Job 11 15

Job 11:15 kjv

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

Job 11:15 nkjv

Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;

Job 11:15 niv

then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.

Job 11:15 esv

Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.

Job 11:15 nlt

Then your face will brighten with innocence.
You will be strong and free of fear.

Job 11 verses

Job 11 15 Meaning

Job 11:15 is part of Zophar's counsel to Job, where he asserts that if Job would humble himself, put away iniquity, and truly seek God, he would then experience a life of honor, purity, and freedom from fear. The verse specifically portrays the outcome of such repentance: a restored sense of dignity, an unblemished conscience, and unwavering security. Zophar presents a conventional, cause-and-effect theology, suggesting that Job's current suffering indicates his lack of these qualities, thus implying unconfessed sin as the cause of his distress.

Job 11 15 Context

Job 11:15 is spoken by Zophar the Naamathite, the third of Job's friends. This verse concludes his first, rather harsh, speech, specifically the optimistic outcome Zophar envisions if Job repents. Zophar's theology, like that of Eliphaz and Bildad, is based on a rigid system of divine retribution: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. He views Job's extreme suffering as undeniable proof of his hidden, serious sin, and strongly urges Job to confess and renounce his iniquity. Verses 13-14 provide the direct condition for this verse: "If you prepare your heart and stretch out your hands toward him... if you put away the iniquity that is in your hand." Zophar offers this future picture of unblemished honor and security as the reward for such repentance, contrasting it starkly with Job's current state of perceived shame and terror. The historical context for the original audience suggests a worldview where community honor and the absence of physical blemish (often tied to ritual purity and sacrificial integrity) were paramount for social standing and acceptance by God.

Job 11 15 Word analysis

• For then (כִּי־אָז֙ - kî-ʾāz):

  • kî: "For, indeed, truly," serving to introduce the consequence or explanation of what precedes.
  • ʾāz: "Then, at that time." Indicates a direct, immediate, and definite outcome following the proposed actions (repentance and seeking God). It emphasizes the certainty of the promise.
  • Together, this phrase strengthens the conditional promise from Zophar in the preceding verses, signaling a cause-and-effect relationship in his rigid theological framework.

• you will lift up (תִּשָּׂא֙ - tiśśāʾ):

  • Hebrew root נָשָׂא (nasa'): To lift, carry, bear.
  • Figuratively means to be elevated, to have dignity restored, to be unburdened. It's the opposite of being bowed down in shame, guilt, or grief (as Cain's face was downcast in Gen 4:6).
  • It implies a regaining of confidence and respect, an upright posture before God and man.

• your face (פָנֶ֔יךָ - pāneyḵā):

  • Hebrew פָּנִים (panim): Face, presence, countenance. Plural in form but often singular in meaning.
  • Beyond the physical feature, face represents one's reputation, honor, personal presence, and disposition. To "lift up one's face" is to be unashamed, to meet the gaze of others or God without fear of condemnation.
  • A downcast face indicated shame or guilt, while a lifted face signified innocence, boldness, or God's favor.

• without spot (מִמּ֔וּם - mi-mūm):

  • Hebrew מוּם (mum): Blemish, defect, stain.
  • Primarily refers to physical imperfections or ritual defilement (e.g., an animal without blemish for sacrifice, Lev 22:20-21, or priests without physical blemish, Lev 21:17-24).
  • Here, it is used metaphorically to mean moral blemish, guilt, fault, or moral stain on one's character or conscience. Zophar suggests Job's life, once cleansed, would be entirely pure and free of any mark of sin.

• and you will be steadfast (וְחָזַ֙קְתָּ֙ - wə-ḥāzaqtā):

  • Hebrew root חָזַק (ḥazaq): To be strong, firm, courageous, steady, seize, hold fast.
  • Implies inner strength, resolve, firmness, and security. Not wavering or trembling due to fear or uncertainty.
  • Often translated "secure," "courageous," or "steadfast." It suggests a sense of stability and resilience against adverse circumstances, no longer tossed by fear or doubt.

• and will not fear (וְלֹ֥א תִיחָֽד׃ - wə-lōʾ tīḥāḏ):

  • וְלֹא (wəlōʾ): "And not."
  • Hebrew root חָרַד (ḥarad): To tremble, be anxious, quake with fear or dread.
  • This indicates the absence of inner agitation, terror, or anxiety. It describes a state of profound peace and calm, where there is no longer any reason to be alarmed or apprehensive.
  • The comprehensive removal of fear is promised, both from external threats and internal worries.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "you will lift up your face": A metaphor for the restoration of honor, confidence, and innocence. It signifies a person free from the shame and guilt that weigh one down, able to look at God and others directly.
  • "without spot": Refers to a state of moral purity and blamelessness. The absence of mum implies a life fully accepted by God, akin to an unblemished sacrificial offering, demonstrating perfection and holiness.
  • "you will be steadfast and will not fear": Emphasizes inner strength and the complete absence of anxiety. This state of profound security arises from a clear conscience and the perception of God's favor, ensuring peace of mind against any threat.

Job 11 15 Bonus section

Zophar's depiction of a blameless, fear-free future is an aspirational ideal, even if misapplied to Job. The Hebrew term mum for "spot" connects directly to the sacrificial system in Leviticus, where animals offered to God had to be mum-free, perfect. By extension, a person "without mum" is morally whole and acceptable to God. This underlying concept implies that Job's current unworthiness, in Zophar's eyes, stems from a failure in moral integrity that requires the "removal of iniquity" (Job 11:14). The friends consistently fail to grasp that true righteousness is not just the absence of sin but a positive alignment with God's will, which Job indeed possessed, even in his suffering. Zophar's theological narrowness cannot accommodate suffering as a path to purification or testing, viewing it only as divine punishment.

Job 11 15 Commentary

Job 11:15 encapsulates Zophar's conventional wisdom: unblemished piety leads to palpable prosperity and peace. He offers a pristine vision of Job's potential future if Job aligns with this formulaic understanding of divine justice. The imagery of "lifting up one's face without spot" directly contrasts with Job's own perception of being disgraced and filled with bitterness (e.g., Job 10:15). Zophar believes Job's suffering is due to a blemish of sin, suggesting that removing this blemish will naturally lead to restored honor and freedom from the terrifying anxieties of his current state. The promise of being "steadfast and without fear" speaks to a complete inner security and composure, a state the friends consistently believed to be a reward for the righteous.

However, the irony of Zophar's words lies in their application to Job. Job is righteous and unblemished, yet he suffers immensely. Zophar's counsel, while seemingly orthodox, fails to account for the complexities of suffering beyond direct punitive action. The verse, despite its flawed application in Job's immediate situation, points to a broader biblical truth: ultimate security, honor, and freedom from fear are indeed found in a righteous standing before God. The New Testament confirms that through Christ, believers are presented "without blemish" (Col 1:22; Eph 5:27) and are encouraged to have confidence before Him (1 Jn 2:28). While Zophar presents a conditional and transactional model, the eschatological hope for believers does include a future where fear is dispelled, and purity brings glorious confidence.

Examples:

• A person who has truly repented and confessed sin can "lift their face" without guilt, having been forgiven.
• Someone living righteously experiences a measure of inner peace and security that enables them to face challenges "without fear."