Job 5:19
Hee shall deliuer thee in sixe troubles, yea in seuen there shall no euill touch thee. Job 5:19 (KJV)
The book of Job is a narrative that wrestles with human suffering and the question of why bad things happen to good people. Job, described as a righteous man, experiences extreme loss—his wealth, his children, and his health are taken away. Friends come to console him, yet their attempts to explain his plight often become misguided. One of those friends, Eliphaz, is recorded as speaking words of encouragement, urging that God will deliver and protect the afflicted. The quoted line “He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee” is presented as part of that encouragement. Some readers note that this exact wording does not appear in the standard translations of Job, and therefore consider it a paraphrase rather than a direct biblical quotation. Nevertheless, the sentiment expressed aligns with the broader biblical theme of divine deliverance.
The numbers six and seven carry symbolic weight in Scripture. Six may suggest a finite series of difficulties, while seven often denotes completeness or perfection. The promise that “no evil” will touch the person in the seventh trial points to a future state of divine protection beyond the present afflictions.
Application of this passage encourages believers facing trials to trust that God is aware of their circumstances and is capable of delivering them. The promise does not imply the total absence of difficulty, but rather assures that God’s presence accompanies the believer through each trial and ultimately shields them from ultimate harm.
Overall, the passage reminds readers that human attempts to explain suffering are limited. While Eliphaz’s intentions were good, his understanding of Job’s experience was incomplete. The book of Job invites careful examination of context, consultation of related Scriptures, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to discern meaning. Studying these themes helps believers appreciate the complexity of suffering, the justice of God, and the hope of divine deliverance.
