He shall deliver thee in six troubles - Six is used here to denote an indefinite number, meaning that he would support in many troubles. This mode of speech is not uncommon among the Hebrews, where one number is mentioned, so that an extreme number may be immediately added. The method is, to mention a number within the limit, and then to add one more, meaning that in all instances the thing referred to would occur. The limit here is seven, with the Hebrews a complete and perfect number; and the idea is, that in any succession of troubles, however numerous, God was able to deliver. Similar expressions not unfrequently occur. Thus, in Amos 1:3, Amos 1:6,Amos 1:9, Amos 1:11, Amos 1:13; Amos 2:1, Amos 2:4,Amos 2:6 :
Thus saith the Lord:
For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,
I will not turn away the punishment thereof.
Thus saith the Lord:
For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four,
I will not turn away, the punishment thereof.
Thus saith the Lord:
For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four,
I will not turn away the punishment thereof.
Thus in Proverbs 30:15 :
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Yea, four things say not, It is enough.
There be three things that are too wonderful for me,
Yea, four which I know not. Proverbs 30:18.
For three things the earth is disquieted,
And for four which it cannot bear." Proverbs 30:21.
There be three things that go well,
Yea, four are comely in going:
A lion which is strongest among beasts,
And turneth not away for any;
A grey-hound;
An he-goat also;
And a king, against whom there is no rising up." Proverbs 30:29-31.
Compare Homer, Iliad vi. 174:
Εννήμαρ ξείνισσε καὶ ἐννέα βοῦς ἱέρευσεν
Ennēmar ceinisse kai ennea bous hiereusen.
An enumeration, in regard to number similar to the one before us, occurs in Proverbs 6:16 :
These six things doth the Lord hate;
Yea, seven are an abomination to him.
There shall no evil touch thee - That is, permanently; for he could not mean that he would not be subjected to calamity at all, since by the very supposition he was a sufferer. But the sense is, that God would save from those calamities.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles - The numbers six and seven are put here for many. Though a number of troubles should come upon thee all at once, and there should be no hope, humanly speaking, yet God would rid thee out of them all; for he saves as well from many as from few. We may also understand the words, He who hath been thy deliverer in past troubles, will not deny his help in those which are to come.

He shall deliver thee in (s) six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
(s) He will send trouble after trouble that his children may not for one time, but continually trust in him: but they sill have a comfortable issue, even in the greatest and the last, which is here called the seventh.

He shall deliver thee in six troubles,.... Behaving as before directed; seeking unto God, committing his cause and case to him, and leaving it with him; and not despising the chastening of the Lord, but receiving and bearing it with reverence, patience, and submission: and then the sense is, that God would deliver out of whatsoever troubles he was or should be in, though they were ever so many; a certain number being put for an uncertain one, Psalm 34:19,
yea, seven there shall no evil touch thee; which is a number expressive of multitude and of perfection, and so may denote the multitude and fulness of afflictions: the tribulations of God's people are many, through which they pass to heaven, and there is a measure of them to be filled up; and when they are come to the height, and the measure is fully up, then the Lord puts a stop to them, and delivers out of all their troubles; and in the midst of them all, so preserves them, that "no evil" shall so much as "touch" them; not the evil of punishment; for, though those troubles and afflictions that attend them are evil things, in a natural or civil sense, they are disagreeable and distressing, yet they are not the effect of vindictive justice; there is not a drop wrath and vengeance in them; and though they do come upon them and unto them, upon their persons and families; yet not so as to do any real hurt, or as to destroy them; see Psalm 91:10; some think that seven particular troubles are meant, hereafter mentioned, as Jarchi; as famine, war, an evil tongue, destruction, dearness of provision, the beasts of the earth, and the stones of the field.

in six . . . yea, in seven-- (Proverbs 6:16; Amos 1:3). The Hebrew idiom fixes on a certain number (here "six"), in order to call attention as to a thing of importance; then increases the force by adding, with a "yea, nay seven," the next higher number; here "seven," the sacred and perfect number. In all possible troubles; not merely in the precise number "seven."

Deliver - If thou seekest to him by prayer and repentance. Here he applies himself to Job directly. Six - Manifold and repeated. Touch - So as to destroy thee. Thou shalt have a good issue out of all thy troubles, though they are both great and many.