Job 5:16

16 He gives hope to the poor and silences the wicked.

Job 5:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 5:16

So the poor hath hope
Who observing this and that and the other poor man crying to the Lord and saved, hopes that he may be saved by him also; and having had experience of salvation out of one trouble or more, even out of six troubles, as in ( Job 5:19 ) , entertains a comfortable hope he shall be saved out of the seventh, or whatsoever he is in: the word F25 used signifies one that is weak and feeble, attenuated, and exhausted of his strength, wealth, and substance; and may be applied to one spiritually poor, and in a very destitute and forlorn condition in himself; and yet, through the revelation of the grace and mercy of God to him, has hope of safety in Christ, the strong hold and hope set before him to flee unto; and of salvation by him, it being in him, and for the chief of sinners, and altogether free; and of eternal life through him, as being promised of God, that cannot lie: the free gift of God through Christ, and in his hands to dispose of:

and iniquity stoppeth her mouth:
that is, iniquitous men: very wicked men, who are iniquity and wickedness itself; these shall stop their mouths, through shame at what they have said concerning the poor that God saves, see ( Micah 7:9 Micah 7:10 ) ; and through admiration at the goodness of God in saving them, ( Isaiah 52:15 ) ; having nothing to say against the ways and dispensations of Divine Providence, they are apt to quarrel with, ( Psalms 107:40-42 ) ; and especially at the last day such shall have their mouths stopped, and shall not be able to open them against the Lord or his people, being convinced of their hard speeches which they have spoken against them, ( Jude 1:15 ) ; and will be like the man at the feast without a wedding garment, speechless, or muzzled, and his mouth stopped, ( Matthew 22:12 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (ldl) "tenai", Montanus, Vatablus, Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius.

Job 5:16 In-Context

14 even at noon they grope in darkness.
15 But God saves the poor from death; he saves the needy from oppression.
16 He gives hope to the poor and silences the wicked.
17 Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you.
18 God bandages the wounds he makes; his hand hurts you, and his hand heals.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.