Job 13 · Verse 15

Job 13:15

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Job 13:15, King James Version

Job 13:15 in other translations

BSBThough He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
WEBBehold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
ASVBehold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
YLTLo, He doth slay me--I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
DARBYBehold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
BBETruly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;
WebsterThough he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.

What does Job 13:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. in him--So the margin or keri, reads. But the textual reading or chetib is "not," which agrees best with the context, and other passages wherein he says he has no hope (Job 6:11; 7:21; 10:20; 19:10). "Though He slay me, and I dare no more hope, yet I will maintain," &c., that is, "I desire to vindicate myself before Him," as not a hypocrite [Umbreit and Noyes].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 Though he slay me - I have no dependence but God; I trust in him alone. Should he even destroy my life by this affliction, yet will I hope that when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. In the common printed Hebrew text we have לא איחל lo ayachel, I will Not hope; but the Vulgate, Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee have read לו lo, Him, instead of לא lo Not; with twenty-nine of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and the Complutensian and Antwerp Polyglots. Our translators have followed the best reading. Coverdale renders the verse thus: Lo, there is nether comforte ner hope for me, yf he wil slaye me. But I will maintain mine own ways - I am so conscious of my innocence, that I fear not to defend myself from your aspersions, even in the presence of my Maker.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 13:13-22

Job resolved to cleave to the testimony his own conscience gave of his uprightness. He depended upon God for justification and salvation, the two great things we hope for through Christ. Temporal salvation he little expected, but of his eternal salvation he was very confident; that God would not only be his Saviour to make him happy, but his salvation, in the sight and enjoyment of whom he should be happy. He knew…

Read the full comment on Job 13:13-22 →

Job 13:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הֵ֣ןhenthere!H2005
יִ֭קְטְלֵנִיYik.te.le.nihe will kill meH6991
ל֣וֹloto him
אֲיַחֵ֑ל'a.ya.ChelI will hopeH3176
אַךְ\־'akh-neverthelessH389
דְּ֝רָכַ֗יde.ra.Khaiways myH1870
אֶל\־'el-toH413
פָּנָ֥יוpa.Navface hisH6440
אוֹכִֽיחַ\׃'o.Khi.achI will argueH3198

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 13:15

  • Psalms 23:4

    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  • Job 19:25-28

    For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

  • Job 23:10

    But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

  • Romans 8:38-39

    For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • 1 John 3:20

    For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

  • Job 27:5

    God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

  • Job 23:4-7

    I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

  • Proverbs 14:32

    The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

  • Job 40:8

    Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

  • Job 13:18

    Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.

  • Job 40:2

    Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

  • Job 16:21

    O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he slay me.
18; 19:25-28; 23:10; Ps 23:4; Pr 14:32; Ro 8:38,39
but I will.
10:7; 16:17,21; 23:4-7; 27:5; 31:31-37; 40:2,4,5,8; 1Jo 3:20
maintain. Heb. prove, or argue.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 13:14

    Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

  • Job 13:15

    Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

  • Job 13:16

    He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Read all of Job 13

Job 13:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí, aunque me matare, en él esperaré; empero defenderé delante de él mis caminos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, qu’il me tue, j’espérerai en lui; seulement, je défendrai mes voies devant lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, tötet er mich, ich werde auf ihn warten, nur will ich meine Wege ihm ins Angesicht rechtfertigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Etiam si occiderit me, in ipso sperabo: verumtamen vias meas in conspectu ejus arguam.