Job 5:16

So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

So the poor {H1800} hath hope {H8615}, and iniquity {H5766} stoppeth {H7092} her mouth {H6310}.

so the poor can hope again; and injustice shuts its mouth.

So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Job 5:16, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, is part of his discourse attempting to explain Job's suffering as a result of sin. While Eliphaz's overall theological framework is flawed in the book of Job, this particular verse expresses a general truth about divine justice and the ultimate fate of the righteous and the wicked.

Context

This verse comes towards the end of Eliphaz's first speech to Job, where he argues that God punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous. He has just described how God delivers the needy and saves them from the sword of the mighty (Job 5:15). Therefore, Eliphaz concludes, the afflicted (the "poor" in this context) can hold onto hope, because God intervenes on their behalf. Conversely, he asserts that wickedness ("iniquity") will be silenced and unable to boast or inflict further harm.

Key Themes

  • Hope for the Oppressed: The verse highlights a fundamental biblical principle that God pays attention to the humble and downtrodden. Even in dire circumstances, those who are brought low by affliction or injustice can find solace and hope in God's eventual intervention and restoration. This hope is not based on human strength but on divine character.
  • The Silencing of Iniquity: It proclaims the ultimate defeat and shame of wickedness. "Iniquity stoppeth her mouth" implies that injustice and evil will not have the final say. They will be exposed, silenced, and unable to prevail or boast against the righteous. This speaks to the certainty of divine judgment and the triumph of God's justice.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "poor" (דַּל, dal) often refers to the weak, the lowly, or the oppressed, not exclusively those lacking material wealth. It signifies a state of being brought low, whether by circumstances or humility.
  • "Hope" (תִּקְוָה, tiqvah) carries the meaning of expectation or a strong anticipation, sometimes even likened to a "cord" or "lifeline" – something to hold onto.
  • "Iniquity" (עַוְלָה, 'avlah) refers to injustice, perversity, or moral wrong.
  • "Stoppeth her mouth" (וְעַוְלָה קָפְּצָה פִּיהָ, v'avlah qafetzah piha) vividly portrays wickedness being silenced, put to shame, or unable to speak or accuse. It suggests a decisive end to its influence and boasting.

Practical Application

Job 5:16 offers encouragement to anyone facing adversity or injustice. It reminds us that:

  1. Even in the midst of suffering, there is a promise of hope for those who are humble and look to God. Your current circumstances do not define your ultimate destiny if you trust in divine justice.
  2. Wickedness, though it may seem to triumph for a time, will ultimately be exposed and silenced. This truth provides assurance that God is sovereign over all evil and will bring about justice in His time.
  3. The verse invites believers to maintain faith and patience, knowing that God champions the cause of the oppressed and will deal with injustice.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 107:42

    The righteous shall see [it], and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

  • 1 Samuel 2:8

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

  • 1 Samuel 2:9

    He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

  • Psalms 63:11

    But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

  • Isaiah 14:32

    What shall [one] then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.

  • Romans 3:19

    ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

  • Exodus 11:7

    But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

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