Job 16:5

5 (16-6) I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

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 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?

4 I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. (16-5) I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.

5 (16-6) I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

6 (16-7) But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.

7 (16-8) But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.