Job 5:19

Job 5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

Ver. 19. He shall deliver thee] Heb. Snatch thee away, or pull thee out, as a brand out of the fire, or as a prey out of the teeth of a wild beast. Thus God snatched Lot out of Sodom, David out of many waters, Paul out of the mouth of the lion, Jonah out of the belly of hell, &c. As birds flying, so will I defend Jerusalem, Isa 31:5. A metaphor from the eagle and other birds, which when they fly highest set a watchful eye upon the nest, to rescue their young ones in case of danger.

In six troubles] Or straits, such as enemies or other evils put men to. Israel at the Red Sea, for instance, where they were sorely distressed, encircled with troubles, neither was there any way of escape, unless they could have gone up to heaven, which because they could not, heaven came down to them and delivered them.

Yea, in seven] A certain number for an uncertain. Boundless deliverances will God grant to his people, even as oft as they shall need deliverance; enemies oft plough upon their backs, and God as often cuts their traces, Psa 129:3-4. As Cato was two and thirty times accused, and two and thirty times cleared and absolved; so shall it be with the saints; and this not only at the end of the world, as Gregory and others interpret this text (as if by six and seven allusion were made to God’s creating the world in six days, and resting on the seventh; and so must his servants labour here under afflictions, and rest in heaven), but in this life present, where many are the troubles of the righteous (millions, some render it), but the Lord delivereth them out of all, Psa 34:19; yea, in them all, as this text hath it, by his supporting grace, and those divine comforts, which, as blown bladders, bear them aloft all waters.

There shall no evil touch thee] sc. Tactu qualitativo, with a deadly touch. God chargeth afflictions as David did his captains concerning Absalom, Handle the young man gently for my sake. Touch not mine anointed, &c. Either touch them not at all, or not to hurt them. Troubles may touch the saints, but evils must not, 1Co 10:14.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

5:19-26 six disasters . . . even in the seventh: This wisdom formula reflects a sense of completeness (cp. Prov 30:15-31). • This list reflects Mosaic covenant blessings and curses (Lev 26; Deut 28). Eliphaz thought that people in right relationship with God would be free from famine (Job 5:20, 22; see Lev 26:4-5, 10; Deut 28:4-6, 8, 11-12), war (i.e., death, Job 5:20) and the destruction it causes (5:21, 22; see Lev 26:6-8; Deut 28:7, 48), and slander. They will even be at peace with wild animals (Job 5:23; see Lev 26:6) and the stones of the field. This peace might indicate fertile rather than stony fields (2 Kgs 3:19, 25; Matt 13:5), or it might symbolize wider harmony with the natural world (see Ps 91:11-12).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

He will send trouble after trouble that his children may not for one time, but continually trust in him: but they shall have a comfortable issue, even in the greatest and the last, which is here called the seventh.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

in six . . . yea, in seven-- (Pro 6:16; Amo 1:3). The Hebrew idiom fixes on a certain number (here "six"), in order to call attention as to a thing of importance; then increases the force by adding, with a "yea, nay seven," the next higher number; here "seven," the sacred and perfect number. In all possible troubles; not merely in the precise number "seven."

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 19. He shall deliver thee in six troubles] The numbers six and seven are put here for many. Though a number of troubles should come upon thee all at once, and there should be no hope, humanly speaking, yet God would rid thee out of them all; for he saves as well from many as from few. We may also understand the words, He who hath been thy deliverer in past troubles, will not deny his help in those which are to come.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(19) In six troubles.—The special form of speech here used is characteristic mainly of the Proverbs (see Job_6:16; Job_30:15; Job_30:18; Job_30:21). Since evil was emphatically touching Job, the actual irony of these words must have been bitter indeed.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19. “Six” and “seven” are round numbers meaning “many” or “all,” like “three” and “four” and other numbers, elsewhere, cf. Pro_6:16; see Amo_1:3 seq., Mic_5:5. Eliphaz assumes that God’s afflictions will have their due effect on Job, he will turn unto the Lord, whose hands will “make him whole,” and the care and protection specified in this and the following verses shall mark his restored life.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles,.... Behaving as before directed; seeking unto God, committing his cause and case to him, and leaving it with him; and not despising the chastening of the Lord, but receiving and bearing it with reverence, patience, and submission: and then the sense is, that God would deliver out of whatsoever troubles he was or should be in, though they were ever so many; a certain number being put for an uncertain one, Psa 34:19,

yea, seven there shall no evil touch thee; which is a number expressive of multitude and of perfection, and so may denote the multitude and fulness of afflictions: the tribulations of God's people are many, through which they pass to heaven, and there is a measure of them to be filled up; and when they are come to the height, and the measure is fully up, then the Lord puts a stop to them, and delivers out of all their troubles; and in the midst of them all, so preserves them, that "no evil" shall so much as "touch" them; not the evil of punishment; for, though those troubles and afflictions that attend them are evil things, in a natural or civil sense, they are disagreeable and distressing, yet they are not the effect of vindictive justice; there is not a drop wrath and vengeance in them; and though they do come upon them and unto them, upon their persons and families; yet not so as to do any real hurt, or as to destroy them; see Psa 91:10; some think that seven particular troubles are meant, hereafter mentioned, as Jarchi; as famine, war, an evil tongue, destruction, dearness of provision, the beasts of the earth, and the stones of the field.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles - Six is used here to denote an indefinite number, meaning that he would support in many troubles. This mode of speech is not uncommon among the Hebrews, where one number is mentioned, so that an extreme number may be immediately added. The method is, to mention a number within the limit, and then to add one more, meaning that in all instances the thing referred to would occur. The limit here is seven, with the Hebrews a complete and perfect number; and the idea is, that in any succession of troubles, however numerous, God was able to deliver. Similar expressions not unfrequently occur. Thus, in Amo 1:3, Amo 1:6,Amo 1:9, Amo 1:11, Amo 1:13; Amo 2:1, Amo 2:4,Amo 2:6 :

Thus saith the Lord:

For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,

I will not turn away the punishment thereof.

Thus saith the Lord:

For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,

I will not turn away, the punishment thereof.

Thus saith the Lord:

For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four,

I will not turn away the punishment thereof.

Thus in Pro 30:15 :

There are three things that are never satisfied,

Yea, four things say not, It is enough.

There be three things that are too wonderful for me,

Yea, four which I know not. Pro 30:18.

For three things the earth is disquieted,

And for four which it cannot bear.” Pro 30:21.

There be three things that go well,

Yea, four are comely in going:

A lion which is strongest among beasts,

And turneth not away for any;

A grey-hound;

An he-goat also;

And a king, against whom there is no rising up.” Pro 30:29-31.

Compare Homer, Iliad vi. 174:

Εννήμαρ ξείνισσε καὶ ἐννέα βοῦς ἱέρευσεν

Ennēmar ceinisse kai ennea bous hiereusen.

An enumeration, in regard to number similar to the one before us, occurs in Pro 6:16 :

These six things doth the Lord hate;

Yea, seven are an abomination to him.

There shall no evil touch thee - That is, permanently; for he could not mean that he would not be subjected to calamity at all, since by the very supposition he was a sufferer. But the sense is, that God would save from those calamities.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

In six, mentioned below; (Menochius) or in many, indefinitely. (Calmet) --- Both during the six days of (Menochius) life, and at death, God’s grace delivers us. (St. Gregory) (Worthington)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

He shall deliver thee, to wit, if thou seekest to him by prayer and repentance.

Six, i.e. manifold or repeated; as six is used for many, Pro 6:16.

There shall no evil touch thee, to wit, so as to undo or destroy thee, as touching is used, Jos 9:19; Heb 11:28; 1Jo 5:18. See also Gen 26:11,29; 2Sa 14:10; Psa 105:15; Zec 2:8. Thou shalt have a good issue out of all thy troubles, though they are both great and many.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

19. Six troubles — The speaker first incidentally suggests six, but as seven is the number expressive of completeness, he adds “in seven troubles;” that is, in all troubles, God will protect us against evil. He goes on to specify a few, say five, troubles, although Cocceius and Schultens conceive that seven are enumerated. Davidson sees a fine gradation in the ills, and observes that they are coupled together in pairs: — First pair: Public national calamity — famine and sword, (20.) Second pair: Personal private wrong from the powerful or malevolent — calumny, violence, (21.) Third pair: Personal private misfortune — hunger, (want from failure,) beasts of the field, (ravages on private property,) (22, 23.) “The number seven was esteemed a holy number also among other peoples, as the Persians, Hindus, and the ancient Germans.” — WINER, Rwb. This wondrous word “SEVEN,” according to Cicero, contains the mystery of all things, and tends, as Hippocrates, the ancient philosopher, said, through its occult virtues to the evolution of all things. The identity of the Hebrew word with שׁבע, “to swear,” “take an oath,” as if men swore by this word seven, shows that from very ancient times it has been associated with a sacred idea.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven. (comp. Amo_1:3, Amo_1:6, Amo_1:9, Amo_1:11, Amo_1:13, "For three transgressions... and for four An idiomatic way of expressing an indefinite number. There shall no evil touch thee; i.e. no real evil, nothing calculated to do thee real hurt. All affliction is "for the present grievous;" but if it "afterward yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby", (Heb_12:11) it does not do us harm, but good.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Deliver - If thou seekest to him by prayer and repentance. Here he applies himself to Job directly. Six - Manifold and repeated. Touch - So as to destroy thee. Thou shalt have a good issue out of all thy troubles, though they are both great and many.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

In six troubles When they come to the world, he will save you through the pains with which you wee tormented, and also with the seventh one, which when it comes will not touch you.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.