Albert Barnes Commentary Job 5:24

"And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing." — Job 5:24 (ASV)

And you shall know that your tabernacle shall be in peace—Your tent—אהלך 'âh^elēkāh—showing that it was common then to dwell in tents. The sense is that when he was away from home, he would have confidence that his dwelling was secure and his family safe. This would be an assurance producing no small degree of consolation in a country abounding in wild beasts and robbers. Such is the nature of the blessing that Eliphaz says the man would have who put his confidence in God and committed his cause to Him. To a certain extent, this was, and is, undoubtedly true.

A man cannot indeed have miraculous assurance when away from home that his wife and children are still alive and in health; nor can he be certain that his dwelling is not wrapped in flames or that it has been preserved from the intrusion of evil-minded men. But he may feel assured that all is under the wise control of God, that whatever occurs will be by His permission and direction, and will tend to ultimate good. He may also, with calmness and peace, commit his home with all that is dear to him to God, and feel that in His hands all is safe.

And you shall visit your habitation—That is, on the return from a journey.

And not sin—This is a very unfortunate translation. The true sense is, you shall not miss your dwelling; you shall not wander away lost, to return no more. The word used here, which is rendered 'sin' in our common version, is חטא châṭâ'. It is true that it is commonly rendered as 'to sin,' and it often has this sense. But it properly means 'to miss'—that is, not to hit the mark, as spoken of a slinger (Judges 20:16). It then means to make a false step, to stumble or fall (Proverbs 19:2). It thus corresponds exactly in sense with the Greek ἁμαρτάνω hamartanō. Here, the original sense of the Hebrew word should be retained, meaning that he would not miss the way to his dwelling; that is, that he would be permitted to return to it in safety.

Gesenius, however, renders it, “You muster your pasture (flocks), and miss nothing:” that is, nothing is gone; all your flocks are there. But the more obvious sense, and a sense which the connection demands, is that which refers the whole description to a man who is on a journey, and who is exposed to the dangers of wild beasts and to the perils of a rough and stony way, but who is permitted to visit his home without missing it or being disappointed.

A great variety of interpretations have been given for the passage, which may be seen in Rosenmuller and Good. Many suppose it means that he should review his domestic affairs and find all to his mind, or should find that everything was in its place or was as it should be. It cannot be doubted that the Hebrew word “visit” (פקד pâqad) will bear this interpretation, but the one proposed above seems to me best to suit the connection. The margin correctly renders it 'err.'