Job 13:18 kjv
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
Job 13:18 nkjv
See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.
Job 13:18 niv
Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.
Job 13:18 esv
Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.
Job 13:18 nlt
I have prepared my case;
I will be proved innocent.
Job 13 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 19:25-27 | For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ...in my flesh shall I see God. | Job's ultimate hope in a divine vindicator. |
| Job 23:3-7 | Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him... | Job's desire to present his case to God. |
| Ps 26:1 | Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide. | Trust in God's judgment for vindication. |
| Ps 35:24 | Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. | Prayer for righteous judgment against foes. |
| Ps 7:8 | The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. | Request for judgment based on integrity. |
| Isa 50:8 | He is near that justifyth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? | Prophecy of one confident in divine justification. |
| Rom 3:28 | Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. | Justification by faith, a legal declaration. |
| Rom 5:1 | Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. | The result of being declared righteous. |
| Gal 2:16 | Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ... | Emphasis on faith over works for justification. |
| Titus 3:7 | That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. | Justification as an act of grace. |
| 1 Cor 4:4 | For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. | God is the ultimate judge for acquittal. |
| 1 Pet 3:14 | But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled. | Suffering for righteousness brings blessedness. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. | Jesus' example of committing to God's righteous judgment. |
| Jer 12:1 | Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments... | Jeremiah questions God's justice but affirms His righteousness. |
| Zech 3:1-5 | Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. ...and the angel said... take away the filthy garments from him...behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee. | Symbolic vindication from accusation before God. |
| Heb 10:22 | Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience... | Drawing near to God with confidence. |
| Isa 1:18 | Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow... | God invites to reason, leading to purification/justification. |
| Rev 12:10 | And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down... | The ultimate overthrow of the accuser. |
| John 5:24 | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. | Assurance of escaping judgment for believers. |
| Acts 13:39 | And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. | Justification through belief in Christ. |
| 2 Tim 4:8 | Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day... | Hope for reward from the righteous Judge. |
| Matt 12:37 | For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. | Principle of words leading to justification or condemnation. |
Job 13 verses
Job 13 18 Meaning
Job 13:18 conveys Job's steadfast conviction in his innocence and his profound certainty that he will be declared righteous or acquitted when his case is brought before God. Despite his severe suffering and his friends' accusations, Job asserts his readiness to present his defense to the Almighty, knowing that the outcome will be his vindication. This verse encapsulates Job's unwavering trust in his own integrity before God and his anticipation of a favorable divine verdict.
Job 13 18 Context
Job 13 is part of Job's lengthy response to his three friends, specifically following Zophar's speech. Job expresses profound dissatisfaction with his friends' hollow counsel and false arguments (Job 13:1-12), perceiving their "maxims of ashes" as detrimental to his integrity. He then turns directly to God (Job 13:13-28), pleading for a direct encounter rather than suffering under the accusations of his ill-informed companions. Job, deeply distressed but firm in his conviction, paradoxically voices both his fear of God's wrath and his audacious willingness to die (Job 13:15) if it means getting a direct hearing with the Almighty. Within this context of intense personal anguish and theological dispute, Job 13:18 serves as a defiant and hopeful declaration. He believes that despite all evidence to the contrary in his physical reality, his righteous standing before God will ultimately be affirmed. He prepares his case, asserting his certainty of being cleared of wrongdoing.
Job 13 18 Word analysis
- Behold (Heb. הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An interjection signaling immediacy, emphasis, or drawing attention. It highlights the profound conviction Job is about to declare, demanding focus on the certainty of his statement. It lends solemnity and importance to his ensuing declaration.
- I have ordered (Heb. עָרַכְתִּי, ʿārakhtî): From the verb עָרַךְ (ʿarakh), meaning to arrange, prepare, set in order, stack. In a legal context, it signifies the methodical preparation and presentation of an argument or case. Job asserts he is ready with his defense, implying meticulous thought and preparation. This term often appears in relation to setting battle arrays (Gen 14:8) or sacrifices (Gen 22:9), both actions requiring careful arrangement, suggesting a solemn and deliberate posture before God.
- my cause (Heb. מִשְׁפָּטִי, mishpaṭî): From מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which means judgment, justice, legal suit, right, or legal case. Here, it specifically refers to Job's personal plea or lawsuit against the divine accusation or his friends' charges. It evokes the imagery of a legal proceeding where Job expects to present his justification.
- I know (Heb. יָדַעְתִּי, yādaʿtî): From יָדַע (yādaʿ), to know, perceive, understand, acknowledge. This is not mere speculation but a deep, settled conviction and certainty. Job’s declaration is founded on an experiential knowledge of his own integrity and, implicitly, on an expectation of God's justice. It indicates intellectual apprehension and strong personal assurance.
- that I shall be justified (Heb. אֶצְדָּק, ʾeṣdāq): From the verb צָדַק (ṣādaq), meaning to be righteous, to be just, to be innocent, to be declared innocent, to be acquitted. In Job's context, this means to be vindicated and cleared of any wrongdoing in the sight of God. It's a legal term for receiving a "not guilty" verdict. Job expects divine approval of his character and actions. This anticipates the ultimate declaration of blamelessness.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Behold, I have ordered my cause": This phrase captures Job's resolute action. He's not passively waiting but actively preparing for a confrontation or appeal to divine justice. The interjection "behold" emphasizes the gravity and certainty of this preparation. "Ordered my cause" suggests that Job has carefully considered his situation and formulated his defense, ready to present it methodically and confidently before God. It's an expression of his proactive stance.
- "I know that I shall be justified": This constitutes the core of Job's profound faith and expectation. It reveals his unshakeable conviction regarding the outcome of his divinely adjudicated case. His suffering has not eroded his inner knowledge of his integrity. This isn't wishful thinking but an internal certainty, possibly born of his prior faithful living, which gives him assurance that God, as the ultimate righteous judge, will see and affirm his blamelessness.
Job 13 18 Bonus section
This verse reflects a foundational element of Job's character: his persistent demand for a hearing, convinced that his personal knowledge of his blamelessness must eventually align with God's ultimate verdict. It stands in stark contrast to the legal frameworks of the day, where one typically hoped for or pleaded for mercy; Job demands justice and vindication based on his inner integrity. This concept of presenting one's "case" to God signifies more than a legal challenge; it is a profound spiritual exercise where a person exposes their deepest being to the divine scrutiny, relying not on human advocates or convoluted legal arguments, but on the purity of their conscience before the Creator. The use of legal terminology underscores a critical aspect of God's interaction with humanity, portrayed in Scripture as the supreme Judge who renders fair judgments.
Job 13 18 Commentary
Job 13:18 is a testament to Job's unwavering conviction in his blamelessness before God, a conviction that stands firm even in the face of excruciating suffering and unfounded accusations from his closest companions. It demonstrates his daring yet profound faith: he demands a courtroom-like encounter with the Almighty, not as one despairing but as one confident in his plea. Job's "preparation of his case" (ordering his cause) indicates a meticulous approach to defending his integrity. He has pondered his situation deeply and is ready to lay bare his heart and life before God, convinced that God's justice, rightly applied, will inevitably lead to his acquittal. This is not a self-righteous declaration divorced from humility but a profound trust that God knows his heart and will confirm his uprightness, despite the temporal evidence suggesting otherwise. It is a bold affirmation of faith that ultimate vindication rests solely with the just God, echoing a hope for a righteous outcome from divine judgment, often found in the lives of those suffering unjustly.