Job 5:6-16

6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

7 but man is ¹born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

8 “As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,

9 who ²does great things and ³unsearchable, ⁴marvelous things without number:

10 he gives ⁵rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;

11 he ⁶sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

12 He ⁷frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

13 He ⁸catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and ⁹grope at noonday as in the night.

15 But he ¹⁰saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor have hope, and ¹¹injustice shuts her mouth.

Job 5:6-16 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

• 1. 5:7 ch. 14:1; Gen. 3:17-19; Eccles. 2:23
• 2. 5:9 ch. 9:10; [ch. 37:5; Ps. 40:5; 72:18; Rom. 11:33; Rev. 15:3]
• 3. 5:9 ch. 9:10; 11:7; 34:24
• 4. 5:9 [ch. 10:16]
• 5. 5:10 Ps. 65:9, 10; 147:8; Jer. 5:24; 14:22; Acts 14:17; [Ps. 104:10, 13; Matt. 5:45]
• 6. 5:11 1 Sam. 2:7; [Ps. 113:7]
• 7. 5:12 [Neh. 4:15; Ps. 33:10; Isa. 8:10]
• 8. 5:13 Cited 1 Cor. 3:19; [Ps. 9:15, 16]
• 9. 5:14 ch. 12:25; Deut. 28:29; [Isa. 59:10]
• 10. 5:15 Ps. 35:10
• 11. 5:16 Ps. 107:42; [Ps. 63:11]