Job 6:13

13 {Indeed}, my help is not in me, and [any] success is driven from me.

Job 6:13 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:13

[Is] my help in me?
&c.] Or "my defence" ^F25, as some; is it not in my power to defend myself against the calumnies and reproaches cast upon me? it is; and, though one have no help in myself to bear my burdens, or extricate myself out of my difficulties, yet I have the testimony of a good conscience within me, that supports me; and I have the strength and force of reason and argument on my side, to defend me against all objectors:

and is wisdom driven from me?
either sound doctrine, the law ^F26, or, rather, the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, revealed in the words of the Holy One before mentioned; or wisdom in the hidden part, the fear of God, which is wisdom, true grace in the heart, which, when once implanted, can never be driven out; or natural reason and understanding, of which he was not bereaved; for, though his body was thus sorely afflicted, he retained his reasoning and intellectual faculties. The words, in connection with the former, may be read, "what, if help is not with me, is wisdom also driven quite from me?"

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 does it follow, because I am not able to help myself out of this afflicted and distressed condition in which I am, that I am deprived of my reason? or be it that I am such a weak impotent creature, and even distracted, as you take me to be, should I not then rather be pitied than insulted? so some ^F2 connect the words following.

F25 (yb ytrze) "defensio mea penes me", Junius et Tremellius, Piscator.
F26 (hyvwt) "lex", Mercerus; so Peritsol.
F1 So Cocceius and Schultens.
F2 So De Dieu.

Job 6:13 In-Context

11 What [is] my strength, that I should wait? And what [is] my end, that {I should hold out}?

12 Or [is] my strength [like] the strength of stones? Or [is] my flesh bronze?

13 {Indeed}, my help is not in me, and [any] success is driven from me.

14 "Loyal love [should come] for the afflicted [from] his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed; like a streambed of wadis they flow away,

Footnotes

• [a]. An interrogative marker plus "if"