Job 5 15

Job 5:15 kjv

But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.

Job 5:15 nkjv

But He saves the needy from the sword, From the mouth of the mighty, And from their hand.

Job 5:15 niv

He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.

Job 5:15 esv

But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.

Job 5:15 nlt

He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong,
and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful.

Job 5 verses

Job 5 15 Meaning

Job 5:15 conveys Eliphaz's assertion that God, in His just governance, actively rescues the poor and needy from the violence, deceptive words, and powerful grip of oppressors. It speaks to a common belief in divine retribution, where God intervenes to deliver the vulnerable from the strong and ruthless, thereby upholding justice in the earth.

Job 5 15 Context

Job 5:15 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's first speech, delivered in response to Job's lamentations (Job 3). Eliphaz, a representative of traditional wisdom theology prevalent in the ancient Near East, argues that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity follows righteousness. In chapters 4 and 5, he asserts divine justice: God punishes the wicked, and by contrast, He ultimately delivers the afflicted (Job 5:17) who seek Him. Verse 15 specifically highlights God's protective role for the innocent poor against their powerful oppressors, which subtly serves as an encouragement for Job to confess any hidden sin, humble himself, and receive God's mercy and restoration.

Job 5 15 Word analysis

• וַיֹּשַׁע (va-YO-sha'): This is the Waw-consecutive Qal Imperfect form of the verb יָשַׁע (ya-sha‘), meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to help," or "to rescue." It denotes an active, decisive act of liberation. In biblical usage, this term frequently describes divine intervention to free someone from distress, danger, or oppression, often with a connotation of bringing them into a place of safety or triumph.

• אֶבְיוֹן (ev-YON): Meaning "poor," "needy," "destitute." This term specifically describes someone in a state of deep economic and social need, often without resources or external support. The evyon is not merely lacking material wealth but is in a vulnerable, dependent state, frequently a victim of social injustice. It highlights the one to whom God shows special favor due to their defenselessness.

• מֵחֶרֶב (me-ḤE-rev): "From the sword." The preposition "מִן" (min), "from," indicates source or separation. "חֶרֶב" (ḥe-rev) refers to a literal "sword," but here it likely functions metonymically, representing violence, warfare, execution, or destructive force. It signifies the danger of physical harm or death that the poor face from their oppressors.

• מִפִּיהֶם (mi-pi-HEM): "From their mouth." This is composed of the preposition "מִן" (min), "from," and "פִּיהֶם" (pi-hem), "their mouth." "פה" (peh), "mouth," is often used metaphorically for words, speech, commands, or even deceitful accusations. "From their mouth" can refer to slander, false testimony, legal threats, or authoritative declarations that unjustly harm the vulnerable.

• מִיָּד (mi-YAD): "From the hand." Similar to "from their mouth," this uses "מִן" (min), "from," with "יָּד" (yad), "hand." The "hand" often symbolizes power, authority, action, or control. "From the hand" therefore signifies rescue from the power, grip, actions, or oppression wielded by the wicked.

• עָרִיץ (a-RITZ): Meaning "ruthless," "tyrant," "oppressor," "violent one," or "terrible one." This describes a person characterized by brutality, lack of moral restraint, and often, by unjust power. This term vividly portrays the antagonists against whom God delivers the poor, highlighting their cruel and overbearing nature.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "מֵחֶרֶב מִפִּיהֶם מִיָּד עָרִיץ": This triad of prepositions ("from the sword," "from their mouth," "from the hand") followed by the "ruthless/tyrant" describes the multifaceted ways the oppressor harms the needy. It's a comprehensive depiction of oppression: physical violence (sword), verbal abuse/deceit (mouth), and coercive power/control (hand), all emanating from a single wicked source. This imagery highlights the totality of danger from which God delivers the innocent, covering various forms of injustice and threat. The structure emphasizes the extent of God's saving power.

Job 5 15 Bonus section

The seemingly righteous statements made by Eliphaz, such as Job 5:15, present a central challenge for understanding the Book of Job: distinguishing between theological truth and its proper application. While it is undeniably true that God often defends the poor and overthrows oppressors, Eliphaz's mistake (and that of Job's other friends) lies in assuming a simple, one-to-one correlation between observed suffering and divine punishment. His counsel, though containing elements of divine character, ultimately provides "miserable comfort" (Job 16:2) because it implies Job must be guilty, overlooking the possibility of righteous suffering. This verse ironically foreshadows Job's ultimate vindication, demonstrating that God is indeed righteous and does deliver, but not always according to human expectations or timeframes, nor based on a superficial assessment of sin and suffering.

Job 5 15 Commentary

Job 5:15 is a concise theological statement made by Eliphaz that reflects a common tenet of ancient Near Eastern wisdom: God is inherently just and intervenes on behalf of the downtrodden. It asserts God's role as the rescuer of the poor (אֶבְיוֹן - evyon), who are often subjected to violence (מֵחֶרֶב - meḥerev), verbal malice (מִפִּיהֶם - mipihém), and oppressive actions (מִיָּד - miyād) from the ruthless (עָרִיץ - aritz). While the statement is generally true about God's character and consistent with much of biblical teaching regarding divine justice and care for the vulnerable, its application in the context of Job's suffering is problematic. Eliphaz presents it not just as a comforting truth but as part of his implied accusation against Job—that if Job were truly innocent, he would experience such deliverance, thus hinting at Job's supposed hidden sin. This verse illustrates Eliphaz's theology, where God’s actions are always perfectly transparent and predictable within a retributional framework, yet fails to encompass the complex reality of human suffering seen in Job's experience.