Job 5:20

“In famine he shall redeem thee from death, etc.] In a time of extreme want of provisions, God so cares for his own dear people, that they shall not be starved to death by the famine; so in the famine in Egypt, which the Targum takes notice of, in the times of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, and the patriarchs, there was food provided for them, so that they and their families were sustained, and perished not for lack of the necessaries of life: God sometimes goes out of his ordinary way, and works wonders for his poor and needy in distress, when they cry unto him; (see <234117> Isaiah 41:17,18); and in war from the power of the sword; or, “from the hands of the sword” : from swords in…”

“power-- (Jer 5:12). Hebrew, "hands." of the sword-- (Eze 35:5, Margin). Hands are given to the sword personified as a living agent.”

“In famine he shall redeem thee - That is, will deliver thee from death. On the meaning of the word “redeem,” see the notes at Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 43:3. From the power of the sword - Margin, as in Hebrew “hands.” That is, he should not be slain by armed men. A mouth is often attributed to the sword in the Scriptures, because it devours; “hands” are attributed to it here, because it is by the hand that we perform an undertaking, and the sword is personified, and represented as acting as a conscious agent; compare Ezekiel 35:5, margin. The meaning is that God would protect those who put their trust in him, in times of calamity and war. Doubtless Eliphaz had seen instances enough of this kind to…”

“He shall - These things he utters with more confidence, because the rewards or punishments of this life, were more constantly distributed to men in the Old Testament according to their good or bad behaviour, than they are now: and because it was his opinion, that great afflictions were the certain evidences of wickedness; and consequently, that great deliverances would infallibly follow upon true repentance. Job 5:22”

“famine: Gen 45:7; Kg1 17:6; Psa 33:19; Pro 10:3; Isa 33:16; Hab 3:17 redeem: Psa 49:7; Hos 13:14 in war: Psa 27:3; Mat 24:6 the power: Heb. hands Job 5:21”