So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that the poor find hope not just in deliverance, but in the silencing of injustice itself, as oppressors are confounded. It's a powerful image of divine justice leaving no room for the wicked to argue or boast when God intervenes.
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Eliphaz argues that suffering is a sign of God's displeasure and that the righteous will ultimately triumph, Bildad, continuing this line of thought, insists that God is just and will not pervert judgment. This verse follows a declaration that God intervenes to save the afflicted and that He opposes those who oppress others. Therefore, this statement emphasizes the vindication of the downtrodden and the silencing of their accusers, presenting a hopeful outcome for those who trust in God's justice.
When life knocks you down, where do you find the strength to get back up? This verse speaks directly to the powerless.
Eliphaz's argument is shifting. After describing the harsh reality of suffering, he pivots to the "hope" that God provides, especially for the "poor." This isn't just about having a good feeling; it's about a tangible expectation. The Hebrew word for "poor" here can describe someone weakened, depleted, or even abject. Yet, even in such dire straits, there is hope. This hope is rooted in God's character and His promised intervention. It’s the assurance that God sees the suffering and will act on behalf of those who have nowhere else to turn. It's a hope that sustains them through the darkest times and looks forward to divine justice.
Ever seen or experienced injustice and felt utterly helpless? This verse promises a future where evil has no more to say.
The second half of the verse is a powerful declaration: "injustice shuts her mouth." This refers to wicked people, the oppressors, whose actions have caused so much pain. Their "mouth" represents their ability to speak lies, to boast, to condemn the innocent. But God’s intervention in favor of the poor brings a silencing effect. It’s a silencing born out of shame and confusion. The wicked see their schemes foiled, their powerlessness exposed, and their arguments rendered invalid. This silencing isn't just temporary; it points to a final, ultimate judgment where all injustice will be permanently muted before the righteousness of God.
Understand the original words
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dal · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Used to describe those lacking material wealth, social status, or power, often identified in the Bible as those who must rely entirely on God for justice and provision.
awlah · Hebrew Noun
A condition or act that is morally wrong, contrary to God's standard of righteousness, and characterized by the perversion of justice.
This passage directly echoes Job's sentiment, stating that the upright see the downfall of the wicked, and injustice is silenced, reinforcing the theme of divine justice prevailing.
Micah 7:9-10Micah describes a similar vindication where the Lord brings the poor and oppressed out of darkness, causing their enemies (iniquity) to be ashamed and silenced, mirroring Job's hopeful outlook.
Luke 1:52-53This prophecy highlights God's reversal of fortunes: He lifts the humble and the poor while casting down the mighty and the rich, fulfilling the hope for the oppressed and silencing the proud.
Jude 1:15This verse speaks of God's future judgment upon the ungodly, silencing their 'hard and abusive words' against His people, which aligns with the idea of iniquity being silenced by divine intervention.
bensonJob 5:16: "So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth."
Job 5:16 . So the poor, &c. — Hebrews ותהי לדל , vatehi ladal, even to the poor there is hope: Dal signifies one who is deprived of his strength or power, either by poverty or sickness: in Arabic, He who is submissive, and humbles himself in a low, abject manner. Here the interpretation seems to be, Even the abject, contemptible man hath hope; that is, obtains what he hoped for from God, to whom he had committed his cause. And…
clarkeJob 5:16: "So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth."
So the poor - דל dal, he who is made thin, who is wasted, extenuated; hath hope - he sees what God is accustomed to do, and he expects a repetition of gracious dealings in his own behalf; and because God deals thus with those who trust in him, therefore the mouth of impiety is stopped. Religion is kept alive in the earth, because of God's signal interventions in behalf of the bodies and souls of his followers.
This verse highlights that the poor find hope not just in deliverance, but in the silencing of injustice itself, as oppressors are confounded. It's a powerful image of divine justice leaving no room for the wicked to argue or boast when God intervenes.
After Eliphaz argues that suffering is a sign of God's displeasure and that the righteous will ultimately triumph, Bildad, continuing this line of thought, insists that God is just and will not pervert judgment. This verse follows a declaration that God intervenes to save the afflicted and that He opposes those who oppress others. Therefore, this statement emphasizes the vindication of the downtrodden and the silencing of their accusers, presenting a hopeful outcome for those who trust in God's justice.
After Eliphaz argues that suffering is a sign of God's displeasure and that the righteous will ultimately triumph, Bildad, continuing this line of thought, insists that God is just and will not pervert judgment. This verse follows a declaration that God intervenes to save the afflicted and that He opposes those who oppress others. Therefore, this statement emphasizes the vindication of the downtrodden and the silencing of their accusers, presenting a hopeful outcome for those who trust in God's justice.
"So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth." — This verse highlights that the poor find hope not just in deliverance, but in the silencing of injustice itself, as oppressors are confounded. It's a powerful image of divine justice leaving no room…
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Last reviewed October 2026