Job 16 · Verse 5

Job 16:5

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
Job 16:5, King James Version

Job 16:5 in other translations

BSBBut I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
WEBbut I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
ASVBut I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
YLTI might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
DARBYBut I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage your pain.
BBEI might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the comfort of my lips.
WebsterBut I would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.

What does Job 16:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. strengthen ... with ... mouth--bitter irony. In allusion to Eliphaz' boasted "consolations" (Job 15:11). Opposed to strengthening with the heart, that is, with real consolation. Translate, "I also (like you) could strengthen with the mouth," that is, with heartless talk: "And the moving of my lips (mere lip comfort) could console (in the same fashion as you do)" [Umbreit]. "Hearty counsel" (Pr 27:9) is the opposite.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 I would strengthen you with my mouth - Mr. Good translates thus: - "With my own mouth will I overpower you, Till the quivering of my lips shall fail;" for which rendering he contends in his learned notes. This translation is countenanced by the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 16:1-5

Eliphaz had represented Job's discourses as unprofitable, and nothing to the purpose; Job here gives his the same character. Those who pass censures, must expect to have them retorted; it is easy, it is endless, but what good does it do? Angry answers stir up men's passions, but never convince their judgments, nor set truth in a clear light. What Job says of his friends is true of all creatures, in comparison with…

Read the full comment on Job 16:1-5 →

Job 16:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲאַמִּצְכֶ֥ם'a.'a.mitz.KhemI will strengthen youH553
בְּמוֹ\־be.mov-withH1119
פִ֑יFimouth myH6310
וְנִ֖ידve.Nidand [the] condolence ofH5205
שְׂפָתַ֣יse.fa.Tailips myH8193
יַחְשֹֽׂךְ\׃yach.Sokhit will restrainH2820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 16:5

  • Proverbs 27:9

    Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

  • Isaiah 35:3-4

    Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

  • Galatians 6:1

    Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

  • Proverbs 27:17

    Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

  • Job 6:14

    To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

  • Job 29:25

    I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

  • Job 4:3-4

    Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

  • Psalms 27:14

    Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But I would.
4:3,4; 6:14; 29:25; Ps 27:14; Pr 27:9,17; Isa 35:3,4; Ga 6:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 16:4

    I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

  • Job 16:5

    But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

  • Job 16:6

    Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

Read all of Job 16

Job 16:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas yo os alentaría con mis palabras, y la consolación de mis labios apaciguaría el dolor vuestro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais je vous fortifierais de ma bouche, et la consolation de mes lèvres allégerait vos douleurs.
German
Elberfelder 1871		ich wollte euch stärken mit meinem Munde, und das Beileid meiner Lippen würde euch Linderung bringen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		consolarer et ego vos sermonibus, et moverem caput meum super vos;