Job 36 13

Job 36:13 kjv

But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

Job 36:13 nkjv

"But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them.

Job 36:13 niv

"The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.

Job 36:13 esv

"The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.

Job 36:13 nlt

For the godless are full of resentment.
Even when he punishes them,
they refuse to cry out to him for help.

Job 36 verses

Job 36 13 Meaning

This verse describes a specific type of wicked individual: those whose fundamental disposition and inner core are devoid of godliness. Such people actively accrue divine judgment upon themselves. When God, through various forms of affliction or suffering, "binds them" – bringing them into a state of distress or inescapable predicament – they defiantly refuse to humble themselves and call upon Him for help. Their lack of seeking God in their affliction solidifies their unrepentant nature, leading them to intensify their own impending doom.

Job 36 13 Context

Job 36:13 is spoken by Elihu, the youngest of Job's counselors, within his long discourse that spans chapters 32-37. Elihu presents himself as speaking on behalf of God, intending to correct Job's perspective. He asserts God's righteousness, majesty, and absolute power, defending His actions against any perceived injustice. In this section (Job 36:5-15), Elihu specifically explains how God deals with humanity through affliction. He argues that God preserves the afflicted, instructs them through suffering, and tests them. This verse, 36:13, stands in sharp contrast to the immediately preceding verses where Elihu describes how God shows favor to the righteous poor who turn to Him (Job 36:7-12). Here, Elihu turns to describe the fate of those who are impious and rebellious, categorizing them as people who reject God's disciplinary hand and accumulate His wrath. It fits within Elihu's broader argument that suffering serves God's purposes, distinguishing between suffering that leads to correction and suffering that hardens the heart and intensifies judgment. Historically and culturally, the concept of divine retribution for sin was pervasive, and Elihu reflects a nuanced version of this, highlighting the role of human response to affliction.

Job 36 13 Word analysis

• But: Signals a transition and strong contrast to the previous point, introducing the inverse of the previously described, receptive response to divine affliction.
• the godless: Hebrew: חֲנֵפֵי (khanefey), plural of חָנֵף (hanef). This term implies not merely a lack of religious observance, but active impurity, profaneness, and corruption. It often carries the sense of hypocrisy or defilement, someone whose life or heart is perverse and polluted in the sight of God, in deliberate opposition to what is sacred or right.
• in heart: Hebrew: בַּלֵּב (ba-lev), meaning "in the inner being" or "in their core." The "heart" (לֵב, lev) in Hebrew anthropology represents the totality of one's inner person – intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. This emphasizes that their godlessness is not superficial but deep-seated, intrinsic to who they are.
• heap up: Hebrew: יַשִׁיתוּ (yashitu), from the root שׁוּת (shut), meaning "to set," "place," or "lay up." Here, it conveys a deliberate, continuous action of accumulation. They are not merely passively receiving, but actively gathering or adding to something for themselves.
• wrath: Hebrew: חָרַץ (kharats). In this context, it signifies a determined judgment or condemnation, rather than merely an emotion of anger. It refers to God's firm resolve for punitive action against rebellion, the consequence that has been definitively "cut off" or "decreed" for them.
• they cry not for help: Hebrew: לֹא יְשַׁוְּעוּ (lo yeshavve'u). יְשַׁוְּעוּ (yeshavve'u) means "they cry out for deliverance" or "they plead." The negation (לֹא, lo) signifies a resolute refusal or a stubborn inability to make such an appeal. This indicates a profound spiritual blindness or pride, rejecting the very source of succor.
• when he binds them: Hebrew: כִּי אָסָרָם (ki asaram). אָסַר (asar) means "to bind," "to imprison," "to constrain." This describes a state of severe distress, affliction, or restriction imposed by God, preventing escape or free movement. It highlights that God Himself is the agent of their distress, and even under His hand, they do not turn.
• Words-group Analysis
  • "the godless in heart heap up wrath": This phrase paints a picture of deliberate spiritual self-destruction. The internal state of impious disregard for God manifests in actions (or inactions) that naturally lead to an increasing accumulation of divine judgment. Their unholy nature is actively gathering adverse consequences.
  • "they cry not for help when he binds them": This shows the unrepentant nature of such individuals. Even when divine discipline (being "bound") is upon them, intended possibly as a corrective, they resist humbling themselves and seeking God's mercy. This lack of responsiveness to suffering seals their fate and amplifies the very "wrath" they are "heaping up." It contrasts sharply with the common expectation that distress should lead one to seek a higher power.

Job 36 13 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the concept of active participation in one's own destiny concerning divine judgment. It is not just God who determines wrath, but the actions and, more significantly, the internal disposition of the individual that contribute to the "heaping up" of it. This highlights personal responsibility in spiritual matters. Elihu's argument here challenges the notion that all suffering is merely random or inherently unjust. Instead, he posits that suffering can be remedial for those who respond rightly, but it becomes confirmatory of judgment for those who remain defiant. The severity of the "binding" by God is not necessarily for direct destruction, but often as a means to prompt repentance, a purpose tragically lost on "the godless in heart." The phrase "cry not for help" underscores a tragic blindness: even in extreme distress, their internal spiritual condition overrides the natural human instinct to seek relief from suffering, particularly from its divine source. This contrasts with Job's own persistent cries to God despite his despair.

Job 36 13 Commentary

Job 36:13, as articulated by Elihu, presents a stark warning about the path of stubborn impenitence. It reveals that those whose inner being is characterized by ungodliness are not passive victims of fate but active architects of their own doom, effectively accumulating God's just retribution. When divine discipline or inescapable affliction comes upon them – when God "binds them" – their pride and spiritual perversion prevent them from seeking His mercy or even acknowledging His sovereignty. Instead of leading to repentance, their suffering merely hardens their hearts, making them unable or unwilling to call upon the only One who can deliver them. Their defiant silence in the face of judgment only compounds their condemnation, ensuring their destruction. This stands as a stark contrast to the righteous, who turn to God in their distress, finding deliverance and instruction.

• Example: A person who consistently exploits others and blames God for their subsequent misfortunes, rather than confessing their wrongdoing and seeking repentance, continues to accrue the inevitable consequences of their hardened heart. Their persistent complaints and curses, even amidst adversity, rather than humble appeals, illustrate their "not crying for help."