Job Chapter 5 — Eliphaz on God’s Correction
Eliphaz continues his speech to Job, arguing that trouble is a natural part of human life and that Job should seek God's healing and correction.
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Notable Verses
Job 5:9
“who does great things that can’t be fathomed, who does wonders without number;”
This verse emphasizes the incomprehensible nature of God's power and His works in the world.
Job 5:17
“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects.”
This verse introduces the central argument of Eliphaz that suffering serves a corrective and ultimately beneficial purpose.
Job 5:18
“For he wounds and binds up. He strikes, but his hands make whole.”
It portrays God as both the source of discipline and the source of healing and restoration.
Chapter Summary
In Job Chapter 5, Eliphaz the Temanite concludes his first response to Job's lament. He begins by warning that resentment and foolishness lead only to destruction and the loss of safety for one's children. Eliphaz notes that while affliction is not something that simply arises from the ground, trouble is nonetheless an inherent part of the human experience. He encourages Job to turn toward God, describing the Creator as a doer of unfathomable miracles who provides rain and exalts the lowly while frustrating the plans of the crafty. Eliphaz presents a perspective where suffering is viewed as divine correction, suggesting that the man whom God corrects is ultimately happy because God also provides healing. He promises that if Job accepts this discipline, he will be protected from famine, war, and slander, eventually finding peace in his home and a long, full life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eliphaz advises Job to stop harboring resentment and instead seek God. He argues that Job should view his current suffering as divine correction rather than a reason for despair.
He states that man is born to trouble as naturally as sparks fly upward. He suggests that while trouble is inevitable, God is capable of delivering the righteous from various calamities like famine and war.
Eliphaz describes God as one who frustrates the plans of the crafty and takes the wise in their own craftiness. He believes God protects the poor and the needy from the schemes of the powerful.
Study Note
Eliphaz's speech is a classic example of retribution theology, which posits that prosperity follows righteousness and suffering follows sin or serves as a corrective measure.
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