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Read the Bible

King James Version

Job 13:15

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Faith;   Integrity;   Self-Righteousness;   Thompson Chain Reference - Faith-Unbelief;   Trust in God;   The Topic Concordance - Trust;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflicted Saints;   Trust;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Job;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Greatness of God;   Hypocrisy;   Knowledge of God (1);   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Job;   Meshach;   Old Testament;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Job, Book of;   Keri and Chethib;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Way;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for January 8;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Even if he kills me, I will hope in him.I will still defend my ways before him.
Hebrew Names Version
Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
English Standard Version
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
New Century Version
Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; I will still defend my ways to his face.
New English Translation
Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!
Amplified Bible
"Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.
New American Standard Bible
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.
World English Bible
Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Loe, though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, and I will reprooue my wayes in his sight.
Legacy Standard Bible
Though He slay me,I will hope in Him.Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
Contemporary English Version
God may kill me, but still I will trust him and offer my defense.
Complete Jewish Bible
Look, he will kill me — I don't expect more, but I will still defend my ways to his face.
Darby Translation
Behold, if he slay me, yet would I trust in him; but I will defend mine own ways before him.
Easy-to-Read Version
I will continue to trust God even if he kills me. But I will defend myself to his face.
George Lamsa Translation
Though he slay me, yet will I look for him; because my ways are before him.
Good News Translation
I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me? I am going to state my case to him.
Lexham English Bible
Look, though he kill me, I will hope in him; however, I will defend my ways before him.
Literal Translation
Behold, He will cut me off; I will not wait, but I will justify my ways before His face.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Lo, there is nether coforte ner hope for me, yf he wil slaye me. But yf I shewe and reproue myne owne wayes in his sight,
American Standard Version
Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
Bible in Basic English
Truly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.
King James Version (1611)
Though hee slay mee, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintaine mine owne wayes before him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Lo, though he slay me, yet wyl I trust in him: but I wyll reproue myne owne wayes in his sight.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Though the Mighty One should lay hand upon me, forasmuch as he has begun, verily I will speak, and plead before him.
English Revised Version
Though he slay me, yet will I wait for him: nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Yhe, thouy God sleeth me, Y schal hope in hym; netheles Y schal preue my weies in his siyt.
Update Bible Version
Look, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Though he shall slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain my own ways before him.
New King James Version
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.
New Living Translation
God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.
New Life Bible
Even though He would kill me, yet I will trust in Him. I will argue my ways to His face.
New Revised Standard
See, he will kill me; I have no hope; but I will defend my ways to his face.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lo! he may slay me, yet , for him, will I wait, - Nevertheless, my ways - unto his face, will I show to be right:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Although he should kill me, I will trust in him: but yet I will reprove my ways in his sight.
Revised Standard Version
Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope; yet I will defend my ways to his face.
Young's Literal Translation
Lo, He doth slay me -- I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

Contextual Overview

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 slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he slay me: Job 13:18, Job 19:25-28, Job 23:10, Psalms 23:4, Proverbs 14:32, Romans 8:38, Romans 8:39

but I will: Job 10:7, Job 16:17, Job 16:21, Job 23:4-7, Job 27:5, Job 31:31-37, Job 40:2, Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Job 40:8, 1 John 3:20

maintain: Heb. prove, or argue

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 30:6 - David 2 Kings 18:5 - trusted Job 2:3 - holdeth Job 4:6 - thy confidence Job 14:14 - will I wait Job 17:15 - my hope Job 19:7 - no judgment Job 31:37 - declare Job 32:1 - righteous Job 35:15 - because Job 38:3 - for Psalms 39:7 - hope Psalms 42:5 - hope Psalms 62:8 - Trust Psalms 71:14 - But Psalms 73:26 - flesh Psalms 138:7 - Though I walk Proverbs 3:5 - Trust Isaiah 50:10 - let Lamentations 3:24 - therefore Daniel 3:18 - be it Jonah 2:1 - out Habakkuk 3:18 - I will rejoice Matthew 15:28 - Jesus 1 Corinthians 13:7 - endureth 2 Corinthians 1:12 - our rejoicing Galatians 6:4 - prove James 5:11 - Ye

Cross-References

Genesis 12:7
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord , who appeared unto him.
Genesis 13:1
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
Genesis 13:2
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:3
And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Genesis 13:4
Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord .
Genesis 13:7
And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
Genesis 13:8
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Genesis 13:9
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
Genesis 13:12
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Genesis 15:18
In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him,.... There is a double reading of these words; the "Keri", or marginal reading, is לו, "in him", which we follow; the "Cetib", or textual reading, is לא, "not", which many follow, and render the words, "lo, he will slay me, I shall not hope"; or, "I have no hope", or "do not expect" m that is, any other than to be slain or die; and this agrees with various expressions of his elsewhere, that he had no hope of any long continuance of life, or of restoration to health and outward happiness again, but expected to die quickly; see Job 6:11;

but I will maintain mine own ways before him; or "to his face" n; though I die on the spot instantly, I will stand by it, and make it appear that the ways I have walked in are right, that I have behaved as a sincere upright man, a man fearing God, and eschewing evil; a character which God himself has given of me, and I have not forfeited it: "I will argue" or "prove" o it before him, as it may be rendered; that my life and conversation has been agreeable to my profession of him; that my ways have been according to his revealed will, and my walk as becoming the character I bear; and this I will maintain and support as long as I live; I will never depart from this sentiment, or let go my integrity to my latest breath; see Job 27:5; but the marginal reading seems best, "yet will I trust in him" p? verily I will, though I am under cutting and slaying providences, under sore afflictions, which may be called killing and slaying, or death itself; though there is an addition of them, one affliction upon another, and sorrow upon sorrow; though I am killed continually, all the day long, or die by inches; yea, though in the article of death itself, yet even then "will I trust" and hope: God only is the object of trust and confidence, and not a creature, or any creature enjoyment, or creature act; and great encouragement there is to trust in him, seeing in him is everlasting strength, to fulfil his promises, to help in time of need, and to save with an everlasting salvation; he is to be trusted in at all times, in times of affliction, temptation, desertion, and death itself: it may be rendered q, "I will hope in him", since there is mercy and plenteous redemption with him, and he delights in those that hope in his mercy; his eye is upon them, and his heart is towards them: or "I will wait for him", or "expect him" r; wait for deliverance by him, wait all the days of his appointed time, till his change come; wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, expect all needful grace from him now, and eternal glory and happiness hereafter: "but" notwithstanding his trust was alone in God for time and eternity, yet, says he, "I will maintain mine own ways before him"; that I am not an hypocrite, or have behaved as a bad man; but have acted under the influence of grace, according to his mind and will revealed.

m "Non sperabo", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus. So Cocceius, Schultens, Gussetius, p. 420. n אל-פניו "ad facies ejus", Montanus, Bolducius; so Vatablus, Schultens. o אוכוח "arguam", Pagninus, Montanus, Bolducius, Schmidt, Schultens; "probabo", Piscator. p "An non sperem in eum?" so some in Munster; so Junius & Tremellius, Beza, Codurcus. q "In eo tamen sperabo", Schmidt, Piscator, Michaelis. r "Ipsum expectabo", Drusius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Though he slay me - “God may so multiply my sorrows and pains that I cannot survive them. I see that I may be exposed to increased calamities, yet I am willing to meet them. If in maintaining my own cause, and showing that I am not a hypocrite Job 13:16, it should so happen that my sufferings should be so increased that I should die, yet I will do it.” The word “slay,” or “kill,” here refers to temporal death. It has no reference to punishment in the future world, or to the death of the soul. It means merely that Job was determined to maintain his cause and defend his character, though his sufferings should be so increased that life would be the forfeit. Such was the extent of his sufferings, that he had reason to suppose that they would terminate in death; and yet notwithstanding this, it was his fixed purpose to confide in God; compare the notes at Job 19:25-27. This was spoken in Job’s better moments, and was his deliberate and prevailing intention. This deliberate purpose expresses what was really the character of the man, though occasionally, when he became impatient, he gave utterance to different sentiments and feelings. We are to look to the prevailing and habitual tenor of a man’s feelings and declared principles, in order to determine what his character is, and not to expressions made under the influence of temptation, or under the severity of pain. On the sentiment here expressed, compare Psalms 23:4; Proverbs 14:32.

Yet will I trust in him - The word used here (יחל yâchal) means properly to wait, stay, delay; and it usually conveys the idea of waiting on one with an expectation of aid or help. Hence, it means to hope. The sense here is, that his expectation or hope was in God; and if the sense expressed in our common version be correct, it implies that even in death, or after death, he would confide in God. He would adhere to him, and would still feel that beyond death he would bless him.

In him - In God. But there is here an important variation in the reading. The present Hebrew is לא lo' - “not.” The Qeriy or marginal reading, is with a ו (v) - “in him.” Jerome renders it as if it were לו lô - “in ipso,” that is, in him. The Septuagint followed some reading which does not now appear in any copies of the Hebrew text, or which was the result of mere imagination: “Though the Almighty, as he hath begun, may subdue me - χειρώσεται cheirōsetai - yet will I speak, and maintain my cause before him.” The Chaldee renders it, אצלי קדמוי - I will pray before him; evidently reading it as if it were לו lô, “in him.” So the Syriac, in him. I have no doubt, therefore, that this was the ancient reading, and that the true sense is retained in our common version though Rosenmuller, Good, Noyes, and others, have adopted the other reading, and suppose that it is to be taken as a negative.

Noyes renders it,” Lo! he slayeth me, and I have no hope!” Good, much worse, “Should he even slay me, I would not delay.” It may be added, that there are frequent instances where לא lo' and לו lô are interchanged, and where the copyist seems to have been determined by the sound rather than by a careful inspection of the letters. According to the Masoretes, there are fifteen places where לא lo', “not,” is written for לו lô, “to him.” Exodus 21:8; Leviticus 11:21; Leviticus 25:30; 1 Samuel 2:3; 2 Samuel 16:18; Psalms 100:4; Psalms 139:16; Job 13:15; Job 41:4; Ezra 4:2; Proverbs 19:7; Proverbs 26:2; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 63:9. On the other hand, לו lô is put for לא lo' in 1 Samuel 2:16; 1 Samuel 20:2; Job 6:21. A mistake of this kind may have easily occurred here. The sentiment here expressed is one of the noblest that could fall from the lips of man. It indicates unwavering confidence in God, even in death.

It is the determination of a mind to adhere to him, though he should strip away comfort after comfort, and though there should be no respite to his sorrows until he should sink down in death. This is the highest expression of piety, and thus it is the privilege of the friends of God to experience. When professed earthly friends become cold toward us, our love for them also is chilled. Should they leave and forsake us in the midst of suffering and want, and especially should they leave us on a bed of death, we should cease to confide in them. But not so in respect to God. Such is the nature of our confidence in him, that though he takes away comfort after comfort, though our health is destroyed and our friends are removed, and though we are led down into the valley and the shadow of death, yet still we never lose our confidence in him. We feel that all will yet be well. We look forward to another state, and anticipate the blessedness of another and a better world.

Reader, can you in sincerity lift the eye toward God, and say to him, “Though Thou dost slay me, though comfort after comfort is taken away, though the waves of trouble roll over me, and though I go down into the valley of the shadow of death, yet i will trust in thee; - Thine I will be even then, and when all is dark I will believe that God is right, and just, and true, and good, and will never doubt that he is worthy of my eternal affection and praise?” Such is religion. Where else is it found but in the views of God and of his government which the Bible reveals. The infidel may have apathy in his sufferings, the blasphemer may be stupid, the moralist or the formalist may be unconcerned; but that is not to have confidence in God. That results from religion alone.

But I will maintain mine own ways before him - Margin, “prove,” or “argue.” The sense is, I will “vindicate” my ways, or myself. That is, I will maintain that I am his friend, and that I am not a hypocrite. His friends charged him with insincerity. They were not able, Job supposed, to appreciate his arguments and to do justice to him. He had, therefore, expressed the wish to carry his cause directly before God Job 13:3; and he was assured that he would do justice to his arguments. Even should he slay him, he would still stand up as his friend, and would still maintain that his calamities had not come upon him, as his friends supposed, because he was a hypocrite and a secret enemy of his Maker.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 13:15. 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.


 
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