The core message of this verse is that God remains a protector who helps lift the powerless out of the reach of those who would harm them.
Eliphaz the Temanite, speaking sometime after Job lost his wealth and family, declares, “But He saves from the sword of their mouth, And the poor from the hand of the mighty” (Job 5:15). In this portion of his speech, Eliphaz expresses a conviction that God intervenes to protect the oppressed from the destructive schemes of the powerful. By referring to “the sword of their mouth,” he points to how sharp and potentially deadly words can be, and he believes God stands ready to defend the vulnerable against such verbal attacks. This reflects a broader biblical pattern of the Lord as the advocate of the needy—rescuing them from those who would take advantage of their weakness (Psalm 72:12).
When Eliphaz speaks of saving “the poor from the hand of the mighty,” he draws attention to God’s role in upending worldly power structures. Rather than permitting the mighty to exploit those under their sway, the Lord is depicted as righteous and just, frustrating the intentions of the oppressor. Although Job will eventually argue that suffering is not always explained by such straightforward notions of God’s justice (Job 9:22-24), Eliphaz’s statement here underscores a timeless spiritual truth that the Creator sees and cares for those caught in the grip of powerful forces.
From a New Testament perspective, Jesus echoes the concern for the poor and marginalized when He proclaims good news to the afflicted and promises freedom for the oppressed (Luke 4:18). Indeed, the concept of divine rescue from injustice resonates throughout Scripture, showing that although the wicked or powerful might boast or harm, the ultimate Defender is the Lord Himself, who has compassion on the meek and lowly (Matthew 5:3-5).
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Job 5:15 meaning
Eliphaz the Temanite, speaking sometime after Job lost his wealth and family, declares, “But He saves from the sword of their mouth, And the poor from the hand of the mighty” (Job 5:15). In this portion of his speech, Eliphaz expresses a conviction that God intervenes to protect the oppressed from the destructive schemes of the powerful. By referring to “the sword of their mouth,” he points to how sharp and potentially deadly words can be, and he believes God stands ready to defend the vulnerable against such verbal attacks. This reflects a broader biblical pattern of the Lord as the advocate of the needy—rescuing them from those who would take advantage of their weakness (Psalm 72:12).
When Eliphaz speaks of saving “the poor from the hand of the mighty,” he draws attention to God’s role in upending worldly power structures. Rather than permitting the mighty to exploit those under their sway, the Lord is depicted as righteous and just, frustrating the intentions of the oppressor. Although Job will eventually argue that suffering is not always explained by such straightforward notions of God’s justice (Job 9:22-24), Eliphaz’s statement here underscores a timeless spiritual truth that the Creator sees and cares for those caught in the grip of powerful forces.
From a New Testament perspective, Jesus echoes the concern for the poor and marginalized when He proclaims good news to the afflicted and promises freedom for the oppressed (Luke 4:18). Indeed, the concept of divine rescue from injustice resonates throughout Scripture, showing that although the wicked or powerful might boast or harm, the ultimate Defender is the Lord Himself, who has compassion on the meek and lowly (Matthew 5:3-5).