This verse assures Job that God’s promise of peace and harmony can extend to all aspects of creation, even transforming potential dangers into a realm of security.
Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends who likely lived during the same era as the biblical patriarchs (around 2100-1800 BC), promises Job that if he accepts God’s discipline, he will experience a remarkable harmony with creation. In his words, “For you will be in league with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you” (v.23). By saying “in league with the stones,” Eliphaz uses poetic imagery suggesting that even the most inanimate elements of the land will work in Job’s favor, not against him. As someone living in the ancient Near East, possibly near Edom or northern Arabia, Job would have been keenly aware of the dangers posed by rugged terrain and wild animals. This promise of safety and peace points to God’s power to calm threats both large and small.
The phrase “the beasts of the field will be at peace with you” (v.23) expands on that promise. Eliphaz contends that God can restore nature’s order so thoroughly that even creatures which might otherwise harm Job will live in harmony with him. This description of peace between humans and animals echoes other parts of Scripture where God’s righteous rule leads to an environment of well-being and flourishing. Though spoken specifically to Job, it reflects a broader biblical hope that God’s care extends beyond humanity to encompass the entire creation, highlighting His sovereignty and goodness.
By painting this picture of creation at rest, Eliphaz hopes to remind Job of God’s desire for restoration and blessing after hardship. Through fellowship with the Almighty, the very ground under Job’s feet could become a source of refuge rather than peril.
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Job 5:23 meaning
Eliphaz, one of Job’s friends who likely lived during the same era as the biblical patriarchs (around 2100-1800 BC), promises Job that if he accepts God’s discipline, he will experience a remarkable harmony with creation. In his words, “For you will be in league with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you” (v.23). By saying “in league with the stones,” Eliphaz uses poetic imagery suggesting that even the most inanimate elements of the land will work in Job’s favor, not against him. As someone living in the ancient Near East, possibly near Edom or northern Arabia, Job would have been keenly aware of the dangers posed by rugged terrain and wild animals. This promise of safety and peace points to God’s power to calm threats both large and small.
The phrase “the beasts of the field will be at peace with you” (v.23) expands on that promise. Eliphaz contends that God can restore nature’s order so thoroughly that even creatures which might otherwise harm Job will live in harmony with him. This description of peace between humans and animals echoes other parts of Scripture where God’s righteous rule leads to an environment of well-being and flourishing. Though spoken specifically to Job, it reflects a broader biblical hope that God’s care extends beyond humanity to encompass the entire creation, highlighting His sovereignty and goodness.
By painting this picture of creation at rest, Eliphaz hopes to remind Job of God’s desire for restoration and blessing after hardship. Through fellowship with the Almighty, the very ground under Job’s feet could become a source of refuge rather than peril.