Job 13:17 kjv
Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
Job 13:17 nkjv
Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.
Job 13:17 niv
Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.
Job 13:17 esv
Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.
Job 13:17 nlt
"Listen closely to what I am about to say.
Hear me out.
Job 13 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 5:1 | Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. | David's plea for divine attention. |
| Ps 17:1 | Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry... | A cry for God to hear his righteous plea. |
| Ps 78:1 | Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. | An appeal for deep, understanding listening to instruction. |
| Isa 1:2 | Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken! | A prophetic call for all creation to listen to God's decree. |
| Isa 51:4 | Give attention to me, my people; and give ear to me, my nation... | God's call for Israel to heed His teaching. |
| Prov 2:2 | ...making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; | Emphasizes diligent listening for spiritual insight. |
| Prov 4:20 | My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. | Wisdom teaching the importance of listening to instruction. |
| James 1:19 | ...let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; | New Testament call for active and patient listening. |
| Deut 6:4 | Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. | The "Shema," a foundational command demanding receptive listening. |
| John 8:43 | Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. | Jesus confronting those unwilling to truly hear Him. |
| Matt 13:9 | He who has ears, let him hear. | Call for spiritual discernment in understanding divine truths. |
| Luke 8:8 | ...He who has ears to hear, let him hear. | Reiterating the need for attentive reception of parables. |
| Acts 28:27 | For this people's heart has grown dull... they hear with reluctance... they have closed their eyes. | Describes a resistance to truly hearing God's message. |
| Ps 66:19 | But God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. | God's attentiveness contrasted with human resistance. |
| 1 Pet 3:15 | ...always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope... | Readiness to articulate one's convictions, akin to Job's defense. |
| Job 23:3-4 | Oh that I knew where I might find him... I would present my case before him. | Job's yearning for a direct hearing with God. |
| Job 31:35 | Oh, that I had one to hear me! | Job's ongoing desire for someone, especially God, to hear his defense. |
| Job 32:11-12 | Indeed, I waited for your words... I listened closely to your reasonings... but there was none among you... | Elihu criticizes the friends for not answering Job effectively, showing their lack of true hearing. |
| Matt 10:14 | And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words... | Not being heard and the consequence for those who reject the message. |
| Heb 4:7 | ...if today you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. | Warning against resistant hearing when God speaks. |
| Zech 7:11-12 | But they refused to pay attention... they stopped their ears... they made their hearts diamond-hard. | Describes stubborn refusal to hear God's commands. |
| Is 30:21 | And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way... | Divine guidance for those who are willing to hear. |
| Pro 18:13 | If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. | Highlights the folly of speaking without careful listening, relevant to Job's friends. |
Job 13 verses
Job 13 17 Meaning
Job 13:17 presents a forceful plea from Job to his friends, demanding their undivided attention to his words. He is not merely asking them to hear sound, but to truly listen, process, and comprehend the gravity and truthfulness of his argument. It underscores his deep frustration with their lack of understanding and his earnest desire to be heard as he defends his integrity and appeals his case, ultimately, before God. This verse is a call for a fair and attentive hearing in the face of what Job perceives as biased and superficial judgment from his companions.
Job 13 17 Context
Job 13:17 is embedded within Job's vehement and impassioned defense against the accusations of his three friends. From chapter 3 onward, Job has been grappling with immense suffering and the friends' theological framework that equates suffering directly with sin. They relentlessly press him to confess hidden transgressions, thereby implicitly challenging his integrity. Immediately prior to this verse (Job 13:15-16), Job makes one of his most profound statements of faith: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; but I will maintain my own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite cannot come before him." This demonstrates his resolute confidence in God even in the face of death and his unwavering commitment to vindicate his innocence. Therefore, Job's demand for attention in verse 17 is a critical prerequisite to his forthcoming argument, where he intends to present his case directly to God (Job 13:18-28) rather than continuing futile debates with his friends who have proven to be "worthless physicians" (Job 13:4). The historical context shows a prevailing belief system of strict retributive justice, which Job's experience and argument challenged, making his demand to be truly heard an indirect polemic against that limited understanding.
Job 13 17 Word analysis
- Listen carefully (הַקְשִׁיב - haqshiyv): This is an imperative verb derived from the root qashav, meaning "to hearken," "to pay close attention," or "to listen diligently." It denotes a focused, intentional act of listening, not just passively hearing sound. It implies an intellectual and volitional effort to comprehend and receive the message, distinguishing it from casual hearing. Job demands an active engagement from his audience, signaling the crucial importance of what he is about to say.
- to my speech (לְדִבְרָתִי - l'divrati): The noun dibrah (from the root dabar "to speak, word") refers to one's utterance, discourse, or communication. Here, with the possessive suffix "my," it refers to Job's full, developed argument and his forthcoming defense. It's not idle chatter but a significant presentation of his experience and conviction, specifically his plea to God and his defense against the friends' false accusations.
- and let my declaration (וְתִקְשֶׁבֶת - v'tiqsbevet): The term tiqsbevet is unique and derived from the same root as haqshiyv (to listen carefully). It is an uncommon feminine noun, often translated as "that which demands listening," "an earnest statement," "my solemn utterance," or even "reproof." It highlights the weight, solemnity, and crucial nature of Job's statement. It signifies something that compels profound attention due to its intrinsic importance or the depth of the matter being discussed.
- enter your ears (בְּאָזְנֵיכֶם - b'oznekhem): The phrase "enter your ears" goes beyond mere physical hearing. It's an idiomatic expression implying that the words should not just strike the eardrum but penetrate the mind and heart, signifying deep reception, comprehension, and a willingness to be impacted by the message. It's a plea for internalizing his words, for true understanding, and for a cessation of superficial, biased listening. It suggests a call for discernment rather than dismissive judgment.
Words-group analysis
- "Listen carefully to my speech": This phrase combines an intense imperative to attend with the subject of that attention being Job's complete verbal account. It stresses the urgent and critical nature of Job's forthcoming communication, framing it as essential truth that must not be dismissed.
- "and let my declaration enter your ears": This parallel clause reinforces the first, elevating Job's message from "speech" to a weighty "declaration" (or solemn utterance) and intensifying the demand for its full reception beyond just hearing into deep internal processing. It underscores Job's longing for empathetic and thoughtful understanding from his auditors, implying a deep and personal significance to what he is about to say. The repetition (implied in the root of "listen carefully" and "declaration") emphasizes the urgency of a true, internal reception.
Job 13 17 Bonus section
This verse reflects a recurring theme in Scripture: the imperative for humanity to truly listen – not only to fellow humans, especially those in distress who claim truth, but most importantly, to the Word of God. The friends of Job, despite being present, failed to hear him with an open heart, applying their rigid theology rather than compassionate discernment. Job’s insistent call here foreshadows Elihu's later observation (Job 32:11-12) about the friends' inability to answer Job effectively, indicating a profound listening failure. For the reader, this verse serves as a potent reminder of the virtue of active, empathetic listening, a foundational element in wisdom and compassion.
Job 13 17 Commentary
Job 13:17 is a desperate yet confident plea from Job to his unhelpful companions for genuine attention. Tired of their shallow counsel and unfounded accusations, Job demands that they move beyond mere hearing to profound, understanding listening. His words are not trivial but constitute a vital defense of his integrity and a preparation for his ultimate appeal to God. He seeks to break through their pre-conceived notions of retributive justice, insisting that his earnest declaration be received not just by their ears, but by their minds and hearts, signifying a demand for discernment, empathy, and intellectual honesty from those who judge him.