Job 13:13 kjv
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
Job 13:13 nkjv
"Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may!
Job 13:13 niv
"Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may.
Job 13:13 esv
"Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
Job 13:13 nlt
"Be silent now and leave me alone.
Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.
Job 13 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 13:14-16 | Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him... | Job's unwavering faith despite mortal threat. |
| Job 23:3-4 | Oh that I knew where I might find Him! that I might come even to His seat! | Job's yearning to present his case directly to God. |
| Job 32:1-4 | ...these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Elihu's anger was aroused... | The friends finally silenced, leading to Elihu's discourse. |
| Job 6:28 | Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. | Job pleading for attention and silence earlier in their dialogue. |
| Job 19:2-3 | How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? | Job's enduring pain from his friends' verbal assaults. |
| Job 42:7 | ...My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job hath. | God Himself rebukes Job's friends for their inaccurate words. |
| Ps 39:9 | I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it. | Acknowledging God's sovereignty even in silence, contrasting with Job's chosen speaking. |
| Isa 45:11 | Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel... Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands command ye Me. | Israel encouraged to speak to God, echoing Job's desire to confront God. |
| Hab 2:20 | But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him. | The universal call for silence before the sovereign God. |
| Ecc 3:7 | A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. | The biblical understanding of appropriate times for speech and silence. |
| Matt 10:28 | And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul... | Accepting physical consequences for spiritual conviction. |
| Acts 20:24 | But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course... | Valuing spiritual purpose above one's own life, mirroring Job's resolve. |
| Php 1:20 | According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. | Christ-followers glorifying God through life or death, similar to Job's determination. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God... | Ultimate trust and security in God's love, enabling Job's fearlessness. |
| Jas 1:2-4 | My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations... | Perseverance in trials leading to steadfastness. |
| Heb 12:4 | Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. | The extent of sacrifice one might need to make for righteousness. |
| Luke 12:4-5 | And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do... | Prioritizing God's authority over human fear, even facing death. |
| Prov 17:28 | Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. | Proverbial wisdom, suggesting Job's friends would have been wiser by remaining silent. |
| Job 1:21 | The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. | Job's earlier expression of submission and acceptance, now applied to his right to speak. |
| Job 7:11 | Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. | Job's earlier expression of the compelling need to speak, anticipating 13:13. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-16 | Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial... but rejoice... | Suffering for righteousness' sake as part of the Christian walk. |
| Jer 20:9 | Then I said, I will not make mention of Him, nor speak any more in His name. But His word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with holding it in, and I could not. | A prophet's irresistible urge to speak divine truth, paralleling Job's need for expression. |
Job 13 verses
Job 13 13 Meaning
Job's forceful command to his three friends to cease their unhelpful and erroneous counsel. He states his unyielding determination to express himself fully before God, even if such honesty leads to severe consequences or even death. It encapsulates his resolve to pursue truth and plead his case, regardless of personal cost.
Job 13 13 Context
Job 13 is part of Job's third response to his friends (chapters 12-14) who have consistently misapplied traditional wisdom, attempting to justify Job's suffering as divine retribution for his sin. Job begins this chapter by critiquing their superficial arguments and "worthless physicians" (13:4) whose comfort is ill-conceived and untrue to God's ways. Job yearns for an audience with God Himself (13:3), believing he can present his case more clearly to the Almighty than to his misguided accusers. Verse 13 marks a crucial turning point where Job decisively dismisses his friends' ongoing chatter and asserts his unwavering resolve to speak his mind, understanding that this act of truthful confrontation with God may bring dire consequences upon himself. The historical context reveals a prevailing belief in strict retribution, which Job challenges, highlighting the profound mystery of suffering and divine justice that often extends beyond simplistic human comprehension.
Job 13 13 Word analysis
"Hold your peace" (הַחֲרִישׁוּ - hachărîšû): This is a strong, imperative command from the Hiphil stem of the Hebrew verb חָרַשׁ (charash), meaning "to be silent," "to be still," or "to keep quiet." It conveys an urgent demand for absolute cessation of speech from his friends.
"let me alone" (מִמֶּנִּי - mimmennî): This phrase can be literally translated as "from me" or "away from me." In this context, it functions as a plea for his friends to distance themselves from him, not necessarily physically, but to cease their intrusive and painful counsel, granting him mental and emotional space.
"that I may speak" (וַאֲדַבְּרָה - wa'ădabbrâ): The Hebrew verb אֲדַבְּרָה ('adabberah) is in the cohortative mood, which expresses a strong desire, intention, or resolution. Job is asserting his fervent need and right to articulate his grievances and his understanding directly.
"and let come on me what will" (וְיַעֲבוֹר עָלַי מַה - v'ya'ăvôr 'alay mah...): This concluding clause conveys Job's utter resignation and audacious resolve. The verb יַעֲבוֹר (ya'ăvôr) from עָבַר (avar) means "to pass over," "to come upon," or "to befall." This phrase signifies his readiness to accept any and all consequences, no matter how severe, for the sake of speaking his truth. It is an act of ultimate submission combined with extreme determination.
"Hold your peace, let me alone": This initial pairing of commands highlights Job's deep frustration and desperate need for solitude from the misguided "comfort" of his friends. Their continued speech is an unbearable torment, hindering his ability to engage with his own suffering and with God.
"that I may speak, and let come on me what will": This forms a powerful consequence. Job's freedom to speak his mind and heart, particularly to God, is so vital to him that he is willing to accept whatever adverse outcome that outspokenness might invite from God or from the world. This coupling demonstrates both Job's agency and his radical surrender.
Job 13 13 Bonus section
- This verse signifies a pivotal moment of agency for Job, where he actively reclaims his voice and narrative from the dominant, often condemning, voices of his friends.
- It serves as a timeless lesson in discerning between true spiritual guidance and misinformed, although sometimes well-intended, counsel. Job understood that silence from others was necessary for him to hear his own heart and, more importantly, God.
- The raw courage demonstrated by Job in this verse foreshadows his audacious questioning of God in subsequent chapters, leading ultimately to God's direct revelation in chapters 38-41.
- Job's willingness to suffer any consequence for truth underscores the biblical principle of valuing integrity and divine truth above personal comfort or even one's very life.
Job 13 13 Commentary
Job 13:13 stands as a profound testament to Job's integrity, desperation, and unwavering faith amidst unimaginable suffering. Wearied by the simplistic and often inaccurate theology of his friends, Job here issues a forceful, definitive command for their silence. He views their arguments as a greater torment than his physical afflictions. This moment marks Job's pivot from engaging in a debate with his friends to steeling himself for a direct, audacious confrontation with God. His declaration "let come on me what will" is not reckless or despairing, but an act of profound, existential trust. It reveals a soul so consumed by the need for truth and vindication that it chooses to speak, even if the divine response might be devastating. Job understands that even a painful encounter with God is preferable to the insipid and misdirected "comfort" of human companions. It is an expression of deep conviction, where the pursuit of genuine understanding and divine justice surpasses all fear of consequences, even death.