Job 5:13He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
The setting
Ancient Uz. Eliphaz continues his speech, drawing from generations of desert wisdom about how pride leads to downfall...
The emotion here: drawing on inherited wisdom, feeling authoritative
The original word
ʿārûm (עָרוּם) — shrewd, cunning, but with negative connotation of deceptive cleverness
Why it matters
This verse is quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians, making it one of the few Job quotes in the New Testament
Read with care
What most readers miss in Job 5:13
The irony — Eliphaz thinks he's wise, but he's misdiagnosing Job's situation entirely
Common misconceptionPeople think this means all smart people will fail. It's specifically about those who use intelligence to deceive or harm others.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Job 5:13
Bible Genome reading
Job 5:13 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Job 5:13 comes from the book of Job, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to Eliphaz. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine justice, human wisdom. Notable phrases: wise in their own craftiness; counsel of the cunning.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Job 5:13 mean to you, today?
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