Job 5 · Verse 21

Job 5:21

Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
Job 5:21, King James Version

Job 5:21 in other translations

BSBYou will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and will not fear havoc when it comes.
WEBYou will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither will you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
ASVThou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
YLTWhen the tongue scourgeth thou art hid, And thou art not afraid of destruction, When it cometh.
DARBYThou shalt be hidden from the scourge of the tongue; and thou shalt not be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
BBEHe will keep you safe from the evil tongue; and you will have no fear of wasting when it comes.
WebsterThou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

What does Job 5:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. (Psa 31:20; Jr 18:18). Smite (Psalm 73. 9).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue - The Targum refers this to the incantations of Balaam: "From injury by the tongue of Balaam thou shalt be hidden in the clouds; and thou shalt not fear from the blasting of the Midianites, when it shall come." Perhaps no evil is more dreadful than the scourge of the tongue: evil-speaking, detraction, backbiting, calumny, slander, tale-bearing, whispering, and scandalizing, are some of the terms which we use when endeavoring to express the baleful influence and effects of that member, which is a world of fire, kindled from the nethermost hell. The Scripture abounds with invectives and execrations against it. See Psa 31:20; Psa 52:2-4; Pro 12:18; Pro 14:3; Jam 3:1-8. Neither shalt thou be afraid - "Thou shouldst have such strong confidence in God, that even in the presence of destruction thou shouldst not fear death," the God of life and power being with thee.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 5:17-27

Eliphaz gives to Job a word of caution and exhortation: Despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Call it a chastening, which comes from the Father's love, and is for the child's good; and notice it as a messenger from Heaven. Eliphaz also encourages Job to submit to his condition. A good man is happy though he be afflicted, for he has not lost his enjoyment of God, nor his title to heaven; nay, he is happy…

Read the full comment on Job 5:17-27 →

Job 5:21 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.

בְּשׁ֣וֹטbe.Shotin [the] whip ofH7752
לָ֭שׁוֹןLa.shon[the] tongueH3956
תֵּחָבֵ֑אte.cha.Ve'you will be hiddenH2244
וְֽלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
תִירָ֥אti.Ra'you will be afraidH3372
מִ֝שֹּׁ֗דmi.Shodfrom destructionH7701
כִּ֣יkiifH3588
יָבֽוֹא\׃ya.Vo'it will comeH935

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

Cross references for Job 5:21

  • Psalms 31:20

    Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

  • Psalms 91:5-7

    Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

  • Proverbs 12:18

    There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

  • Jeremiah 18:18

    Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

  • Psalms 55:21

    The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

  • Isaiah 54:17

    No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

  • Psalms 57:4

    My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

  • James 3:5-8

    Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
be hid.
Ps 31:20; 55:21; 57:4; Pr 12:18; Isa 54:17; Jer 18:18; Jas 3:5-8
from the scourge. or, when the tongue scourgeth. neither.
Ps 91:5-7

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

Context

  • Job 5:20

    In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

  • Job 5:21

    Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.

  • Job 5:22

    At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.

Read all of Job 5

Job 5:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Del azote de la lengua serás encubierto; ni temerás de la destrucción cuando viniere.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Tu seras à couvert du fouet de la langue, et tu ne craindras pas le désastre quand il viendra.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Vor der Zunge Geißel wirst du geborgen sein, und du wirst dich nicht fürchten vor der Verwüstung, wenn sie kommt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		A flagello linguæ absconderis, et non timebis calamitatem cum venerit.