Old Testament Commentary - Job 13

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                  CHAPTER 13                 

Job testifies of his confidence in the Lord, and says: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him; and, He also shall be my salvation.

  1 LO, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
  2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
  3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
  4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all aphysicians of no value.
 4a Job 16:2; D&C 121:10 (7-11)

  5 O that ye would altogether ahold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
  6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
  7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
  8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
 5a Prov. 17:28

  9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
  10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
  11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
  12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
  13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
  14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
  15 Though he aslay me, yet will I btrust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
  16 He also shall be my salvation: for an ahypocrite shall not come before him.
 15a TG Adversity
     b D&C 42:46; TG Faith
       TG Trust in God
 16a TG Hypocrisy

  17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
  18 Behold now, I have ordered my causea; I know that I shall be ajustified.
  19 Who is he that will aplead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
 18a I have ordered my cause Job had searched his soul, he had taken inventory and ordered his life so that he knew he had no guilt for which he was being punished and afflicted. It was not due to Job deserving to be punished that Job had been afflicted. It was of some other cause and Job would still trust in God despite of it.  18a TG Justification
 19a HEB contend

  20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
  21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
  22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
  23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to aknow my transgression and my sin.
  24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
  25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
 23a Alma 36:17 (12-19); D&C 18:44

  26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the ainiquities of my youth.
  27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
  28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
 26a 1 Kings 17:18; Ps. 25:7;
        D&C 58:42