but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
Parallel translations
- KJV But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
- 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 27:9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
- Job 4:3–4Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
- Job 29:25I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
- Ps 27:14Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.
- Job 6:14“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
- Prov 27:17Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
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.