Job 5 21

Job 5:21 kjv

Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

Job 5:21 nkjv

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

Job 5:21 niv

You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes.

Job 5:21 esv

You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

Job 5:21 nlt

You will be safe from slander
and have no fear when destruction comes.

Job 5 verses

Job 5 21 Meaning

Job 5:21 expresses a promise of divine protection and security. It declares that those in right standing will be shielded from the destructive power of malicious words and will not dread calamities and widespread ruin when such events occur. This suggests a state of peace and confidence, undisturbed by either personal attacks or general disasters.

Job 5 21 Context

Job 5:21 is spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's three friends, in his first speech. Eliphaz represents a prevailing traditional wisdom that firmly links suffering to sin and prosperity to righteousness (retribution theology). In chapter 5, Eliphaz counsels Job, urging him to repent and return to God, promising that if Job does so, he will experience divine favor, blessing, and protection from all manner of troubles. This particular verse is part of a longer list of promises (Job 5:19-27) Eliphaz offers, painting a picture of an ideal life of peace and security that would come to a righteous individual. The historical and cultural context for the original audience would be familiar with such cause-and-effect religious thought common in the ancient Near East, where prosperity and health were often seen as direct indicators of divine approval. Eliphaz's words, while containing general truths about God's protective nature, misapply this theology directly to Job's situation, as Job is righteous and yet suffering, a key tension explored throughout the book.

Job 5 21 Word analysis

• You will be hidden (תֵּחָבֵא, tekhave): This verb is in the Hiphil imperfect form, conveying an active causing to hide, or being caused to hide, often implying divine agency. It suggests a complete and secure concealment, a shelter from attack. The significance lies in God acting as the agent of hiding, providing an impenetrable shield.

• from the scourge (מִשּׂוֹט, mi-shot):

  • Shot (שׂוֹט): Refers to a whip, a lash, or a rod used for flogging or driving. Metaphorically, it implies a swift, piercing, painful attack or assault.

• of the tongue (לָשׁוֹן, lashon):

  • Lashon (לָשׁוֹן): The literal organ of speech. In this context, it is a figure of speech (metonymy) representing malicious or hurtful words—slander, accusation, gossip, or verbal abuse. The "scourge of the tongue" is a powerful image of the deep pain and damage that words can inflict, often sharper and more wounding than physical blows.

• and you will not fear (וּמִשּׁוֹד תִּירָא, u-mi-shod tira):

  • Tira (תִּירָא): From the root yare, meaning "to fear, dread, stand in awe." Here, it signifies the absence of terror or apprehension. This is a promise of inner peace and confidence, even in dire circumstances.

• destruction (שׁוֹד, shod):

  • Shod (שׁוֹד): Denotes violent ruin, desolation, ravage, or a devastating catastrophe. This term refers to general widespread calamities such as war, economic ruin, famine, or natural disasters, not just personal misfortune.

• when it comes (כִּי־יָבֹא, ki-yavo):

  • Ki-yavo: A temporal clause meaning "when it arrives" or "when it actually occurs." This acknowledges that destruction is an inevitable part of a fallen world, but assures that the protected one will not dread its arrival, implying sustained tranquility amidst turmoil.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue": This phrase paints a picture of complete insulation from the damaging effects of verbal attacks. It speaks to God's divine guardianship over one's reputation and inner peace, implying that harmful words will not penetrate or disturb the individual who trusts in Him. The "scourge" highlights the violent, wounding nature of slander and gossip, which Eliphaz asserts the righteous will escape.
  • "and you will not fear destruction when it comes": This portion moves beyond personal verbal attacks to general widespread calamities. The promise is not that destruction will never happen, but that the protected individual will remain calm, composed, and unafraid when it does occur. This speaks to a profound level of faith and security, where external chaos does not equate to internal dread. It emphasizes the inner state of tranquility and trust in God's ultimate sovereignty.

Job 5 21 Bonus section

Eliphaz's description of a righteous person's protection serves as a partial foreshadowing of the New Testament concept of inner peace that transcends circumstances (e.g., Php 4:7), and the spiritual hiding offered in Christ (Col 3:3). While Old Testament wisdom often connected righteousness with earthly prosperity, the New Testament deepens this understanding, revealing that even amidst persecution and tribulation, believers can experience a divine peace and confidence. Job's suffering, despite his righteousness, challenges the ancient paradigm, prompting a greater theological understanding that reaches beyond immediate rewards or retributions to the ultimate purposes of God and the eventual vindication of His people. The verse also underscores the ancient world's profound understanding of the damaging potential of the tongue, mirroring many biblical warnings about slander and false witness.

Job 5 21 Commentary

Eliphaz's words in Job 5:21 convey a promise of comprehensive divine protection for the righteous. It posits that those who maintain integrity and turn to God will experience security both from personal verbal attacks and from the wider devastation of calamitous events. While the principle that God protects His people and offers them peace in tribulation holds true generally in Scripture, Eliphaz applies it as an unconditional outcome of specific actions. His core theology, that all suffering is a direct result of sin and all blessing results from righteousness, is the very concept the book of Job sets out to challenge and refine.

This verse, therefore, highlights both a general biblical truth (God protects the righteous, as seen in Psalms and Proverbs) and Eliphaz’s theological flaw. For Job, a truly righteous man experiencing extreme suffering, this promise feels like a condemnation, implying he must be unrighteous. The ultimate truth revealed in Job is that God's ways are deeper and more complex than human retribution theology. While God indeed offers protection and peace, this is not a blanket guarantee of a trouble-free life but a deeper, spiritual assurance in the face of tribulation, an assurance found even when destruction "comes." The promise is true in an ultimate, spiritual sense, and often even practically, but not as an inviolable guarantee of immediate temporal freedom from all earthly harm for the righteous. This invites a reliance on God's character rather than on a formulaic exchange.