Job 5:1

Job 5:1

Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?

a. NLT: “Cry for help, but will anyone answer you? Which of the angels will help you?

b. NIV: “Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

c. YLT: Pray, call, is there any to answer thee? And unto which of the holy ones dost thou turn?

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Call now—is there any who will answer you? And to which of the holy [angels] will you turn?

e. Septuagint: But call, if any one will hearken to thee, or if thou shalt see any of the holy angels. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Cry out now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy beings will you turn?

1. “Call now, if there be any that will answer thee…”

a. Call [Strong: 7121 qura’, kaw-raw';  to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

b. now [Strong: 4994 na' naw a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh.]

c. if there be [Strong: 3426 yesh yaysh perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (1961); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection):--(there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.]

d. any that will answer thee [6030 * ‘anah][Strong: to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce,…cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.]

1). Both of these Hebrew words can be used in a variety of ways. The Hebrew word “call” can be used for man calling upon man or man calling upon God. Likewise the Hebrew word for “answer” can be used for man answering man or God answering man. We as human beings are expected by God to help one another in each of our need, serious or not so serious, but I don’t believe that is the meaning here. The language has a sense of futility to it, such as; no mere man can help you now. 

2. “…and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?”

a. and to [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

b. [which of the] saints [6918 * qadowsh][Strong: sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary:--holy (One), saint.][D. Costello note: Depending on the context, the word could be used to describe a place or an object, such as in the Tabernacle, or it could be used to describe God, or it could be used to describe men or women. Context is everything.]

1). Those who sincerely participated obediently under the Old Covenant were called “saints”.

a). Deuteronomy 33:3 Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

b). Psalm 89:5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.  

2). The definition of the word “saint” in the Old and New Testaments in many ways mirror one another. But there are important differences under the Old Covenant. They were not born again, under the Old Covenant their sins were just covered, not forgiven and forgotten. Also, they were not the righteousness of God. Under each Covenant those in Covenant with God who were designated “saints” by God were afforded the benefits each Covenant provided. Just as under the Old Covenant, those under the New Covenant are designated “saints”.

a). Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

b). Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

c). Philippians 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

b. wilt thou turn [6437 * panah] [Strong: to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.:--appear, at (even-)tide, behold, cast out, come on, X corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-)turn (aside, away, back, face, self), X right (early).]

1). Only because of the KJV translation am I even mentioning this, but given the tradition I was raised in I can’t help but apply it to that tradition of calling upon “saints” to answer prayers. They have “patron” saints, men and women of the past chosen to be a special protector from sickness and every malady that plagues mankind. They have patron saints of animals, jobs, cities, every medical condition you can think of, it reminds me of the mythologies of barbarians where you have gods of this natural phenomenon and gods of that phenomenon. It is nothing less than idolatry. Instead we should call upon the name of the Lord and believe Him to answer our prayers. In some cases what is required is for us to just believe God in faith for the inheritance that our salvation provides.