But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
Parallel translations
- WEB but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
- BSB But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
- 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 27:9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
- Gal 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
- Job 4:3–4Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
- Job 29:25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
- Ps 27:14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
- Job 6:14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
- Prov 27:17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
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.