Job 13 10

Job 13:10 kjv

He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

Job 13:10 nkjv

He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality.

Job 13:10 niv

He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.

Job 13:10 esv

He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.

Job 13:10 nlt

No, you will be in trouble with him
if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.

Job 13 verses

Job 13 10 Meaning

Job 13:10 means that God will certainly rebuke or condemn those who speak on His behalf with insincere motives or by twisting the truth, especially by showing deceptive partiality. In this context, Job warns his friends that their dishonest defense of God, undertaken to affirm their own rigid theology or appease God through false accusations against Job, will be exposed and condemned by God Himself. God, who is just and sees all, does not tolerate deceit or a skewed sense of righteousness, even when it appears to be in His defense.

Job 13 10 Context

This verse is found within Job's third speech, responding to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.Job's friends have relentlessly asserted that Job's immense suffering must be a consequence of his hidden sins, aiming to justify God's actions and uphold a simplistic "retribution theology."In Job 13, Job expresses his intense desire to present his case directly before God (vv. 3-5), rather than dealing with his "worthless physicians" (v. 4). He accuses his friends of fabricating arguments and spreading lies (v. 4). He challenges them for their attempts to speak for God in a way that he perceives as dishonest and manipulative, even suggesting that God Himself will be displeased with their deceptive defenses (vv. 7-9).Job 13:10 is a direct warning to his friends, asserting that their presumed piety and defense of God through flawed, partial arguments will surely earn God's rebuke. It reflects Job's deep conviction that God is just and does not require lies to validate His sovereignty.Historically, "showing partiality" was a severe accusation in ancient Near Eastern legal and social systems, especially for those in authority or those claiming to represent divine justice. It meant rendering judgment based on the identity or status of individuals rather than on the objective truth of a matter. Job applies this charge to his friends' theological arguments, accusing them of siding with God (the ultimate authority) in an unfair or deceptive manner, not out of true insight or justice, but perhaps out of fear or a misplaced desire for favor. This amounts to a subtle polemic against the contemporary religious thought that uncritically justifies suffering as punishment without regard for deeper truth, implicitly flattering God with arguments that betray justice and truth.

Job 13 10 Word analysis

• He (هُوَ - hu): Refers directly and explicitly to God, underscoring His supreme authority as the ultimate Judge and His active role in overseeing human conduct.
• will surely reprove (הוֹכֵחַ יוֹכִיחַ - hokheakh yokhiakh): This is a Hebrew emphatic construction (infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb from the same root), indicating absolute certainty and intensity. It denotes a firm and severe rebuke, a clear refutation, or a definitive judicial pronouncement. It signifies that God's judgment will be undeniable and potent, going beyond a mere mild disapproval to a conclusive condemnation of their actions. The root verb can imply legal arbitration, correction, or demonstration of fault.
• you (אֶתְכֶם - etkhem): Addresses Job's friends directly. Job uses a collective pronoun, targeting their shared pattern of argumentative deceit.
• if (אִם - 'im): This conditional particle introduces the specific behavior that will draw God's certain reproof. In this context, it functions as a strong indictment, implying that Job is convinced his friends are indeed guilty of this transgression.
• you secretly show partiality (תִּשְׂאוּ פָנִים בַּסֵּתֶר - tis'u phanim baseter):
  • show partiality (תִּשְׂאוּ פָנִים - tis'u phanim): This is a Hebrew idiom meaning "to lift up faces" or "to accept faces." It signifies showing favoritism, bias, or preferential treatment towards an individual based on their status, wealth, or relationship, rather than based on the merits of a case or the truth. Here, it implies Job's friends are demonstrating biased judgment, presumably in God's favor, to validate their theology and condemn Job.
  • secretly (בַּסֵּתֶר - baseter): This adverb means "in secret," "privately," or "in a hidden manner." It points to the insidiousness or unacknowledged nature of their bias. It suggests that their partiality is not openly admitted but stems from a deeper, perhaps self-deceptive, motivation, hidden from themselves or others, yet entirely evident to God. They may think their biased reasoning is justifiable or undetected, but God sees the heart of the matter.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• He will surely reprove you: This forceful statement sets up God as the authoritative and certain judge over the friends. It asserts that their current course of action, despite its seemingly pious veneer, will inevitably meet with divine condemnation. Job is appealing to God's own justice against their flawed representation of it.
• if you secretly show partiality: This identifies the specific and egregious sin Job's friends are committing. It's not just that they are biased, but that this bias is hidden or unacknowledged. They are not genuinely seeking truth or upholding justice but are flattering God with arguments they may know are based on false premises, or at least lack genuine concern for truth, all in an attempt to justify His perceived actions or align themselves with His perceived favor. The secrecy of their partiality highlights the deceit in their hearts and methods.

Job 13 10 Bonus section

• Divine Justice vs. Human Preconception: This verse is a cornerstone of Job's theological counter-argument. He argues against the prevalent wisdom of his time which believed in a direct, immediate, and simple system of divine retribution (righteous are blessed, wicked are cursed). His friends' "partiality" stemmed from their insistence on fitting Job into this simplistic theological mold, even if it meant misrepresenting God's justice or slandering Job.
• God's Reputation: Job challenges the idea that God's reputation needs to be 'defended' by human falsehoods. He implies that God's true glory is upheld by truth and righteousness, not by intellectual dishonesty or a prejudiced defense of His ways. God needs no defense based on lies.
• Literary Fulfillment: Job's assertion in Job 13:10 finds its ultimate vindication in the concluding chapters of the book, specifically in Job 42:7-8, where God Himself confirms Job's uprightness and rebukes the friends for not speaking "what is right about me." This divine verdict confirms Job's early accusation against their dishonest and flawed argumentation.
• Integrity of Speech: The verse elevates the importance of speaking truth, even in the most challenging and mystifying circumstances of suffering and divine interaction. It highlights a critical ethical demand: how one speaks about God and for God must itself reflect God's character.

Job 13 10 Commentary

Job 13:10 powerfully asserts God's ultimate standard of truth and integrity, even in defense of Himself. Job, suffering unjustly, sees his friends' arguments as fundamentally flawed: while ostensibly defending God, they do so through dishonesty and prejudice. They implicitly assume that God needs human lies or partial judgments to uphold His reputation. Job's warning underscores that God abhors deceit and partiality, regardless of their purported intent. His omniscience sees through hidden motives and pious facades, demanding sincere righteousness rather than manufactured justifications. The verse is a profound reminder that true worship and service to God require unwavering truthfulness and justice, not self-serving or deceptive theological constructs. It warns against manipulating truth or showing favoritism in the guise of religious devotion.

• When engaging in theological discussions, prioritize truth and intellectual honesty, rather than adhering rigidly to preconceived doctrines at the expense of fairness or accuracy.
• In judging the actions or character of others, ensure your assessment is based on genuine facts and unbiased consideration, rather than personal loyalties or assumptions.
• Reflect on whether actions supposedly done "for God" truly reflect His character of truth and justice, or whether they subtly involve dishonest means or hidden biases.