Job 5:27

Lo this, we have searched it, so it [is]; hear it, and know thou [it] for thy good.

Lo this, we have searched {H2713} it, so it is; hear {H8085} it, and know {H3045} thou it for thy good.

"We've looked into this, and that's how it is; listen, and know that it's for your own good."

Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.โ€

Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

Commentary

Job 5:27 concludes Eliphaz's first major discourse to Job, acting as a summary and emphatic assertion of his counsel. Throughout his speech, beginning in Job 4, Eliphaz has presented a conventional view of suffering: it is a direct consequence of sin. He claims to have personally investigated and confirmed this truth.

Context

This verse is the culmination of Eliphaz the Temanite's argument to a grieving Job. As one of Job's three friends, Eliphaz came to offer comfort, but his counsel quickly devolved into accusations based on a rigid belief system. Eliphaz's core message is that God is just, and therefore, Job's immense suffering must be due to some hidden transgression. He presents his wisdom as tried and true, urging Job to accept it for his own benefit. This traditional wisdom, common in the ancient Near East, fails to account for Job's unique situation as a righteous man suffering for reasons beyond his sin, setting the stage for the book's deeper exploration of divine sovereignty and human understanding.

Key Themes

  • Certainty of Human Wisdom: Eliphaz confidently states, "Lo this, we have searched it, so it [is]," implying that his understanding of divine justice and human suffering is not merely opinion but thoroughly investigated and proven fact. This confidence, however, stands in stark contrast to God's later rebuke of the friends' limited understanding (Job 42:7).
  • The Call to Hear and Know: The phrase "hear it, and know thou [it] for thy good" is an earnest plea for Job to accept Eliphaz's counsel. Eliphaz genuinely believes that if Job acknowledges his supposed sin and repents, his fortunes will be restored, as he promised earlier in Job 5:17-26.
  • Misguided Counsel: While seemingly well-intentioned, Eliphaz's advice is ultimately flawed because it misdiagnoses the cause of Job's suffering. His perspective represents a common ancient Near Eastern belief system that struggled to reconcile righteous suffering with a just God, a theme explored throughout the Book of Job.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "searched" (ื—ึฒืงึทืจึฐื ื•ึผ, chaqarnu) in "we have searched it" suggests a diligent, thorough investigation or exploration. This implies a deep conviction in the truth of their findings, presenting Eliphaz's counsel not as speculation but as established fact derived from experience and tradition. The phrase "for thy good" (ืœึฐื˜ื•ึนื‘ึธืชึถื›ึธื”, l'tovateka) highlights Eliphaz's conviction that accepting his advice would genuinely lead to Job's restoration and well-being, emphasizing the perceived benefit of his counsel.

Practical Application

Job 5:27 serves as a powerful reminder of the limitations of human wisdom, especially when attempting to explain complex suffering. It challenges us to:

  • Be Cautious with Simplistic Answers: Avoid offering quick or formulaic explanations for others' pain, particularly attributing it directly to sin without divine revelation. Life's complexities often defy easy answers.
  • Exercise Humility in Counsel: Recognize that our understanding is finite, and true wisdom comes from God (Proverbs 9:10), not solely from our own "searches" or traditions.
  • Seek Divine Perspective: When faced with life's mysteries, particularly suffering, ultimately turn to God's revelation for understanding, rather than relying solely on human reasoning or conventional wisdom. The book of Job itself later reveals God's complex and sovereign ways, far beyond human comprehension (Job 38:1ff).
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 111:2

    The works of the LORD [are] great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

  • Job 32:11

    Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.

  • Job 32:12

    Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, [there was] none of you that convinced Job, [or] that answered his words:

  • Proverbs 9:12

    If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].

  • Deuteronomy 10:13

    To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

  • Proverbs 2:3

    Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;

  • Proverbs 2:5

    Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.