Job 5:16 — Word Study
WLCוַתְּהִ֣י לַדַּ֣ל תִּקְוָ֑ה וְ֝עֹלָ֗תָה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃
BSASo the poordal [needy, weak, or helpless] havehâyâh▸ hopetiqvâh [expectancy, a cord that attaches to a future promise] and injusticeʻevel [moral evil, wickedness, or unrighteousness] shutsqâphats■ [stops, gathers, or draws in] its mouthpeh [lips, or the voice of the unrighteous]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַתְּהִ֣י | and it belonged | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person feminine singular |
| לַדַּ֣ל | to poor [person] | Preposition |
| תִּקְוָ֑ה | hope | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| וְ֝עֹלָ֗תָה | and injustice | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| קָ֣פְצָה | it shuts | Verb, Qal, perfect third person feminine singular |
| פִּֽיהָ׃ | mouth its | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. |
| KJV | So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. |
| ASV | So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth. |
| YLT | And there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth. |
| WEB | So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. |
| BBE | So the poor man has hope, and the mouth of the evil-doer is stopped. |
The translations agree on the meanings of תִּקְוָה and עַוְלָה.
The main clause expresses the hope of the poor, with a subordinate clause detailing the action of injustice.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectתִּקְוָה
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 5:16
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on Justicegenerated
Job 5:16 highlights the contrasting fates of the poor and the unjust. Job asserts that the poor have hope, which stands against the backdrop of their struggles. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job reflects on God's justice and the assurance that the needy will not be abandoned, while the wicked will ultimately be silenced. The surrounding verses emphasize God's role in saving the needy and the consequences of injustice.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 2:8–9 | He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world. |
| 2 | Psalm 9:18 | For the needy will not always be forgotten; nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed. |
| 3 | Isaiah 14:32 | What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.” |
| 4 | Zechariah 9:12 | Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will restore to you double. |
| 5 | Exodus 11:7 | But among all the Israelites, not even a dog will snarl at man or beast.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תִּקְוָה, tik.Vahgenerated
The Hebrew word תִּקְוָה (tikvah) means both 'cord' and 'hope.' It is derived from a root meaning to attach or bind, reflecting a sense of expectancy or longing. In this verse, it signifies the hope that the poor cling to amidst their hardships, indicating a future promise or deliverance.
The parsing of תִּקְוָה as a feminine singular noun emphasizes its importance in the sentence, indicating that this hope is a tangible and significant aspect of the lives of the needy.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb קָ֣פְצָה, it shuts, governs the structure of the verse, with two noun phrases preceding it: תִּקְוָ֑ה as the subject and עַוְלָה as the object. This structure emphasizes the contrast between the hope of the poor and the silencing of injustice.
The clause arrangement places the subject תִּקְוָ֑ה first, highlighting the hope of the needy before introducing the action of injustice being silenced.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תִּקְוָה as ἐλπίς, which also means 'hope.' This choice reinforces the idea of expectation and confidence in future deliverance, aligning closely with the Hebrew meaning.
For עַוְלָה, the LXX uses ἀδίκου, meaning 'of the unjust.' This translation maintains the moral implications of wrongdoing present in the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 5:16 tells us that the poor have hope, while injustice is silenced. This verse emphasizes the assurance that those in need can expect help, while the wrongdoers will not be able to speak against them.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that despite their struggles, the poor can look forward to future help and deliverance.
This means that wrongdoing will ultimately be silenced and will not prevail against the righteous.
The imagery of a cord suggests a strong connection to future promises and expectations.
It highlights God's justice, showing that while the needy may suffer, they are not forsaken, and wrongdoing will be dealt with.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced hope in difficult times, similar to the poor described in this verse?
- How can I support those who are in need and help them find hope?
- What are some injustices I see around me that need to be addressed?
- How can I be a voice for the voiceless, ensuring that injustice is confronted?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church fathers have commented on this verse, illustrating its moral implications and the hope offered to the needy.
LITERAL INTERPRETATION. And so the needy shall have hope. And iniquity shall stop her mouth. For when the poor man is rescued, 'the needy' is restored to hope,Early Church Fathers on Job 5 →
MORAL INTERPRETATION. So the needy shall have hope. And iniquity shall stop her mouth. Unto the fruits of which same hope, verily, when the poor man attaineth, everyone that is exalted is struck dumb;Early Church Fathers on Job 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 5:16 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSo the poor hath hope,.... Who observing this and that and the other poor man crying to the Lord and saved, hopes that he may be saved by him also; and having had experience of salvation out of one
Read John Gill on Job 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentarySo the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. The poor hath hope - of the interposition of God.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleSo this poor man obtaineth what he in some measure hoped or expected from God, to whom he committed his cause; and other poor men will be encouraged by his example to place their hope in God. Iniquity, i. e. wicked men; the abstract for the concrete, as pride, deceit, injustice, are put for proud, deceitful, and unrighteous men, . Stoppeth her mouth, i.e. they are silenced and confounded, being convicted of their own wickedness and folly, and finding that not only the poor are got out of their nets and snares, in which they thought that they had them fast, but also the oppressors themselves are insnared in them; and all this by sudden and unexpected means.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 5:16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.Ver. 16. So the poor hath hope] How should it be otherwise? experience will breed confidence. Thou hast, thou wilt, is an ordinary Scriptural medium, Psalms 85:1-4 2 Corinthians 1:10. So, the poor, helpless, hopeless person, who is pined away, spent and utterly exhausted and wasted, both for health and wealth, he hath hope ( spem maiorum et meliorum, greater and better, as Alexander said when he had given away all); and this holds head above water, makes wants plenitudes, and beguiles calamity, as good company doth the way. Neither is hope ever more highly elevated than when our state in all men’ s eyes is at its lowest. I was…
Read John Trapp on Job 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(16) Iniquity stoppeth her mouth.—See Psalms 107:42, where the same phrase occurs.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 16. So the poor] דל dal, he who is made thin, who is wasted, extenuated; hath hope - he sees what God is accustomed to do, and he expects a repetition of gracious dealings in his own behalf; and because God deals thus with those who trust in him, therefore the mouth of impiety is stopped. Religion is kept alive in the earth, because of God's signal interventions in behalf of the bodies and souls of his followers.
Read AdamClarke on Job 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges16. The end contemplated and reached by the all-embracing sweep of God’s benevolent purpose and providence.
Read Cambridge on Job 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleSo the poor hath hope - From the interposition of God. They are not left in a sad and comfortless condition. They are permitted to regard God as their protector and friend, and to look forward to another and a better world.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
Thus the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts its mouth.
Tyndale line
So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
So that the poore hath his hope, but iniquitie shall stop her mouth.
Strictly literal
So the poor hath what he hopeth for, and unrighteousness stoppeth her mouth.
And there is hope to the poor, And perverseness hath shut her mouth.
And there is hope for the poor, || And perverseness has shut her mouth.
And so cometh to the indigent hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
So the poor person has hope, and injustice shuts her own mouth.
From the Latin
And to the needy there shall he hope, but iniquity shall draw in her mouth.
Simplified
As a result those who are helpless have hope, and the wicked have to shut their mouths!
So the poor man has hope, and the mouth of the evil-doer is stopped.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Job 5:16 reads, "וַתְּהִ֣י לַדַּ֣ל תִּקְוָ֑ה וְ֝עֹלָ֗תָה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃" which translates to "So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the overall meaning, as all six words match in a word-by-word correspondence, although the word order and articles may differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. There are no significant differences noted between these witnesses regarding this verse.
וַתְּהִ֣י לַדַּ֣ל תִּקְוָ֑ה וְ֝עֹלָ֗תָה קָ֣פְצָה פִּֽיהָ׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 5:16
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person feminine singularHc/Vqw3fs
The Hebrew word דַּל (dal) is built from the root meaning 'dangling' or 'weak.' It covers a range of meanings including low, weak, poor, and thin, and is particularly noted in wisdom literature and poetry. The entries consistently emphasize its connotations of neediness and weakness.
דַּל adj. low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)
base
H1800 דַּל low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)
1800 dal dal
from 1809; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or
thin:--lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
see HEBREW for 01809
דַּל (dal) — poor.
low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHRd/Aamsa
תִּקְוָה (tiqvah) means both 'cord' and 'hope.' It is derived from a root meaning to attach or bind, reflecting a sense of expectancy or longing. The term encompasses concepts of hope, expectation, and the outcomes of what is hoped for, as noted in various lexicons.
[תִּקְוָה] n.f. cord
base
תִּקְוָה 34 n.f. hope
hope
= ground of hope
things hoped for, outcome
base
H8615a תִּקְוָה cord H8615b תִּקְוָה hope . hope
. = ground of hope
. things hoped for, outcome
8615 tiqvah tik-vaw'
from 6960; literally, a cord (as an attachment (compare
6961)); figuratively, expectancy:--expectation ((-ted)),
hope, live, thing that I long for.
see HEBREW for 06960
see HEBREW for 06961
תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — cord.
cord
תִּקְוָה (tiq.vah) — hope.
1) hope, expectation
1a) hope
1b) ground of hope
1c) things hoped for, outcome
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
hop:
1. In the Old Testament:
In the Revised Version (British and American) the New Testament "hope" represents the noun elpis (52 t), and the verb elpizo (31 t). King James Version, however, renders the noun in Heb 10:23 by "faith," and for the verb gives "trust" in 18 cases (apparently without much system, e.g. in Php 2 compare 2:19 and 23; see TRUST), while in Lu 6:35 it translates apelpizo, by "hoping for nothing again" (the Revised Version (British and American) "never despairing"). But in the Old Testament there is no Hebrew word that has the exact force of "expectation of some good thing," so that in the King James Version "hope" (noun and vb.) stands for some 15 Hebrew words, nearly all of which in other places are given other translation (e.g. mibhTach, is rendered "hope"…
Hope
One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4).” Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12;
→ General scriptures concerning Ps 9:18; 16:9; 31:24; 33:18,22; 38:15; 39:7; 43:5; 71:5,14; 78:5-7; 119:74,81,116,166; 130:7; 146:5; Pr 10:28; 13:12; 14:32; 23:18; 24:14; Isa 38:18; Jer 17:7; La 3:21,24,26; Ho 2:15; Joe 3:16; Zec 9:12; Ac 23:6; 24:14,15; 26:7,8; 28:20; Ro 4:18; 5:2-5; 8:24,25; 12:12; 15:4,13;
The Hebrew word עָ֫וֶל (*evel*) and its variant עַוְלָה (*avlah*) both denote concepts of injustice and unrighteousness. They encompass moral evil, including violent deeds and wrongful speech. The entries highlight their usage as nouns, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
עָ֫וֶל n.m. injustice, unrighteousness
base
עַוְלָה n.f. injustice, unrighteousness, wrong
base
H5766a עָ֫וֶל injustice, unrighteousness H5766b עַוְלָה injustice, unrighteousness, wrong
5766 `evel eh'-vel
or lavel {aw'-vel}; and (feminine) lavlah {av-law'}; or owlah
{o-law'}; or .olah {o-law'}; from 5765; (moral)
evil:--iniquity, perverseness, unjust(-ly),
unrighteousness(-ly); wicked(-ness).
see HEBREW for 05765
עָ֫וֶל (e.vel) — injustice.
injustice, unrighteousness
Another spelling of av.lah (עַוְלָה "injustice" H5766B)
עַוְלָה (av.lah) — injustice.
1) injustice, unrighteousness, wrong
1a) violent deeds of injustice
1b) injustice (of speech)
1c) injustice (generally)
Conj | N-cs | Suff — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
קָפַץ (qaphats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to draw together or shut. It can imply actions like closing, leaping, or even dying, as it relates to gathering up one's limbs. The entries describe its uses in different forms, including shutting in the Qal stem and springing in the Piel stem, with a specific mention of contraction in death in the Niphal form.
קָפַץ vb. draw together, shut
Qal shut
Niph. they drew themselves together, of contraction in death
Pi. springing (i.e. making repeated contractions of body, in taking leaps) upon the hills
base
H7092 קָפַץ draw together, shut
7092 qaphats kaw-fats'
a primitive root; to draw together, i.e. close; by
implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs); specifically,
to die (from gathering up the feet):--shut (up), skip, stop,
take out of the way.
קָפַץ (qa.phats) — to gather.
1) to draw together, close, shut, shut up, stop up
1a) (Qal) to shut
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to draw oneself together (of death)
1b2) to be shut up to death
1c) (Piel) springing, skipping (participle)
V-Qal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Qal · perfect third person feminine singularHVqp3fs
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3fs