At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just promise safety from destruction; it promises a deep, settled joy that can laugh at it, seeing it as something that ultimately cannot touch you. The original Hebrew for "famine" here points to a specific kind of weakness, not just general hunger, suggesting a profound strength that defies even a weakened state.
At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Eliphaz is continuing his counsel to Job, suggesting that those who are right with God experience a secure and protected life. He's contrasting Job's current suffering with the promised blessings for the righteous, painting a picture of profound peace and safety that defies surrounding dangers. This comes after Eliphaz has spoken of God's discipline and the eventual deliverance of those who trust Him.
Imagine facing utter ruin—total devastation, gnawing hunger—and instead of trembling, you find yourself smiling. Eliphaz paints a picture of radical security. But how is this even possible?
Eliphaz isn't suggesting we should be flippant about suffering. Instead, he's describing a profound inner peace that transcends outward chaos.
Beyond Mere Survival
This isn't just about surviving destruction and famine; it's about laughing at them. The original Hebrew suggests a sense of confident joy, not mocking indifference. It means that even when these threats loom, they hold no ultimate power over the one who trusts in God.
A Different Kind of Famine
Notice the word for famine here is distinct from the one in verse 20. It describes a more general state of 'languishing' or 'weakness' due to lack of nourishment. Eliphaz implies that even this pervasive weakness won't touch the faithful. They will be sustained, not by earthly abundance, but by God's provision.
Fearless in the Wild
The promise extends to not fearing wild beasts. In Job's world, these were real dangers, symbolizing untamed forces and widespread terror. Eliphaz assures us that a covenant relationship with God brings a peace that conquers even the most primal fears.
Imagine a world where even the 'stones of the field' are your allies and wild animals bow to your presence. Eliphaz's vision is one of radical harmony.
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The promise in Job 5:22 isn't just about God keeping bad things away from us. It's about a deeper restoration and a renewed relationship with His creation.
A League with the Land
Verse 23, which directly follows, speaks of being 'in league with the stones of the field' and the 'beasts of the field' being 'at peace' with you. This isn't literal magic, but a poetic way of describing a profound harmony.
Restored Dominion
In the original creation, Adam had dominion over the animals and the land. While sin disrupted this, Eliphaz suggests that those in right relationship with God experience a foretaste of that restored order. The natural world, often perceived as hostile or indifferent, becomes friendly and cooperative.
Divine Diplomacy
This peace isn't earned by our strength, but established by God's 'covenant.' It's an outward sign of an inward reality – that those who belong to God are protected and even affirmed by the very fabric of His creation.
Understand the original words
ra'ab · Hebrew Noun
A severe shortage of food; in the biblical context, it is frequently viewed as a manifestation of divine judgment or the result of a curse on the land.
chayyah · Hebrew Noun
Wild, dangerous animals, often representing the untamed, chaotic, or predatory forces of nature that stand in opposition to human security and civilization.
This Psalm speaks directly to the idea of divine protection from harm, assuring the righteous that no disaster will befall them, echoing the promise of safety in Job 5:22.
Isaiah 35:9This passage paints a picture of a restored land where no dangerous beasts will be found, highlighting a future state of peace and security that aligns with not fearing the beasts of the earth.
Romans 8:38-39Paul's powerful declaration that nothing can separate believers from God's love serves as a profound New Testament parallel to the unshakeable security promised in Job, even in the face of destruction.
Habakkuk 3:17-18Here, Habakkuk expresses joy and trust in God despite utter devastation in the land and loss of all provision, showing a spiritual laughter and security that transcends physical calamity, much like Job's promise.
jfbJob 5:22: "At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth."
- famine thou shalt laugh—Not, in spite of destruction and famine, which is true (Hab 3:17, 18), though not the truth meant by Eliphaz, but because those calamities shall not come upon thee. A different Hebrew word from that in Job 5:20; there, famine in general; here, the languid state of those wanting proper nutriment [Barnes].
pulpitJob 5:22: "At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth."
Verse 22. - At destruction (rather, devastation) and famine; rather, dearth. The word is not the same as that used in ver. 20, but a weaker cue. Thou shalt laugh; "Thou shalt smile" (Lee). Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. "The beasts of the earth" - i.e. destructive and ferocious wild beasts, like the Indian "man-eaters" - are enumerated among God's "four sore…
This verse doesn't just promise safety from destruction; it promises a deep, settled joy that can laugh at it, seeing it as something that ultimately cannot touch you. The original Hebrew for "famine" here points to a specific kind of weakness, not just general hunger, suggesting a profound strength that defies even a weakened state.
Eliphaz is continuing his counsel to Job, suggesting that those who are right with God experience a secure and protected life. He's contrasting Job's current suffering with the promised blessings for the righteous, painting a picture of profound peace and safety that defies surrounding dangers. This comes after Eliphaz has spoken of God's discipline and the eventual deliverance of those who trust Him.
Eliphaz is continuing his counsel to Job, suggesting that those who are right with God experience a secure and protected life. He's contrasting Job's current suffering with the promised blessings for the righteous, painting a picture of profound peace and safety that defies surrounding dangers. This comes after Eliphaz has spoken of God's discipline and the eventual deliverance of those who trust Him.
"At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth." — This verse doesn't just promise safety from destruction; it promises a deep, settled joy that can laugh at it, seeing it as something that ultimately cannot touch you. The original Hebrew for "fa…
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Last reviewed October 2026