Job 5:1-6

1 "Call out now; Is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.
4 His sons are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate, And there is no deliverer.
5 Because the hungry eat up his harvest, Taking it even from the thorns, And a snare snatches their substance.
6 For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble spring from the ground;

Job 5:1-6 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.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Septuagint reads They shall not be taken from evil men; Vulgate reads And the armed man shall take him by violence.
  • [b]. Septuagint reads The might shall draw them off; Vulgate reads And the thirsty shall drink up their riches.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.