Job 23:15

15 Therefore, I am horrified because of his presence; [when] I consider, I tremble because of him.

Job 23:15 Meaning and Commentary

Job 23:15

Therefore am I troubled at his presence
Not at his gracious presence, which he wanted, and every good man desires; but at his appearance as an enemy, as he apprehended him, laying and continuing his afflictive hand upon him, and indeed at his appearance as a Judge to try his cause; for though he had most earnestly desired it, yet when he thought of the sovereignty of God, and the immutability of his counsels, and of his perfect knowledge of all things; and he not knowing what he had with him, and to bring out against him, when he came to the point, might be troubled and shrink back, see ( Psalms 77:3 ) ;

when I consider, I am afraid of him:
when he considered his terrible majesty, his sovereign will, his unalterable purposes, his infinite wisdom, and almighty power, his strict justice, and spotless purity; he was afraid to appear before him, or afraid that since many such things were with him he had already experienced, there were more to be brought forth, which might be greater and heavier still.

Job 23:15 In-Context

13 "But he [is] {alone}, and who can dissuade him? And {whatever he desires}, {indeed}, he does [it].
14 For he will carry out {what he appoints for me}, and many [things] like these [are] with him
15 Therefore, I am horrified because of his presence; [when] I consider, I tremble because of him.
16 Indeed, God has made my heart faint, and Shaddai has terrified me.
17 Indeed, I have not been silenced {because of darkness}, and because of me he conceals thick darkness.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew "and I tremble," or "then I tremble"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.