Job 5:14-24

14 "By day they 1meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.
15 "But He saves from 2the sword of their mouth, And 3the poor from the hand of the mighty.
16 "So the helpless has hope, And 4unrighteousness must shut its mouth.
17 "Behold, how 5happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the 6discipline of the Almighty.
18 "For 7He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.
19 "From six troubles 8He will deliver you, Even in seven 9evil will not touch you.
20 "In 10famine He will redeem you from death, And 11in war from the power of the sword.
21 "You will be 12hidden from the scourge of the tongue, 13And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 "You will 14laugh at violence and famine, 15And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
23 "For you will be in league with the stones of the field, And 16the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 "You will know that your 17tent is secure, For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.

Job 5:14-24 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 17

  • 1. Job 12:25; Job 15:30; Job 18:18; Job 20:26; Job 24:13
  • 2. Job 4:10, 11; Psalms 35:10
  • 3. Job 29:17; Job 34:28; Job 36:6, 15; Job 38:15
  • 4. Psalms 107:42
  • 5. Psalms 94:12
  • 6. Job 36:15, 16; Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5-11; James 1:12
  • 7. Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Isaiah 30:26; Hosea 6:1
  • 8. Psalms 34:19
  • 9. Psalms 91:10
  • 10. Psalms 33:19; Psalms 37:19
  • 11. Psalms 144:10
  • 12. Job 5:15; Psalms 31:20
  • 13. Psalms 91:5, 6
  • 14. Job 8:21
  • 15. Psalms 91:13; Ezekiel 34:25; Hosea 2:18
  • 16. Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 65:25
  • 17. Job 8:6

Footnotes 4

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