Job 13:14

14 Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands?

Job 13:14 Meaning and Commentary

Job 13:14

Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth
Or bite my lips, to keep in my words, and refrain from speaking? I will not do it:

and put my life in my hand?
or, expose it to danger by a forced silence; when I am ready to burst, and must if I do not speak; I will not thus endanger my life; it is unreasonable I should, I will speak my mind freely and fully, that I may be refreshed; so Sephorno interprets it of Job's putting his hand to his mouth, that he might be silent; and of putting a forcible restraint upon himself, that he might not declare what was upon his mind; see ( Job 13:19 ) ; but others, as Bar Tzemach, take the sense to be, what is the sin I have committed, that such sore afflictions are laid upon me; that through the pain and distress I am in, I am ready to tear off my flesh with my teeth, and my life is in the utmost danger? and some think he was under a temptation to tear his own flesh, and destroy himself; and therefore argues why he should be thus hardly dealt with, as to be exposed to such a temptation, and thrown in such despair, which yet he laboured against; but rather the meaning is, in connection with the preceding verse, let whatsoever will come upon me, "at all events, I will take my flesh in my teeth, and I will put my life in my hand" F12; I will expose myself to the greatest dangers which is the sense of the last phrase in ( Judges 12:3 ) ( 1 Samuel 19:5 ) ( 28:21 ) ( Psalms 119:109 ) ; come life, come death, I will not fear; I am determined to speak out my mind let what will be the consequence; and with this bold and heroic spirit agrees what follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 "Super quocunque eventu", Schultens.

Job 13:14 In-Context

12 Your wise sayings are knickknack wisdom, good for nothing but gathering dust.
13 "So hold your tongue while I have my say, then I'll take whatever I have coming to me.
14 Why do I go out on a limb like this and take my life in my hands?
15 Because even if he killed me, I'd keep on hoping. I'd defend my innocence to the very end.
16 Just wait, this is going to work out for the best - my salvation! If I were guilt-stricken do you think I'd be doing this - laying myself on the line before God?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.