Job 5:1-9

1 "Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
3 I have seen fools taking root, but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.
4 Their children are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
5 The hungry eat their harvest, and they take it even out of the thorns; and the thirsty pant after their wealth.
6 For misery does not come from the earth, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;
7 but human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward.
8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.
9 He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.

Job 5:1-9 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 3

  • [a]. Meaning of Heb uncertain
  • [b]. Aquila Symmachus Syr Vg: Heb [snare]
  • [c]. Or [birds]; Heb [sons of Resheph]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.