Job 13 · Verse 5

Job 13:5

O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
Job 13:5, King James Version

Job 13:5 in other translations

BSBIf only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
WEBOh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
ASVOh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.
YLTO that ye would keep perfectly silent, And it would be to you for wisdom.
DARBYOh that ye would be altogether silent! and it would be your wisdom.
BBEIf only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
WebsterO that ye would altogether hold your peace and it would be your wisdom.

What does Job 13:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. (Pr 17:28). The Arabs say, "The wise are dumb; silence is wisdom."

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom - In Pro 17:28 we have the following apophtheym: "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips, a man of understanding." There is no reason to say that Solomon quotes from Job: I have already expressed my opinion that the high antiquity attributed to this book is perfectly unfounded, and that there is much more evidence that Solomon was its author, than there is that it was the composition of Moses. But, whenever Job lived, whether before Abraham or after Moses, the book was not written till the time of Solomon, if not later. But as to the saying in question, it is a general apophthegm, and may be found among the wise sayings of all nations. I may observe here, that a silent man is not likely to be a fool; for a fool will be always prating, or, according to another adage, a fool's bolt is soon shot. The Latins have the same proverb: Vir sapit, qui pauca loquitur, "A wise man speaks little."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 13:1-12

With self-preference, Job declared that he needed not to be taught by them. Those who dispute are tempted to magnify themselves, and lower their brethren, more than is fit. When dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the Physician of our souls, who never rejects any, never prescribes amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we…

Read the full comment on Job 13:1-12 →

Job 13:5 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.

מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
יִ֭תֵּןYi.tenwill he giveH5414
הַחֲרֵ֣שׁha.cha.Reshcertainly <to be silent>H2790
תַּחֲרִישׁ֑וּןta.cha.ri.Shunyou will be silent !H2790
וּתְהִ֖יu.te.Hiand it may becomeH1961
לָכֶ֣םla.Khemfor you
לְחָכְמָֽה\׃le.cha.khe.Mah<into> wisdomH2451

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

Cross references for Job 13:5

  • Proverbs 17:28

    Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

  • James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • Ecclesiastes 5:3

    For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

  • Job 13:13

    Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

  • Job 32:1

    So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

  • Job 11:3

    Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

  • Job 21:2-3

    Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

  • Amos 5:13

    Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

  • Job 16:3

    Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

  • Job 18:2

    How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

  • Job 19:2

    How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Oh that ye.
13; 11:3; 16:3; 18:2; 19:2; 21:2,3; 32:1
and it.
Pr 17:28; Ec 5:3; Am 5:13; Jas 1:19

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

Context

  • Job 13:4

    But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

  • Job 13:5

    O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

  • Job 13:6

    Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

Read all of Job 13

Job 13:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Ojalá callarais del todo, porque os fuera sabiduría.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Oh! si seulement vous demeuriez dans le silence! et ce serait votre sagesse.
German
Elberfelder 1871		O daß ihr doch stille schwieget! das würde euch zur Weisheit gereichen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Atque utinam taceretis, ut putaremini esse sapientes.