But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
Parallel translations
- WEB but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
- KJV But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
- NKJV But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.
- NASB “Or I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the condolence of my lips could lessen your pain.
- NLT But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Yet Job insists he would actually strengthen and comfort them rather than mock. He shows what true comfort should look like.
Overview
In contrast to the friends, Job declares he would use his words to encourage and relieve a suffering soul, not to crush him. This holds up the ideal of compassionate speech that builds up the weak. It anticipates the ministry of Christ, who does not break the bruised reed (Isaiah 42:3) but gives rest to the weary.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 27:9Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is counsel to the soul.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Job 4:3–4Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
- Job 29:25I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
- Ps 27:14Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- Job 6:14A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
- Prov 27:17As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 16:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.