Job 17 · Verse 5

Job 17:5

He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
Job 17:5, King James Version

Job 17:5 in other translations

BSBIf a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.
WEBHe who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
ASVHe that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.
YLTFor a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
DARBYHe that betrayeth friends for a prey — even the eyes of his children shall fail.
BBEAs for him who is false to his friend for a reward, light will be cut off from the eyes of his children.
WebsterHe that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

What does Job 17:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. The Hebrew for "flattery" is "smoothness"; then it came to mean a prey divided by lot, because a smooth stone was used in casting the lots (De 18:8), "a portion" (Ge 14:24). Therefore translate, "He that delivers up his friend as a prey (which the conduct of my friends implies that they would do), even the eyes," &c. [Noyes] (Job 11:20). Job says this as to the sinner's children, retorting upon their reproach as to the cutting off of his (Job 5:4; 15:30). This accords with the Old Testament dispensation of legal retribution (Ex 20:5).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 He that speaketh flattery - There is a great variety of meaning given to the terms in this verse. The general sense is, The man who expects much from his friends will be disappointed: while depending on them his children's eyes may fail in looking for bread.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 17:1-9

Job reflects upon the harsh censures his friends had passed upon him, and, looking on himself as a dying man, he appeals to God. Our time is ending. It concerns us carefully to redeem the days of time, and to spend them in getting ready for eternity. We see the good use the righteous should make of Job's afflictions from God, from enemies, and from friends. Instead of being discouraged in the service of God, by the…

Read the full comment on Job 17:1-9 →

Job 17:5 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.

לְ֭חֵלֶקLe.che.lekfor a shareH2506
יַגִּ֣ידya.Gidhe tellsH5046
רֵעִ֑יםre.'ImfriendsH7453
וְעֵינֵ֖יve.'ei.Neiand [the] eyes ofH5869
בָנָ֣יוva.Navchildren hisH1121
תִּכְלֶֽנָה\׃tikh.Le.nahthey will failH3615

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

Cross references for Job 17:5

  • Psalms 12:2-3

    They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

  • Proverbs 20:19

    He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

  • Proverbs 29:5

    A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

  • Exodus 20:5

    Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

  • 1 Kings 11:12

    Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

  • Job 11:20

    But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

  • Deuteronomy 28:65

    And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

  • Job 32:21-22

    Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:5

    For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

  • Lamentations 4:17

    As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
He that.
32:21,22; Ps 12:2,3; Pr 20:19; 29:5; 1Th 2:5
the eyes.
Ex 20:5; De 28:65; 1Ki 11:12; La 4:17

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

Context

  • Job 17:4

    For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

  • Job 17:5

    He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

  • Job 17:6

    He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

Read all of Job 17

Job 17:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que denuncia lisonjas á sus prójimos, los ojos de sus hijos desfallezcan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Celui qui trahit ses amis pour qu’ils soient pillés, les yeux de ses fils seront consumés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn einer die Freunde zur Beute ausbietet, so werden die Augen seiner Kinder verschmachten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Prædam pollicetur sociis, et oculi filiorum ejus deficient.