Job · Chapter 5

Job 5:17 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.

1080 × 1080 · Square

Background

Upload your own photo

Tap or drag a photo here — use your wedding, kids, holiday, or any background you like. Processed on your device.

Choose file

— or pick from our presets below —

Pinterest's Title field is blank by default — tap the button to copy a ready-made title, then paste it after the share window opens.

Download image

Every download includes a small bibleverses.au mark so others can find us too.

Copied to clipboard

Read in chapter context · Job 5

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."

KJV · King James Version

"Behold, happy835 is the man582 whom God433 correcteth3198: therefore despise3988 not thou the chastening4148 of the Almighty7706:"

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses correcteth, thou, while the WEB renders these as corrects. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Job 5:17 in Job 5

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Job 5:17 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Job 5. Read the full chapter →

v.15 But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty.
v.16 So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
v.17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
v.18 For he wounds, and binds up. He injures, and his hands make whole.
v.19 He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil shall touch you.

Book background

About the Book of Job

Testament: Old Testament
Genre: Wisdom literature
Author: Unknown
Date written: Possibly patriarchal era (c. 2000 BC); written down later
Audience: Ancient Israel
Chapters: 42

Job, "blameless and upright," loses his children, wealth, and health in a heavenly contest he never sees. His three friends insist his suffering must be punishment for sin; Job protests his innocence and demands an audience with God. When God finally speaks from the whirlwind, He does not answer the "why" but reveals Himself — and Job is satisfied. The book reframes how Christians read suffering.

Setting: The land of Uz; Job's story sits outside Israel's national history.

Key themes: suffering · God's sovereignty · integrity · mystery · restoration

Read Job from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Job 5:17

Job 5:17 contains 17 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

“Behold

B
2

happy is the man whom God corrects

HITMWG
3

Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.

TDNDTC

Frequently asked

FAQ about Job 5:17

What does Job 5:17 say?

Job 5:17 reads: "“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty." — from the Old Testament, Job (Wisdom literature). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Job 5:17 in?

Job 5:17 is in the book of Job, traditionally attributed to Unknown and written around Possibly patriarchal era (c. 2000 BC); written down later. Job is wisdom literature in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Ancient Israel. Best known for "the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD".

What is the difference between Job 5:17 in WEB and KJV?

Job 5:17 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Behold, happy835 is the man582 whom God433 correcteth3198: therefore despise3988 not thou the chastening4148 of the Almighty7706:". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Job 5:17?

Job 5:17 is 17 words in the WEB translation (101 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 5 seconds.

How can I memorise Job 5:17?

To memorise Job 5:17, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Job 5:17 matter in Job?

How can I apply Job 5:17 today?

Many readers use Job 5:17 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Job 5:17 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

More designs