Job 5:10-20

10 "He 1gives rain on the earth And sends water on the fields,
11 So that 2He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 "He 3frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 "He 4captures the wise by their own shrewdness, And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
14 "By day they 5meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.
15 "But He saves from 6the sword of their mouth, And 7the poor from the hand of the mighty.
16 "So the helpless has hope, And 8unrighteousness must shut its mouth.
17 "Behold, how 9happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the 10discipline of the Almighty.
18 "For 11He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.
19 "From six troubles 12He will deliver you, Even in seven 13evil will not touch you.
20 "In 14famine He will redeem you from death, And 15in war from the power of the sword.

Job 5:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 5

In this chapter Eliphaz goes on to prove, and further confirm and establish, what he had before asserted, that not good men, but wicked men only, are afflicted of God, at least greatly, so as to have their substance wholly destroyed and perish, which was Job's case; and this partly from the case, state, and sentiments of all the saints, Job 5:1,2; and from his own observation and experience, Job 5:3-5; and then he proceeds to give some advice; and seeing afflictions do not come by chance, but are of God, it is right in such circumstances for a man to seek to the Lord for pardon and salvation, and commit his cause unto him, Job 5:6-8; who does many great things in a providential way to the good of man in general, and to the disappointment of wicked crafty men, and to the serving of the poor in particular, Job 5:9-16; so that it is best patiently to bear the afflicting hand of God, and it is an happiness to be corrected by him, since he delivers such out of all their troubles, and preserves them from many evils, and bestows many good things on them; which would be Job's case particularly, if he behaved according to the advice given, and which is left with him to consider of, Job 5:17-27.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Job 36:27-29; Job 37:6-11; Job 38:26
  • 2. Job 22:29; Job 36:7
  • 3. Psalms 33:10
  • 4. Job 37:24; 1 Corinthians 3:19
  • 5. Job 12:25; Job 15:30; Job 18:18; Job 20:26; Job 24:13
  • 6. Job 4:10, 11; Psalms 35:10
  • 7. Job 29:17; Job 34:28; Job 36:6, 15; Job 38:15
  • 8. Psalms 107:42
  • 9. Psalms 94:12
  • 10. Job 36:15, 16; Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5-11; James 1:12
  • 11. Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Isaiah 30:26; Hosea 6:1
  • 12. Psalms 34:19
  • 13. Psalms 91:10
  • 14. Psalms 33:19; Psalms 37:19
  • 15. Psalms 144:10

Footnotes 3

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.