Job 5:15

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 5:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
Job 5:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But he saveth the poor, etc.] Who are so in a literal sense, and whom the Lord saves with a temporal salvation; these being the butt of the crafty, wise, and cunning, on whom their eyes are, for whom they lay snares, and lie in wait to draw them in; and these being helpless and without friends, God takes notice of them, appears for them, and arises for their help, and saves them: from the sword; of their enemies, drawn against them and ready to be sheathed in them: from their mouth; from their reproaches, calumnies, detraction, and evil speaking; or “from the sword, their mouth” f210, as some; or “from the sword of their mouth” f211, as others; or which comes out of it; whose mouths and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“"From the sword" which proceedeth "from their mouth" (Psa 59:7; Psa 57:4).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But he saveth the poor from the sword - He shows himself to be the friend and protector of the defenseless. The phrase “from the sword, from their mouth,” has been variously interpreted. Dr. Good renders it, So he saveth the persecutors from their mouth, And the helpless from the hand of the violent.” Noyes, So he saveth the persecuted from their mouth, The oppressed from the hand of the mighty.” This rendering is obtained by changing the points in the word מחרב mēchereb, “from the sword,” to מחרב māchĕrāb, making it the Hophal participle from חרב chârab, to make desolate. This was proposed by Capellus, and has been adopted by Durell, Michaelis, Dathe, Doederlein, and others.…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Mouth - Which was ready to swallow them up. Job 5:16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he saveth: Psa 10:14, Psa 10:17, Psa 35:10, Psa 72:4, Psa 72:12, Psa 72:13, Psa 107:41, Psa 109:31, Psa 140:12 Job 5:16”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification