Job 5:1-6

1 Call now, if there shall be anyone to answer thee; and if there shall be any of the saints for thee to look unto?
2 It is certain that wrath kills the foolish man, and envy consumes the covetous one.
3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but at the same time I cursed his habitation.
4 His sons are far from saving health, and they shall be crushed in the gate, and there shall be no one to deliver them.
5 The hungry shall eat up his harvest, and even take it out from among the thorns, and the thirsty shall drink up their substance.
6 For the iniquity does not come forth out of the dust; neither does chastisement spring up out of 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.

The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010