Job 5:2 Meaning and Explanation
“For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eliphaz warns that resentment and jealousy destroy the one who harbors them.
What Does Job 5:2 Mean?
Continuing his argument, Eliphaz states a proverb he believes applies to Job: that anger and envy consume the foolish. He hints that Job's bitter words betray a heart in danger, and that grief allowed to curdle into rage will prove fatal.
There is real wisdom in the warning, even if Eliphaz misjudges his friend. Wrath nursed and envy fed do hollow out the soul, eating away peace and clarity. Scripture everywhere calls us to lay down such poisons and entrust our hurts to God, who alone can carry them. The path of life is not the clenched fist but the open, surrendered hand.
Job 5:2 in the Original Language
kaas (כַּעַשׂ), 'wrath' -- vexation or grief that hardens into resentment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 5:2
What does Job 5:2 mean?
Eliphaz warns that resentment and jealousy destroy the one who harbors them.