5:8All three of Job’s friends made the mistake of assuming that Job had committed some great sin that had caused his suffering. Neither they nor Job knew of Satan's conversation with God (1:6-2:6). It is human nature to blame people for their own troubles, but Job’s story makes it clear that blame cannot always be attached to those whom trouble strikes.
Life Application Study BibleJobChapter 5
Job 5
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 792, 793
5Job 5
1Which of the angels* will help you?
2Surely resentment destroys the fool,and jealousy kills the simple.
3[have seen that fools may be successful for the moment,but then comes sudden disaster.
4Their children are abandoned far from help;they are crushed in court with no one to defend them.
5The hungry devour their harvest,even when it is guarded by brambles.*The thirsty pant after their wealth.
6But evil does not spring from the soil,and trouble does not sprout from the earth.
7People are born for troubleas readily as sparks fly up from a fire.
8“If I were you, I would go to Godand present my case to him.
9He does great things too marvelous to understand.He performs countless miracles.
10He gives rain for the earthand water for the fields.
11He gives prosperity to the poorand protects those who suffer.
12He frustrates the plans of schemersso the work of their hands will not succeed.
13He traps the wise in their own clevernessso their cunning schemes are thwarted.
14They find it is dark in the daytime,and they grope at noon as if it were night.
15He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong,and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful.
16And so at last the poor have hope,and the snapping jaws of the wicked are shut.
17“But consider the joy of those corrected by God!Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.
18For though he wounds, he also bandages.He strikes, but his hands also heal.
19From six disasters he will rescue you;even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil.
20He will save you from death in time of famine,from the power of the sword in time of war.
21You will be safe from slanderand have no fear when destruction comes.
22You will laugh at destruction and famine;wild animals will not terrify you.
23You will be at peace with the stones of the field,and its wild animals will be at peace with you.
24You will know that your home is safe.When you survey your possessions, nothing will be missing.
25You will have many children;your descendants will be as plentiful as grass!
26You will go to the grave at a ripe old age,like a sheaf of grain harvested at the proper time!
27“We have studied life and found ail this to be true. Listen to my counsel, and apply it to yourself.” Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz
Textual footnotes
- 5:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
5:13Paul later quoted part of this verse (1 Corinthians 3:19)— the only time Job is clearly quoted in the New Testament. Although God rebuked Eliphaz for being wrong in his advice to Job (42:7), not all he said was in error. The part Paul quoted was correct—people are often caught in their own traps. This illustrates how Scripture must be used to explain and comment on itself. We must be familiar with the entire scope of God’s Word to properly understand the difficult portions of it.
5:17Eliphaz was correct—it is a joy to be disciplined by God when we do wrong. Eliphaz’s advice, however, did not apply to Job. As we know from the beginning of the book, Job’s suffering was not a result of some great sin. We sometimes give people excellent advice only to learn that it does not apply to them and is therefore not very helpful. All who offer counsel from God's Word should take care to thoroughly understand a person’s situation before giving advice.
5:17-26Eliphaz’s words in 5:17, 18 show a view of discipline that has been almost forgotten: Pain can help us grow. These are good words to remember when we face hardship and loss. Because Job did not understand why he suffered, his faith in God had a chance to grow. On the other hand, we must not make Eliphaz’s mistake. God does not eliminate all hardship when we are following him closely, and good behavior is not always rewarded by prosperity. Rewards for good and punishment for evil are in God’s hands and given out according to his timetable. Satan's ploy is to get us to doubt God’s love and faithfulness toward us.