Job 16:5

5 I could 'strengthen' you with my mouth, with lip service I could 'ease your grief.'

Job 16:5 Meaning and Commentary

Job 16:5

[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth
Comfort them with the words of his mouth; so God strengthens his people with strength in their souls, when he answers them with good and comfortable words; an angel strengthened Christ as man when in an agony, comforting him, suggesting comfortable things to him; so one saint may strengthen and comfort another when in distress, whether of soul or body; see ( Psalms 138:3 ) ( Luke 22:43 Luke 22:32 ) ; and thus Job had strengthened and comforted others, with his words in former times, as Eliphaz himself owns, ( Job 4:3 Job 4:4 ) and so he would again, were there a change in his circumstances, and objects presented:

and the moving of my lips should assuage [your grief]:
words uttered by him, which are done by the moving of the lips, should be such as would have a tendency to allay grief, to stop, restrain, forbid, and lessen sorrow; at least that it might not break out in an extravagant way, and exceed bounds, and that his friends might not be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Job 16:5 In-Context

3 Is there no end to words of wind? What provokes you to answer this way?
4 "If I were in your place, I too could speak as you do -I could string phrases together against you and shake my head at you.
5 I could 'strengthen' you with my mouth, with lip service I could 'ease your grief.'
6 If I speak, my own pain isn't eased; and if I don't speak, it still doesn't leave.
7 "But now he has worn me out; you have desolated this whole community of mine.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.