en_tn/tNotes/Job/Job_05.md

Job 5

Job 5:1

To which of the holy ones will you turn?

Eliphaz poses this question to make the point that there is no one Job can turn to for help. Alternate translation: "Is there a holy one to whom you may turn?" or "There is no holy one to whom you can turn for help." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)

holy ones

This refers to supernatural beings of some kind, whether angels or other spirits.

Job 5:2

jealousy kills the silly one

"jealousy kills anyone who acts ignorantly and impulsively"

the silly one

any silly person (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-genericnoun)

Job 5:3

a foolish person

any foolish person (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-genericnoun)

a foolish person taking root

Here a person is spoken of as if he were a plant, perhaps becoming more foolish over time. Alternate translation: "a foolish person becoming grounded in foolishness" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

his home

This refers to the person's family and all his property.

Job 5:4

General Information:

These verses continue the earlier use of parallelism, here emphasizing in different ways the idea that the children of foolish people are never safe. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

His children are far from safety

"His" refers to the foolish person or the foolish people in Job 5:2. Alternate translation: "Their children are never safe"

are crushed

Here being crushed represents being oppressed, taken advantage of, at court. This idea may be put into active form. Alternate translation: "someone crushes them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)

city gate

The city gate, functioning as a court, was the place where disputes were resolved and where judgments were given.

There is no one to rescue them

"There is no one to help the foolish people's children out of their hardship"

Job 5:5

they even take it from among the thorns

This perhaps refers to parts of a field where the worst crops grow, because of thorn plants present.

The thirsty pant for their wealth

Here greedy people are spoken of as if they were thirsty, and the wealth of the foolish person is spoken of as if it were something that they could drink. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:6

For difficulties do not come out from the soil; neither does trouble sprout from the ground

Here difficulties and trouble are spoken of as if they were plants. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:7

mankind is born for trouble, just as sparks fly upward

It is as natural for people, once they are born, to have trouble as it is for sparks to fly up from a fire. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

Job 5:8

General Information:

In these verses, Eliphaz continues his speech from Job 4:1. The writer continues to use parallelism in each verse, conveying a single idea using two different statements to emphasize that Job needs to plead his case to God who does wonderful things. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

Job 5:9

great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number

"great things that cannot be understood, wonders that cannot be counted"

unsearchable things

This refers to things that mankind cannot understand. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

great and unsearchable things

Here the writer uses two independent words connected by "and" to emphasize the greatness of God's actions. Alternate translation: "greatly profound things" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hendiadys)

marvelous things

"wonderful things" or "wonders"

Job 5:10

General Information:

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Job 5:11

General Information:

The writer continues to use parallelism in each verse, conveying a single idea using two different statements to emphasize how God lifts those who are lowly and debases those who are cunning. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

He does this in order to set up on high those who are low

Humble people in distress are spoken of as if they were in a low position. When God rescues them, they receive honor. When this happens, they are spoken of as being raised up and put into a high position. Alternate translation: "God does this in order to rescue and honor the humble who have been suffering" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:12

He breaks the plans

Here stopping the plans of crafty people is spoken of as if they were things that could be physically broken. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:13

He traps wise people in their own crafty actions

Here making wise people suffer for their own evil actions is spoken of as if it were catching them in traps. Their own actions are spoken of as if they were those traps. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

twisted people

Here being evil in a clever way is spoken of as if it were being twisted. Alternate translation: "those who are cunning" or "those who are devious" or "those who are shrewd" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:14

General Information:

The writer continues to use parallelism in each verse, conveying a single idea using two different statements to emphasize how God debases those who are cunning and saves those who are poor. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

They encounter darkness in the daytime

Here the cunning, wicked people whom God confuses are spoken of as if they unexpectedly are in the dark at noon, when the sun is at its highest position in the sky. They cannot do anything they wish to do, because they cannot see. Alternate translation: "Those who are cunning are in the dark, even at noontime" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

grope

feel around like a blind person

noonday

the middle of the day, when the sun is highest and brightest

Job 5:15

But he saves the poor person from the sword in their mouths

Here the insulting and threatening things that people say are spoken of as if they were a sword in their mouths. Alternate translation: "But he saves the poor person from the threats of the mighty" or "But he saves the poor person when the mighty threaten or insult them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:16

injustice shuts her own mouth

People who say unjust things are spoken of as if they were the injustice itself, who must stop speaking. Alternate translation: "It is as though injustice shut her own mouth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)

Job 5:17

General Information:

The writer continues to use parallelism in verses 18 and 19, conveying a single idea using two different statements to emphasize God's acts of chastening and healing. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

God corrects ... chastening of the Almighty

God is pictured as a parent correcting or instructing a child.

blessed is the man whom God corrects

"God really favors the man whom he corrects"

do not despise

"do not reject" or "do not consider worthless"

chastening

"instruction" or "correction" or "discipline"

Job 5:18

For he wounds and then binds up; he wounds and then his hands heal

"For he wounds but binds up; he crushes but his hands heal"

his hands heal

Here "his hands" represents God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Job 5:19

He will rescue you out of six troubles; indeed, in seven troubles, no evil will touch you

The use of increasing numbers such as "six" and "seven" represents the idea of many, many times. Alternate translation: "He will rescue you out of trouble over and over again; indeed, time after time, no evil will touch you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:20

General Information:

The shift in pronoun from "he" to "you" which began in Job 5:19 continues through the end of Eliphaz's speech in Job 5:27.

In famine he will ransom you

Here rescuing is spoken of as if it were ransoming, buying back. Alternate translation: "In famine God will rescue you from danger" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

the hands of the sword

Here "hands" probably represents the people who attack with weapons, including swords. Alternate translation: "violent people" or "people who attack you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)

Job 5:21

of destruction

Here "destruction" refers to the danger of being destroyed by enemies. Alternate translation: "that any enemy will destroy you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)

Job 5:22

You will laugh at destruction and famine

Here "laugh" represents that the person is not afraid. Alternate translation: "You will not be afraid of any danger of destruction or famine" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-symlanguage)

beasts of the earth

This refers to wild animals. Alternate translation: "wild animals" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Job 5:23

General Information:

The writer continues to use parallelism in each of these verses, conveying a single idea using two different statements to emphasize security with regard to the natural world, the homestead, and one's descendants. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)

you will have a covenant with the stones in your field

Here the stones in farmers' fields are spoken of as if they were people that someone could have a covenant with. Alternate translation: "the stones in your fields will be like people who promise that they will not make any trouble for you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

the beasts of the field

This refers to dangerous wild animals. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)

Job 5:24

You will know that your tent is in safety

Here "tent" represents a person's family, household, and all his possessions. Alternate translation: "You will know that your family, servants, and everything you own are safe" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

you will visit your sheepfold and you will not miss anything

"when you visit where your flock stays at night, you will find all your sheep there"

Job 5:25

your seed will be great

Here "seed" represents a person's descendants. Alternate translation: "your descendants will be many" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

your descendants will be like the grass on the ground

Here "descendants" are spoken of as if they were as many as blades of grass, and probably as thriving, too. Alternate translation: "your descendants will be as many and as alive as the grass that grows" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

Job 5:26

You will come to your grave at a full age

"You will die at a very old age"

like a stack of grain bundles that goes up at its time

You may need to make explicit that the grain in this simile is fully ripe but not overly ripe. He would neither die young nor become weak in his old age. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

Job 5:27

See, we have examined this matter; it is like this; listen to it, and know it for yourself

The words "we" refers to Job's friends but not to Job. Alternate translation: "Look, we have thought about this matter. Listen to what I am saying and know that it is true" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)