Job 13 — Though He Slay Me

Today’s Passage: Job 13

In this chapter Job turns away from his friends and toward God. He begins by dismissing them sharply, for they are worthless physicians whose best move now would be silence, and he warns them against telling lies for God in order to defend their system. Then he announces what he means to do: he will take his case directly to the Almighty, whatever it costs him. Out of that resolve rises the towering confession of verse 15, a trust that will not let go of God even if God should take his life.

As you read, hold this: Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.

Job 13:1–12 (BSB)

¹ “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood. ² What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. ³ Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. ⁴ You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians. ⁵ If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom! ⁶ Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. ⁷ Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him? ⁸ Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense? ⁹ Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him as you would deceive a man? ¹⁰ Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. ¹¹ Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? ¹² Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

His verdict on the friends is devastating. They are worthless physicians, and their best wisdom now would be silence. Then he levels a startling charge against them: in defending their theology they are lying for God, and God will not thank them for it. Their maxims are proverbs of ashes. He sees what they cannot see, that a true word badly used, a defense of God built on falsehood, is itself an offense against the very God it claims to honor.

Job 13:13–19 (BSB)

¹³ Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may. ¹⁴ Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? ¹⁵ Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face. ¹⁶ Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him. ¹⁷ Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears. ¹⁸ See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. ¹⁹ Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

This is the summit of the chapter. Job knows that to argue (מוֹכִיחַ) môkîaḥ, pronounced moh-KHEE-akh. Strong's H3198, arbiter, umpire, one who decides between two parties. This is the same root that stands behind the mediator Job longed for in 9:33, when he despaired that no one could arbitrate between himself and God. Now he resolves to make that argument to God directly. The word carries the sense of arguing, reasoning, presenting a legal case, even reproving, and his willingness to use it here is striking, for it shows he believes God is the kind of God a man can reason with. To bring an honest case before God is not blasphemy; it is relationship. with God is to take his own life in his hands, and he does it anyway, because his hope (אֲיַחֵלָה) achalleh, pronounced ah-yah-kheh-LAH. Strong's H3176, to wait, hope, wait expectantly with trust. There is a famous textual variant at this verse: the written Hebrew consonants can also be read “I have no hope.” The traditional reading, followed by the BSB and most translations, is “in Him I will hope,” and even the ambiguity is fitting, because Job’s hope is so embattled that it lives right on the edge of despair. This is not optimism. It is a decision to keep waiting on God with his own life on the line, faith at its purest, hoping in the One who holds the knife. rests not in winning the case but in God Himself. “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” Here is trust with no safety net, hope set on the One who could end him.

And paradoxically this very boldness becomes his salvation (verse 16), for only a man who is not godless would dare to come this honestly before God. “I know that I will be vindicated” (verse 18) is once more faith reaching past every visible sign.

Job 13:20–28 (BSB)

²⁰ Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You: ²¹ Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me. ²² Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. ²³ How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. ²⁴ Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? ²⁵ Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? ²⁶ For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. ²⁷ You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet. ²⁸ So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.

Having resolved to plead his case, Job asks God for two conditions so that he can speak without being crushed by terror, the same longing he voiced in 9:34. Then the questions pour out of him. “How many are my iniquities?” he asks: show me, if there is any hidden sin. “Why do You hide Your face?” is the ache beneath all the others. Verse 25 is heartbreaking in its smallness, “Would You frighten a windblown leaf?”, for he feels like a dead leaf being chased by Omnipotence. The chapter ends on the frailty of man, a thread he will pick up and deepen in chapter 14.