Job 5:1-9

1 “Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
3 I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
4 His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.
5 The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 “But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

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.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Habakkuk 1:2
  • 2. Job 15:15; Psalms 89:5,7
  • 3. Job 21:15; Job 36:13
  • 4. Proverbs 12:16; Galatians 5:26
  • 5. S Job 4:8
  • 6. Psalms 37:35; Isaiah 40:24; Jeremiah 12:2; Ezekiel 17:6
  • 7. Proverbs 6:15
  • 8. Job 24:18; Ps 37:22,35-36; Psalms 109:9-10; Proverbs 3:33
  • 9. Job 20:10; Job 27:14
  • 10. S Job 4:11
  • 11. Job 4:19; Amos 5:12
  • 12. Psalms 109:12; Isaiah 9:17; 1 John 2:1
  • 13. Leviticus 26:16; S Judges 2:15; Job 20:18; Job 31:8; Micah 6:15; Job 18:8-10
  • 14. S Job 4:8
  • 15. S Genesis 3:17; Job 10:17; Job 15:35; Psalms 51:5; Psalms 58:3; Psalms 90:10; Proverbs 22:8; Job 14:1
  • 16. Job 8:5; Job 11:13; Job 13:3,15; Job 23:4; Job 40:1; Psalms 35:23; Psalms 50:15; Jeremiah 12:1; 1 Corinthians 4:4
  • 17. Psalms 78:4; Psalms 111:2
  • 18. Deuteronomy 29:29; Job 9:4,10; Job 11:7; Job 25:2; Job 26:14; Job 33:12; Job 36:5,22,26; Job 37:5,14,16,23; Job 42:3; Psalms 40:5; Psalms 71:17; Psalms 72:18; Psalms 86:10; Psalms 131:1; Psalms 139:6,17; Psalms 145:3; Isaiah 40:28; Romans 11:33
  • 19. Psalms 71:15
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.