Job 5:17
in Job 5Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.
KJV
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
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This verse in Job 5
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth - This verse commences a new argument, designed to show that afflictions are followed by so important advantages as to make it proper that we should submit to them without a complaint. The sentiment in this verse, if not expressly quoted, is probably alluded to by the apostle Paul in Heb 12:5. The same thought frequently occurs in the Bible: see Jas 1:12; Pro 3:11-
This site's exposition
Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects
on Job 5:17-18
The words "Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty" stand beside Proverbs 3:11 and 12. The passages address different situations, and Eliphaz means his as a diagnosis of discipline for a fault yet to be confessed.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth. Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Lord. The highest virtue is to avoid sins, that they should never be done, and second to that, at least to amend them when they have been committed. But for the most part we not only never at all avoid sins that threaten, but we do not even open our eyes to them, when committed. And the mind of sinners is enveloped in the deeper darkness, in proportion as it does not see the deficiency of its own blindness.
Eliphaz had accused Blessed Job in what he said already above both of impatience and presumption because he declared himself innocent. Now he tries to remove the despair he thought he perceived in the words which Job used to detest his life. Note then that …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Nay, he is happy because he is afflicted; correction is an evidence of his sonship and a means of his sanctification; it mortifies his corruptions, weans his heart from the world, draws him nearer to God, brings him to his Bible, brings him to his knees, works him for, and so is working for him, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. 4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
is no doubt binding on us, so these promises here may be, and must be, received and applied as divine promises, and we may through patience and comfort of this part of scripture have hope. Let us therefore give diligence to make sure our interest in these promises, and then view the particulars of them and take the comfort of them.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Blessednesses (various and great happiness) belong to that man whom God rebukes. The reason is plain, because afflictions are pledges of God's love, which no man can buy too dear; and are necessary to purge out sin, and thereby to prevent infinite and eternal miseries.
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
happy--not that the actual suffering is joyous; but the consideration of the righteousness of Him who sends it, and the end for which it is sent, make it a cause for thankfulness, not for complaints, such as Job had uttered (Heb 12:11). Eliphaz implies that the end in this case is to call back Job from the particular sin of which he takes for granted that Job is guilty.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Behold, happy is the man - הנח hinneh, behold, is wanting in five of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS., and also in the Syriac, Vulgate, and Arabic. We have had fathers of our flesh, who corrected us for their pleasure, or according to their caprices, and we were subject to them: how much more should we be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? for he corrects that we may be partakers of his holiness, in order that we may be rendered fit for his glory. See Heb 12:5; Jas 1:12; and Pro 3:12.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּ֤ה | hineh | there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| אַשְׁרֵ֣י | ʾashrei | how blessed! | H835 → | |
| אֱ֭נוֹשׁ | ʾenoosh | [is the] person | H582 → | 566 times |
| יוֹכִחֶ֣נּֽוּ | yokhichenu | [whom] he reproves him | H3198 → | 59 times |
| אֱל֑וֹהַּ | ʾeloah | God | H433 → | 57 times |
| וּמוּסַ֥ר | umusar | and [the] discipline of | H4148 → | 50 times |
| שַׁ֝דַּ֗י | shadai | [the] Almighty | H7706 → | 48 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּמְאָֽס׃ | timas | you reject | H3988 → | 76 times |
הִנֵּ֤הthere!
hinehH2009 →843 times
אַשְׁרֵ֣יhow blessed!
ʾashreiH835 →
אֱ֭נוֹשׁ[is the] person
ʾenooshH582 →566 times
יוֹכִחֶ֣נּֽוּ[whom] he reproves him
yokhichenuH3198 →59 times
אֱל֑וֹהַּGod
ʾeloahH433 →57 times
וּמוּסַ֥רand [the] discipline of
umusarH4148 →50 times
שַׁ֝דַּ֗י[the] Almighty
shadaiH7706 →48 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּמְאָֽס׃you reject
timasH3988 →76 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 1:12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish…
- 1 Peter 1:6–8
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful…
- James 5:11
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
- Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- 1 Peter 5:10
Through
Revelation 3:19Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:11–12
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 11:32
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 12:5–11
And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 3:11–12
Where this verse is studied
About Job
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on A. B. Davidson, The Book of Job, Cambridge Bible; Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book VI; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.