Job 5:16 (KJV)

What does Job 5:16 mean?

Job 5:16 says that those who are poor have reason to hope, and that wrongdoing is silenced or stopped. The verse points to a reversal where the vulnerable find encouragement, and those who act unjustly are no longer able to speak or defend themselves.

In the story, Eliphaz is speaking to Job, trying to explain how God brings justice into the world. Eliphaz claims that God’s actions give hope to people who are suffering or oppressed, while at the same time putting an end to the boasting or arguments of those who do wrong. This verse is part of Eliphaz’s larger speech about how God ultimately sets things right.

The Hebrew behind Job 5:16

• The word for "poor" is דַּל (dal, H1800), which often refers to someone who is weak, powerless, or lacking resources, not just financially but in any way vulnerable.
• "Hope" is תִּקְוָה (tiqvah, H8615), which means expectation or something to look forward to, suggesting not just wishful thinking but a real sense of possibility.
• "Iniquity" is עַוְלָה (avlah, H5766), meaning injustice or wrongdoing, emphasizing actions that are morally or legally wrong.
• "Stoppeth" is קָפַץ (qafatz, H7092), which means to shut or close, here describing how injustice is forced to be silent or unable to respond.
• "Mouth" is פֶּה (peh, H6310), simply meaning mouth, but in this context, it refers to the voice or arguments of those doing wrong being silenced.

Why Job 5:16 matters

• Job 5:16 clarifies that hope is not just a vague feeling but a real expectation given to those who are suffering, showing that the verse is about justice being restored.
• The verse highlights the idea that injustice is not just punished but also silenced, which means that those who do wrong lose their power to influence or harm others.
• In the flow of Eliphaz’s speech, this verse shows his belief that God’s justice is active in the world, offering comfort to the oppressed and warning to the oppressors.