Job 13 Study Notes: Job Appeals Directly to God
Job tells his friends their arguments are useless and false, and he warns that God will judge them for defending Him dishonestly. He resolves to keep trusting God even at the cost of his life, and he asks God to stop terrifying him, name his sins, and answer him.
General
According to 13:3 and 13:18, whom does Job want to present his case to, and what does he expect?
Answer: God Himself, expecting that he would be shown to be in the right
Job no longer wants to argue with his friends; he wants to address the Almighty and plead his cause before God (13:3). He says he has prepared his case and knows he will be vindicated, that is, shown to be in the right (13:18). He voices the same longing later, wishing he could find God’s seat and plead before Him (23:3-4), and he finally asks the Almighty to answer him (31:35). God does answer, but not as Job expected: He speaks from the whirlwind and questions Job instead (38:3), and He asks whether Job would condemn Him in order to justify himself (40:8).
- Job 13:3 (BSB)“Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.”Job wants to speak to the Almighty and argue his case before God.
- Job 13:18 (BSB)“See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.”Job says he has prepared his case and knows he will be vindicated.
- Job 23:3-4 (BSB)“If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.”Job later wishes he could find God and plead his case before Him.
- Job 31:35 (BSB)“(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.”Job closes his defense by asking the Almighty to answer him.
- Job 38:3 (BSB)“Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.”When the LORD answers, He tells Job to brace himself to be questioned.
- Job 40:8 (BSB)“Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?”The LORD asks whether Job would condemn Him to justify himself.
Theological
In 13:3 and 13:18, before whom does Job wish to plead, and with what expectation?
Answer: God Himself, expecting that he would be shown to be in the right
Job turns from the friends to the divine tribunal: he desires to address the Almighty and plead his cause with God (13:3), and he claims to have prepared his case with confidence that he will be vindicated (13:18). The same longing recurs in his wish to reach God’s seat and fill his mouth with arguments (23:3-4) and in his final signed appeal for the Almighty to answer (31:35). When the LORD does speak, He reverses the roles and questions Job (38:3), and He challenges Job for condemning Him to justify himself (40:8). Job is right that only God can settle his case, though he will learn he spoke beyond his understanding.
- Job 13:3 (BSB)“Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.”Job wants to speak to the Almighty and argue his case before God.
- Job 13:18 (BSB)“See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated.”Job says he has prepared his case and knows he will be vindicated.
- Job 23:3-4 (BSB)“If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.”Job later wishes he could find God and plead his case before Him.
- Job 31:35 (BSB)“(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.”Job closes his defense by asking the Almighty to answer him.
- Job 38:3 (BSB)“Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me.”When the LORD answers, He tells Job to brace himself to be questioned.
- Job 40:8 (BSB)“Would you really annul My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?”The LORD asks whether Job would condemn Him to justify himself.
General
In 13:7-10, what does Job warn his friends about their way of defending God?
Answer: God would rebuke them for twisting the truth on His behalf
Job asks whether his friends will speak wickedly and deceitfully for God, or show Him favoritism by arguing His case (13:7-8). God examines everyone, and they cannot fool Him the way they might fool a man (13:9). If they secretly took sides unfairly, even in God’s favor, He would rebuke them (13:10), and His majesty should make them afraid (13:11). Job calls their sayings proverbs made of ashes (13:12). This warning comes true at the end of the book: the LORD’s anger burns against the friends, and they must offer sacrifices and have Job pray for them (42:7-8). Defending God with falsehood does not honor Him.
- Job 13:7-10 (BSB)“Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.”Job asks whether the friends will speak deceitfully for God and warns that He would rebuke their partiality.
- Job 42:7 (BSB)“After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.”The LORD’s wrath is kindled against the friends for not speaking accurately about Him.
- Job 42:8 (BSB)“So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.””The friends must offer sacrifices, and Job prays for them.
Theological
What warning does Job give in 13:7-10 to friends who argue God’s side with falsehood?
Answer: God would rebuke them for twisting the truth on His behalf
Job asks whether the friends will speak wickedly and deceitfully for God’s sake, or show Him partiality as His advocates (13:7-8). The divine Judge searches them and cannot be deceived (13:9); He would rebuke even partiality exercised in His favor (13:10), and His majesty ought to fill them with dread (13:11). Their maxims are worthless as ashes (13:12). The epilogue vindicates this warning: the LORD’s wrath burns against the three, and they are spared the consequences of their folly only through sacrifice and Job’s intercession (42:7-8). God is not served by false arguments made in His name.
- Job 13:7-10 (BSB)“Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.”Job asks whether the friends will speak deceitfully for God and warns that He would rebuke their partiality.
- Job 42:7 (BSB)“After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.”The LORD’s wrath is kindled against the friends for not speaking accurately about Him.
- Job 42:8 (BSB)“So now, take seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. Then My servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken accurately about Me, as My servant Job has.””The friends must offer sacrifices, and Job prays for them.
General
In 13:23-24, what does Job ask God?
Answer: To show him exactly what wrongs he was being punished for
Job asks God how many his wrongs are and begs Him to make known his offense (13:23). He asks why God hides His face and treats him like an enemy (13:24). He feels like a leaf blown by the wind or dry chaff that God keeps chasing (13:25), as though God were writing bitter charges against him and holding the sins of his youth against him, with his feet locked in stocks (13:26-27), until a person decays like clothing that moths have eaten (13:28). Job does not claim he has never sinned, but he cannot find any sin that matches his suffering. David also asked God to search him and see if any offensive way was in him (Psalm 139:23-24), and he prayed that God would not remember the sins of his youth (Psalm 25:7). Job returns to the complaint that God counts him as an enemy in 19:11.
- Job 13:23-24 (BSB)“How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?”Job asks God to show him his sins and asks why God treats him as an enemy.
- Psalm 139:23-24 (BSB)“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.”David asks God to search him and see if any offensive way is in him.
- Psalm 25:7 (BSB)“Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.”David asks God not to remember the sins of his youth.
- Job 19:11 (BSB)“His anger burns against me, and He counts me among His enemies.”Job later says God counts him among His enemies.
Theological
What does Job request of God in 13:23-24?
Answer: To show him exactly what wrongs he was being punished for
Job asks God to number his iniquities and disclose his transgression (13:23), and he asks why God hides His face and regards him as an enemy (13:24). He pictures himself as a windblown leaf and dry chaff pursued by God (13:25), charged with bitter accusations, burdened with the sins of his youth, and confined as in stocks (13:26-27), while man decays like clothing devoured by moths (13:28). He does not claim sinlessness, but he can find no transgression proportionate to his affliction. David likewise invites God to search him for any offensive way (Psalm 139:23-24) and asks that the sins of his youth not be remembered (Psalm 25:7). Job repeats the complaint that God counts him among His enemies (19:11).
- Job 13:23-24 (BSB)“How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?”Job asks God to show him his sins and asks why God treats him as an enemy.
- Psalm 139:23-24 (BSB)“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.”David asks God to search him and see if any offensive way is in him.
- Psalm 25:7 (BSB)“Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellious acts; remember me according to Your loving devotion, because of Your goodness, O LORD.”David asks God not to remember the sins of his youth.
- Job 19:11 (BSB)“His anger burns against me, and He counts me among His enemies.”Job later says God counts him among His enemies.
General
True or False: In 13:5, Job tells his friends that keeping quiet would be the wisest thing they could do.
Answer: True
This is true. Job wishes his friends would simply stop talking, because that would show their wisdom (13:5). When they first arrived, they sat with him on the ground a full week in silence, since they could see how great his suffering was (2:13); their trouble began when they started explaining it. Proverbs makes a similar point: even a fool seems wise when he keeps his mouth shut (Proverbs 17:28), and James urges believers to listen readily and speak slowly (James 1:19).
- Job 13:5 (BSB)“If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!”Job wishes the friends would be silent, for that would be their wisdom.
- Job 2:13 (BSB)“Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.”The friends first sat with Job for seven days without speaking.
- Proverbs 17:28 (BSB)“Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.”Even a fool is thought wise when he keeps silent.
- James 1:19 (BSB)“My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,”Believers are told to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Theological
True or False: Job says in 13:5 that silence would be the friends’ wisdom.
Answer: True
This is true. Job tells the friends that their silence would be their wisdom (13:5). Their first response to his affliction, seven days of wordless sitting with him (2:13), was their most fitting; it was their theorizing about his guilt that did harm. The point accords with the proverb that a fool too is reckoned wise when he refrains from speaking (Proverbs 17:28) and with the apostolic call to be swift to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19).
- Job 13:5 (BSB)“If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!”Job wishes the friends would be silent, for that would be their wisdom.
- Job 2:13 (BSB)“Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw how intense his suffering was.”The friends first sat with Job for seven days without speaking.
- Proverbs 17:28 (BSB)“Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.”Even a fool is thought wise when he keeps silent.
- James 1:19 (BSB)“My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,”Believers are told to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
General
What does Job declare in 13:15 about his relationship with God, even if it costs him his life?
Answer: He will keep hoping in God while still pleading his case to Him
Job knows that bringing his complaint to God is risky; it is like taking his life in his hands (13:14). Yet he says that even if God slays him, he will still hope in Him, and he will also defend his ways before Him (13:15). Both things stand together: he keeps trusting God and he keeps protesting. He even says that this will be his salvation, because a godless man could not come before God at all (13:16); in his view, his very willingness to face God shows he is not the godless man his friends suspect. This is the same Job who blessed the LORD’s name after losing everything (1:21). James holds up Job’s perseverance as an example and points to the outcome the Lord gave him, for the Lord is rich in compassion and mercy (James 5:11). A psalmist voices the same clinging trust: even when body and heart give out, God remains his strength and his portion (Psalm 73:26).
- Job 13:15 (BSB)“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.”Job says that even if God slays him, he will hope in Him and still defend his ways.
- Job 13:16 (BSB)“Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.”Job says this will be his salvation, for no godless man can appear before God.
- Job 1:21 (BSB)“saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.””Job blessed the name of the LORD after his losses.
- James 5:11 (BSB)“See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”James commends Job’s perseverance and the Lord’s compassion and mercy.
- Psalm 73:26 (BSB)“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”The psalmist says God remains the strength of his heart when flesh and heart fail.
Theological
What stance toward God does Job take in 13:15, even in the face of death?
Answer: He will keep hoping in God while still pleading his case to Him
Job recognizes that pressing his case before God is a mortal risk (13:14), yet he declares that even if God slays him he will still set his hope on Him, while continuing to defend his conduct before Him (13:15). Hope and protest coexist in the same breath. He reasons that this very approach will be his salvation, since a godless man could never stand in His presence (13:16); in his reasoning, his readiness to face God evidences that he is not godless. It is the faith of the same man who blessed the LORD’s name amid bereavement (1:21). The psalmist’s confession that God remains the strength of a failing heart (Psalm 73:26) expresses the same clinging trust. James commends Job’s perseverance and directs attention to the outcome the Lord brought about, since the Lord abounds in mercy and tender compassion (James 5:11).
- Job 13:15 (BSB)“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.”Job says that even if God slays him, he will hope in Him and still defend his ways.
- Job 13:16 (BSB)“Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.”Job says this will be his salvation, for no godless man can appear before God.
- Job 1:21 (BSB)“saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.””Job blessed the name of the LORD after his losses.
- James 5:11 (BSB)“See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”James commends Job’s perseverance and the Lord’s compassion and mercy.
- Psalm 73:26 (BSB)“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”The psalmist says God remains the strength of his heart when flesh and heart fail.
General
True or False: In 13:20-22, Job asks God to end his life quickly so that he never has to face Him.
Answer: False
This is false. Job asks God for two things so that he will not have to hide from Him: that God would take His heavy hand off him, and that God’s terror would not overwhelm him (13:20-21). Then he wants a real conversation, with God calling and Job answering, or Job speaking and God replying (13:22). Job wants to meet God, not escape Him. He made the same request earlier, asking God to remove His rod so that Job could speak without fear (9:34-35). In the end the LORD did answer Job, speaking from the whirlwind (38:1).
- Job 13:20-22 (BSB)“Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.”Job asks God to withdraw His hand and His terror so that they may speak together.
- Job 9:34-35 (BSB)“Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me. Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.”Job earlier asked God to remove His rod so he could speak without fear.
- Job 38:1 (BSB)“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:”The LORD answers Job out of the whirlwind.
Theological
True or False: The two requests of 13:20-22 amount to a plea that God take Job’s life before any hearing takes place.
Answer: False
This is false. Job asks two things so that he need not conceal himself from God: the withdrawal of God’s afflicting hand and relief from His overwhelming terror (13:20-21). His aim is a hearing, with God summoning and Job answering, or Job speaking and God responding (13:22). He seeks an encounter, not escape, renewing his earlier plea that God remove His rod so he could speak without fear (9:34-35). The LORD does at last answer him from the whirlwind (38:1), though on His own terms.
- Job 13:20-22 (BSB)“Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.”Job asks God to withdraw His hand and His terror so that they may speak together.
- Job 9:34-35 (BSB)“Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me. Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.”Job earlier asked God to remove His rod so he could speak without fear.
- Job 38:1 (BSB)“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:”The LORD answers Job out of the whirlwind.
General
In 13:4, what does Job call his three friends?
Answer: Useless doctors who plaster over the truth with falsehood
Job tells his friends that they cover the truth with lies and that they are physicians who are worthless (13:4). A doctor is supposed to bring healing, but their speeches have only added to his pain. Job repeats the charge later, calling them comforters who make him miserable (16:2) and saying that their answers are nothing but falsehood (21:34). At the end of the book the LORD Himself tells Eliphaz that he and the other two friends did not speak rightly of Him, as Job did (42:7).
- Job 13:4 (BSB)“You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.”Job accuses the friends of smearing him with lies and calls them worthless physicians.
- Job 16:2 (BSB)““I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.”Job later calls the friends miserable comforters.
- Job 21:34 (BSB)“So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.””Job says their comfort is empty and their answers false.
- Job 42:7 (BSB)“After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.”The LORD says the friends did not speak about Him accurately, as Job did.
Theological
How does Job characterize his friends and their counsel in 13:4?
Answer: Useless doctors who plaster over the truth with falsehood
Job brands the friends as falsifiers and as physicians of no value (13:4): their diagnosis of his suffering as the penalty for hidden sin has wounded rather than healed. He sustains the charge in the following cycles, naming them miserable comforters (16:2) and calling their answers falsehood (21:34). The LORD’s closing verdict confirms Job’s assessment of their theology, for His wrath burns against Eliphaz and his two companions because they did not speak rightly of Him, as His servant Job did (42:7).
- Job 13:4 (BSB)“You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.”Job accuses the friends of smearing him with lies and calls them worthless physicians.
- Job 16:2 (BSB)““I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.”Job later calls the friends miserable comforters.
- Job 21:34 (BSB)“So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.””Job says their comfort is empty and their answers false.
- Job 42:7 (BSB)“After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, He said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends. For you have not spoken about Me accurately, as My servant Job has.”The LORD says the friends did not speak about Him accurately, as Job did.