Job 5:20
In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
Original Language Analysis
פָּֽדְךָ֣
he shall redeem
H6299
פָּֽדְךָ֣
he shall redeem
Strong's:
H6299
Word #:
2 of 6
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
מִמָּ֑וֶת
thee from death
H4194
מִמָּ֑וֶת
thee from death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
3 of 6
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
וּ֝בְמִלְחָמָ֗ה
and in war
H4421
וּ֝בְמִלְחָמָ֗ה
and in war
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
4 of 6
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
Cross References
Psalms 33:19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.Hosea 13:14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.Psalms 37:19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.Proverbs 10:3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.Genesis 45:7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.1 Kings 17:6And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.Psalms 144:10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.Habakkuk 3:17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:Psalms 27:3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.Matthew 24:6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Historical Context
Famine and warfare were the two greatest threats to ancient Near Eastern populations. Eliphaz's promise of deliverance from both would sound comprehensive and appealing but fails to account for God's various purposes in allowing or preventing such calamities.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you maintain faith when God doesn't deliver you from life-threatening circumstances?
- What purposes might God have in allowing His people to experience famine, war, or martyrdom?
Analysis & Commentary
Eliphaz lists deliverances: 'In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.' The Hebrew 'padah' (redeem) indicates God's ransoming deliverance. Eliphaz's promise is conditionally true—God does often deliver His people—but falsely promises immediate relief upon repentance. This ignores that God's servants sometimes die in famine and war (Hebrews 11:37), not because God failed them, but because God's purposes include martyrdom and suffering witness.