Job 5: Eliphaz goes on: trouble, God's works, and what he says will come
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Eliphaz goes on speaking. He says resentment kills the foolish and that man is born to trouble, and then says that he himself would seek God, who does great things and sets the lowly on high. He calls happy the man whom God corrects, says God wounds and binds up, and tells what he says will be for Job: deliverance in famine and war, peace in his tent, many offspring, and a grave in a full age. He ends by saying that they have researched it.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. The narrator does not speak. Eliphaz the Temanite goes on speaking in all 27 verses, the speech that began in [[JOB 4:1|Job 4:1]]. In verses 8 to 18 he speaks about God. Those are Eliphaz's words about God, not God's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1“Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
In plain English: Call now. Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
The Hebrew word: "Holy ones" is qadosh, which the dictionary gives as "sacred (ceremonially or morally)" and also "God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary". It is in 3 verses of Job: here, ("the Holy One") and ("his holy ones"). The WEB says "holy" in all 3.
What changes: The dictionary gives God, an angel or a saint, so the question can be about angels or about holy people. The text does not say who the holy ones are.
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2For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.
In plain English: For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.
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3I have seen the foolish taking root, but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
In plain English: I have seen the foolish man taking root, but suddenly I cursed his home.
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4His children are far from safety. They are crushed in the gate. Neither is there any to deliver them,
In plain English: His children are far from safety. They are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them,
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5whose harvest the hungry eat up, and take it even out of the thorns. The snare gapes for their substance.
In plain English: whose harvest the hungry eat up, and take it even out of the thorns. The snare gapes for their substance (this verse is hard in the Hebrew: see the note).
The Hebrew words: Several words in this verse can be read in more than one way. "Snare" is tsammim, which the dictionary gives as "a noose (as fastening); figuratively, destruction". It is in 2 verses of the Bible, here and , and the WEB says "snare" in both. "Gapes for" is shaaph, which the dictionary gives as "to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten".
What changes: With "destruction" the last line says that destruction is eager for their wealth. The words "even out of the thorns" are short in the Hebrew: word by word they read "and to from thorns he takes it". The text does not say more.
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6For affliction doesn’t come out of the dust, neither does trouble spring out of the ground;
In plain English: For affliction does not come out of the dust, and trouble does not spring out of the ground,
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7but man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
In plain English: but man is born to trouble, as the sparks (the Hebrew says: the sons of flame) fly upward.
The Hebrew words: "Sparks" is resheph, and the Hebrew reads "the sons of resheph". The dictionary gives resheph as "a live coal; by analogy lightning; figuratively, an arrow, (as flashing through the air); specifically, fever". It is in 6 verses of the Bible. The WEB says "spark" in 1 of them, this one, and uses other words, like "flame", "arrow", "fire" and "plague", in the rest.
What changes: With another meaning of the word, the line is about the sons of a flaming coal, or of lightning, flying high. The text does not say which picture is meant.
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8“But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,
In plain English: But as for me, I would seek God. I would commit my cause to God,
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9who does great things that can’t be fathomed, marvelous things without number;
In plain English: who does great things that cannot be fathomed, marvelous things without number,
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10who gives rain on the earth, and sends waters on the fields;
In plain English: who gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields,
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11so that he sets up on high those who are low, those who mourn are exalted to safety.
In plain English: so that he sets up on high those who are low, and those who mourn are exalted to safety.
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12He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
In plain English: He frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
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13He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
In plain English: He takes the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
Good to know: The words "He takes the wise in their own craftiness" are close to words in , which reads "He has taken the wise in their craftiness" after the words "For it is written". The wording is not exactly the same.
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14They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope at noonday as in the night.
In plain English: They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope at noonday as in the night.
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15But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
In plain English: But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
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16So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
In plain English: So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
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17“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
In plain English: Look, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
The Hebrew words: "God" here is Eloah, which the dictionary gives as "a deity or the Deity". It is in 59 verses of the Bible, 41 of them in Job, and the WEB says "God" in 58 of the 59. "The Almighty" is Shaddai, which the dictionary gives as "the Almighty". It is in 48 verses of the Bible, 31 of them in Job, and the WEB says "Almighty" in all 48.
Good to know: says "don't despise Yahweh's discipline", and says "don't take lightly the chastening of the Lord". Job 5:17 says "do not despise the chastening of the Almighty". The name for God is different in each.
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18For he wounds and binds up. He injures and his hands make whole.
In plain English: For he wounds and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.
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19He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil will touch you.
In plain English: He will deliver you in six troubles. Yes, in seven no evil will touch you.
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20In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power of the sword.
In plain English: In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
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21You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither will you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
In plain English: You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.
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22You will laugh at destruction and famine, neither will you be afraid of the animals of the earth.
In plain English: You will laugh at destruction and famine, and you will not be afraid of the animals of the earth.
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23For you will be allied with the stones of the field. The animals of the field will be at peace with you.
In plain English: For you will be allied (the Hebrew says: your covenant will be) with the stones of the field. The animals of the field will be at peace with you.
The Hebrew word: "Allied" is berit, which the dictionary gives as "a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)". It is in 264 verses of the Bible, and the WEB says "covenant" in 253 of them and "allied" in 2, this one and one other.
What changes: With "covenant" the line says your covenant is with the stones of the field. The text does not say more.
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24You will know that your tent is in peace. You will visit your fold, and will miss nothing.
In plain English: You will know that your tent is in peace. You will visit your fold, and will miss nothing.
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25You will know also that your offspring will be great, your offspring as the grass of the earth.
In plain English: You will know also that your offspring will be great (or: many), and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
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26You will come to your grave in a full age, like a shock of grain comes in its season.
In plain English: You will come to your grave in a full age (or: in full strength), like a shock of grain comes in its season.
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27Behold, we have researched it. It is so. Hear it, and know it for your good.”
In plain English: Look, we have researched it. It is so. Hear it, and know it for your good.
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