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Job 13:19

in Job 13

Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.

KJV

Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.

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This verse in Job 13

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

this will be my salvation

on Job 13:16-19

Job carries the confidence of verse 15 into an argument, "this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him". The words "now that I have prepared my case" present him as a plaintiff with his brief, and Gill gives the verb its legal sense.

This site's exposition

Can anyone indict me?

Barnes hears him invite all comers to argue the case, sure of the result. Gregory notes that holy men so guard their works that no outward ground for accusation can be found. Should a true charge stand, Job would fall silent and die.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on Job · Written before 1274.

proposed

After he has rendered his listeners attentive, he determines the manner of his disputation. For he wants to dispute in the form of a debate. He expresses this saying, "Who will be judged with me?" that is, with whom may I debate about the truth? …

A commentator

Gregory the Dialogist

Morals on the Book of Job, Book XI · Written before 604.

proposed

Who is he that will plead with me? Let him come. Holy men so guard themselves in their good works, with God for their aid, that there can be no where found, without, grounds, whereon to accuse them; but within, in the secret thoughts of their own hearts, they watch over themselves with such good heed, that, if it might be, they may at all times stand blameless before the eyes of the interior Judge.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Who is he that will plead with me,....

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

if, &c.--Rather, "Then would I hold my tongue and give up the ghost"; that is, if any one can contend with me and prove me false, I have no more to say.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Who is he that will plead with me? - Let my accuser, the plaintiff, come forward; I will defend my cause against him. I shall give up the ghost - I shall cease to breathe. Defending myself will be as respiration unto me; or, While he is stating his case, I will be so silent as scarcely to appear to breathe.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Who is he that will plead with me? - That is, “who is there now that will take up the cause, and enter into an argument against me? I have set my cause before God. I appeal now to all to take up the argument against me, and have no fear if they do as to the result.

The words behind it

8 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • מִי־who?

    mi-H4310 →423 times

  • ה֭וּאthat

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • יָרִ֣יבwill he conduct a case

    yarivH7378 →67 times

  • עִמָּדִ֑יwith me

    ʾimadiH5978 →42 times

  • כִּֽי־if

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • עַתָּ֖הnow

    ʾatahH6258 →433 times

  • אַחֲרִ֣ישׁI will keep silent

    ʾacharishH2790 →74 times

  • וְאֶגְוָֽע׃and I may expire

    veegva'H1478 →24 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

12 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Isaiah 50:7–8Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.3 worksGenesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.3 worksJob 32:20I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and respond.3 worksRomans 8:33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.2 worksJob 33:32But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.2 worksJob 10:8Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?2 works
The other 6 cross-references, with their words ▾
Job 33:5–7Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.2 worksJob 19:5If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my disgrace against me,2 worksJob 7:11Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.2 worksJeremiah 20:9If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.2 worksJob 13:13Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.2 worksJob 20:2“So my anxious thoughts compel me to answer, because of the turmoil within me.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Romans 8:33

    Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 12:10–11

      And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our…

    • Isaiah 50:8–9

      The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!

    • Isaiah 54:17

      No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,” declares the…

    • Romans 8:1

      Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

    • Luke 18:7

      Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?

  • Through

    Job 10:8

    Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?

    it leads to

    • Psalms 119:73

      Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

    • Isaiah 43:7

      everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”

    • Job 10:3

      Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies1

About Job

Job Hears of His Misfortunes, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Job Hears of His Misfortunes, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Job: the study guide →Read Job 13 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XI; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.

Read on in Job 13 →