Job · chapter 13 of 42
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In Job 13 Job says that he has seen everything his friends say and that he wants to speak to the Almighty and argue his case with God. He calls his friends worthless physicians who defend God with lies, and declares that though God slay him he will hope in him and defend his ways. Then he asks God for two things and asks how many his faults are.
In this chapter Job moves from answering his friends to deciding how he will address God. It is one of the most important pages of the book, because it contains one of the most quoted declarations of faith in the Bible and, at the same time, a readiness to argue with God. Job insists that what he wants is the truth, and that his friends, by defending God with falsehoods, offend him.
Job says that his eyes have seen all this and his ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty and argue my case with God. You, on the other hand, whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. Oh that you would keep silent altogether: that would be your wisdom. He invites them to hear his reasoning: will you speak falsely for God? Will you speak deceitfully for him? Will you show partiality toward him, as advocates for God? Will it be well when he searches you out? Their maxims are proverbs of ashes, their defenses defenses of clay.
Job asks them to be silent and let him speak, come what may. Why do I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? Even if God kills him, Job says, he will go on waiting for him, while still defending his conduct before God's face. That, he believes, will be his deliverance, since the godless cannot stand before God at all. He asks them to listen closely: he has set out his case and is confident he will be shown to be in the right. Whoever wants to contend with him may try, for then he would fall silent and die.
Then he turns to God, of whom he asks only two things so as not to hide from his face: to withdraw his hand far from him and not let dread of him terrify him. After that, let God call and he will answer, or let him speak and God reply. How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy? Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff? You write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet. Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Job says he wants to speak to the Almighty and argue his case with God. Rather than avoid God because of his pain, he desires a direct encounter: he seeks answers from God himself and not from his friends' opinions.
Job calls his friends whitewashers with lies and worthless physicians, and says the best thing would be for them to keep silent. It is a severe criticism of comfort that does not heal, and of a defense of God that does not stay with the truth.
Though God slay him, Job will hope in him, and yet he will argue his ways to his face. The phrase combines trust and protest, and the translation of the first verb is debated; in any case, Job does not let go of God.
Job asks how many are his iniquities and sins, and asks God to make him know his transgression. He does not claim to be perfect: what he demands is to know what he is accused of, instead of suffering without explanation.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: The Almighty, to argue his case with God. — Job 13:3
Answer: Whitewashers with lies and worthless physicians. — Job 13:4
Answer: To keep silent altogether. — Job 13:5
Answer: Whether they will speak falsely and deceitfully for God. — Job 13:7
Answer: That though God slay him, he will hope in him and argue his ways to his face. — Job 13:15
Answer: How many are his iniquities and sins, and asks him to make him know his transgression. — Job 13:23
Job 13 teaches us that truth is a form of loyalty to God. Job's friends wanted to defend God, but they did it with arguments that were not true, and Job told them that this was speaking deceitfully. Whoever teaches the Bible must say what they know, and also admit what they do not know, without dressing up reality to protect God.
Verse 15 has sustained many believers in pain. Job hopes in God even without understanding him, and at the same time does not give up asking him to answer. This balance is valuable: we can trust and ask, wait and protest. In your group you can share what helps you not let go of God when everything seems dark.
Job 13 ends with the image of a person who wastes away like a garment eaten by moths, which serves as a bridge to Job 14. There Job will meditate on the brevity of life, the hope a cut-down tree has, and the question whether a person, once dead, will live again.
There are two possible readings of the Hebrew text. One says that Job hopes in God though he slay him; the other, that Job has no hope and will defend his case before him anyway. In both Job refuses to drop his case with God. Many older translations follow the first, which has comforted believers.
A worthless physician prescribes remedies that do not heal. Job says his friends have healed nothing with their speeches, that they have only covered the wound with false explanations. It is a criticism of consolation that does not reach the real problem.
First, that he withdraw his hand from him, that is, that he stop his affliction. Second, that he not terrify him with his dread. With that Job could present his case calmly. It is a reasonable request from an accused person who wants to defend himself without being crushed beforehand.