, and He bindeth up, He smiteth, and His hands heal.
19 In six distresses He delivereth thee, And in seven evil striketh not on thee.
20 In famine He hath redeemed thee from death, And in battle from the hands of the sword.
21 When the tongue scourgeth thou art hid, And thou art not afraid of destruction, When it cometh.
22 At destruction and at hunger thou mockest, And of the beast of the earth, Thou art not afraid.
23 (For with sons of the field `is' thy covenant, And the beast of the field Hath been at peace with thee.)
24 And thou hast known that thy tent `is' peace, And inspected thy habitation, and errest not,
25 And hast known that numerous `is' Thy seed, And thine offspring as the herb of the earth;
26 Thou comest in full age unto the grave, As the going up of a stalk in its season.
27 Lo, this -- we searched it out -- it `is' right, hearken; And thou, know for thyself!
1 Call, I pray thee! Is there any that answereth thee? and to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?
2 For vexation killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the simple.
3 I myself saw the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, and there is no deliverer:
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh even out of the thorns; and the snare gapeth for his substance.
6 For evil cometh not forth from the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7 For man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards.
8 But as for me I will seek unto ùGod, and unto God commit my cause;
9 Who doeth great things and unsearchable, marvellous things without number;
10 Who giveth rain on the face of the earth, and sendeth waters on the face of the fields;
11 Setting up on high those that are low; and mourners are exalted to prosperity.
12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, and their hands carry not out the enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the wily is carried headlong:
14 They meet with darkness in a the daytime, and grope at midday as in the night.
15 And he saveth the needy from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor hath what he hopeth for, and unrighteousness stoppeth her mouth.
17 Behold, happy is the man whom +God correcteth; therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.
18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19 He will deliver thee in six troubles, and in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20 In famine he will redeem thee from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
21 Thou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue; and thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh, and of the beasts of the earth thou shalt not be afraid.
23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24 And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; and thou wilt survey thy fold, and miss nothing.
25 And thou shalt know that thy seed is numerous, and thine offspring as the herb of the earth.
26 Thou shalt come to the grave in a ripe age, as a shock of corn is brought in in its season.
27 Behold this, we have searched it out, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thyself.
1 "Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 For resentment kills the foolish man, And jealousy kills the simple.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,
5 Whose harvest the hungry eats up, And take it even out of the thorns; The snare gapes for their substance.
6 For affliction doesn't come forth from the dust, Neither does trouble spring out of the ground;
7 But man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.
8 "But as for me, I would seek God, To God would I commit my cause;
9 Who does great things that can't be fathomed, Marvelous things without number;
10 Who gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields;
11 So that he sets up on high those who are low, Those who mourn are exalted to safety.
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can't perform their enterprise.
13 He takes the wise in their own craftiness; The counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he saves from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor has hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.
17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, and binds up; He injures, and his hands make whole.
19 He will deliver you in six troubles; Yes, in seven there shall no evil touch you.
20 In famine he will redeem you from death; In war, from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, Neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, Neither shall you be afraid of the animals of the earth.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field. The animals of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is in peace. You shall visit your fold, and shall miss nothing.
25 You shall know also that your seed shall be great, Your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in a full age, Like a shock of grain comes in its season.
27 Look this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know it for your good."
1 Give now a cry for help; is there anyone who will give you an answer? and to which of the holy ones will you make your prayer?
2 For wrath is the cause of death to the foolish, and he who has no wisdom comes to his end through passion.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly the curse came on his house.
4 Now his children have no safe place, and they are crushed before the judges, for no one takes up their cause.
5 Their produce is taken by him who has no food, and their grain goes to the poor, and he who is in need of water gets it from their spring.
6 For evil does not come out of the dust, or trouble out of the earth;
7 But trouble is man's fate from birth, as the flames go up from the fire.
8 But as for me, I would make my prayer to God, and I would put my cause before him:
9 Who does great things outside our knowledge, wonders without number:
10 Who gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields:
11 Lifting up those who are low, and putting the sad in a safe place;
12 Who makes the designs of the wise go wrong, so that they are unable to give effect to their purposes.
13 He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.
14 In the daytime it becomes dark for them, and in the sunlight they go feeling about as if it was night.
15 But he keeps safe from their sword those who have no father, and the poor from the power of the strong.
16 So the poor man has hope, and the mouth of the evil-doer is stopped.
17 Truly, that man is happy who has training from the hand of God: so do not let your heart be shut to the teaching of the Ruler of all.
18 For after his punishment he gives comfort, and after wounding, his hands make you well.
19 He will keep you safe from six troubles, and in seven no evil will come near you.
20 When there is need of food he will keep you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
21 He will keep you safe from the evil tongue; and you will have no fear of wasting when it comes.
22 You will make sport of destruction and need, and will have no fear of the beasts of the earth.
23 For you will be in agreement with the stones of the earth, and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 And you will be certain that your tent is at peace, and after looking over your property you will see that nothing is gone.
25 You will be certain that your seed will be great, and your offspring like the plants of the earth.
26 You will come to your last resting-place in full strength, as the grain is taken up to the crushing-floor in its time.
27 See, we have made search with care, and it is so; it has come to our ears; see that you take note of it for yourself.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 5
Commentary on Job 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
Job 5:1-27. Eliphaz' Conclusion from the Vision.
1. if there be any, &c.—Rather, "will He (God) reply to thee?" Job, after the revelation just given, cannot be so presumptuous as to think God or any of the holy ones (Da 4:17, "angels") round His throne, will vouchsafe a reply (a judicial expression) to his rebellious complaint.
2. wrath … envy—fretful and passionate complaints, such as Eliphaz charged Job with (Job 4:5; so Pr 14:30). Not, the wrath of God killeth the foolish, and His envy, &c.
3. the foolish—the wicked. I have seen the sinner spread his "root" wide in prosperity, yet circumstances "suddenly" occurred which gave occasion for his once prosperous dwelling being "cursed" as desolate (Ps 37:35, 36; Jer 17:8).
4. His children … crushed in the gate—A judicial formula. The gate was the place of judgment and of other public proceedings (Ps 127:5; Pr 22:22; Ge 23:10; De 21:19). Such propylæa have been found in the Assyrian remains. Eliphaz obliquely alludes to the calamity which cut off Job's children.
5. even out of the thorns—Even when part of the grain remains hanging on the thorn bushes (or, "is growing among thorns," Mt 13:7), the hungry gleaner does not grudge the trouble of even taking it away, so clean swept away is the harvest of the wicked.
the robber—as the Sabeans, who robbed Job. Rather, translate "the thirsty," as the antithesis in the parallelism, "the hungry," proves.
6. Although—rather, "for truly" [Umbreit].
affliction cometh not forth of the dust—like a weed, of its own accord. Eliphaz hints that the cause of it lay with Job himself.
7. Yet—rather, "Truly," or, But affliction does not come from chance, but is the appointment of God for sin; that is, the original birth-sin of man. Eliphaz passes from the particular sin and consequent suffering of Job to the universal sin and suffering of mankind. Troubles spring from man's common sin by as necessary a law of natural consequences as sparks (Hebrew, "sons of coal") fly upward. Troubles are many and fiery, as sparks (1Pe 4:12; Isa 43:2). Umbreit for "sparks" has "birds of prey;" literally, "sons of lightning," not so well.
8. Therefore (as affliction is ordered by God, on account of sin), "I would" have you to "seek unto God" (Isa 8:19; Am 5:8; Jer 5:24).
11. Connected with Job 5:9. His "unsearchable" dealings are with a view to raise the humble and abase the proud (Lu 1:52). Therefore Job ought to turn humbly to Him.
12. enterprise—literally, "realization." The Hebrew combines in the one word the two ideas, wisdom and happiness, "enduring existence" being the etymological and philosophical root of the combined notion [Umbreit].
13. Paul (1Co 3:19) quoted this clause with the formula establishing its inspiration, "it is written." He cites the exact Hebrew words, not as he usually does the Septuagint, Greek version (Ps 9:15). Haman was hanged on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai (Es 5:14; 7:10).
the wise—that is, "the cunning."
is carried headlong—Their scheme is precipitated before it is ripe.
14. Judicial blindness often is sent upon keen men of the world (De 28:29; Isa 59:10; Joh 9:39).
15. "From the sword" which proceedeth "from their mouth" (Ps 59:7; 57:4).
16. the poor hath hope—of the interposition of God.
iniquity stoppeth her mouth—(Ps 107:42; Mic 7:9, 10; Isa 52:15). Especially at the last day, through shame (Jude 15; Mt 22:12). The "mouth" was the offender (Job 5:15), and the mouth shall then be stopped (Isa 25:8) at the end.
17. happy—not that the actual suffering is joyous; but the consideration of the righteousness of Him who sends it, and the end for which it is sent, make it a cause for thankfulness, not for complaints, such as Job had uttered (Heb 12:11). Eliphaz implies that the end in this case is to call back Job from the particular sin of which he takes for granted that Job is guilty. Paul seems to allude to this passage in Heb 12:5; so Jas 1:12; Pr 3:12. Eliphaz does not give due prominence to this truth, but rather to Job's sin. It is Elihu alone (Job 32:1-37:24) who fully dwells upon the truth, that affliction is mercy and justice in disguise, for the good of the sufferer.
18. he maketh sore, and bindeth up—(De 32:39; Ho 6:1; 1Sa 2:6). An image from binding up a wound. The healing art consisted much at that time in external applications.
19. in six … yea, in seven—(Pr 6:16; Am 1:3). The Hebrew idiom fixes on a certain number (here "six"), in order to call attention as to a thing of importance; then increases the force by adding, with a "yea, nay seven," the next higher number; here "seven," the sacred and perfect number. In all possible troubles; not merely in the precise number "seven."
20. power—(Jer 5:12). Hebrew, "hands."
of the sword—(Eze 35:5, Margin). Hands are given to the sword personified as a living agent.
21. (Ps 31:20; Jer 18:18). Smite (Psalm 73. 9).
22. famine thou shalt laugh—Not, in spite of destruction and famine, which is true (Hab 3:17, 18), though not the truth meant by Eliphaz, but because those calamities shall not come upon thee. A different Hebrew word from that in Job 5:20; there, famine in general; here, the languid state of those wanting proper nutriment [Barnes].
23. in league with the stones of the field—They shall not hurt the fertility of thy soil; nor the wild beasts thy fruits; spoken in Arabia-Deserta, where stones abounded. Arabia, derived from Arabah—a desert plain. The first clause of this verse answers to the first clause of Job 5:22; and the last of this verse to the last of that verse. The full realization of this is yet future (Isa 65:23, 25; Ho 2:18).
24. know—"Thou shalt rest in the assurance, that thine habitation is the abode of peace; and (if) thou numberest thine herd, thine expectations prove not fallacious" [Umbreit]. "Sin" does not agree with the context. The Hebrew word—"to miss" a mark, said of archers (Jud 20:16). The Hebrew for "habitation" primarily means "the fold for cattle"; and for "visit," often to "take an account of, to number." "Peace" is the common Eastern salutation; including inward and outward prosperity.
25. as the grass—(Ps 72:16). Properly, "herb-bearing seed" (Ge 1:11, 12).
26. in a full age—So "full of days" (Job 42:17; Ge 35:29). Not mere length of years, but ripeness for death, one's inward and outward full development not being prematurely cut short, is denoted (Isa 65:22).
Thou shalt come—not literally, but expressing willingness to die. Eliphaz speaks from the Old Testament point of view, which made full years a reward of the righteous (Ps 91:16; Ex 20:12), and premature death the lot of the wicked (Ps 55:23). The righteous are immortal till their work is done. To keep them longer would be to render them less fit to die. God takes them at their best (Isa 57:1). The good are compared to wheat (Mt 13:30).
cometh in—literally, "ascends." The corn is lifted up off the earth and carried home; so the good man "is raised into the heap of sheaves" [Umbreit].
27. searched it … for thy good—literally, "for thyself" (Ps 111:2; Pr 2:4; 9:12).