Job 13:7

7 Whether God hath need to your leasing, that ye speak guileful things for him? (Hath God a need for your lies, so that ye speak these guileful things for him?)

Job 13:7 Meaning and Commentary

Job 13:7

Will you speak wickedly for God?
&c.] As he suggests they did; they spoke for God, and pleaded for the honour of his justice, by asserting he did not afflict good men, which they thought was contrary to his justice; but: then, at the same time, they spoke wickedly of Job, that he being afflicted of God was a bad man, and an hypocrite; and this was speaking wickedly for God, to vindicate his justice at the expense of his character, which there was no need to do; and showed that they were poor advocates for God, since they might have vindicated the honour of his justice, and yet allowed that he afflicted good men, and that Job was such an one:

and talk deceitfully for him?
or tell lies for him, namely, those just mentioned, that only wicked men, and not good men, were afflicted by him, and that Job was a bad man, and an hypocrite.

Job 13:7 In-Context

5 And I would, that ye were still, that ye were guessed to be wise men. (And I wish, that ye held your peace, so that ye could be thought to be wise.)

6 Therefore hear ye my chastisings; and perceive ye the doom of my lips. (And so hear ye my arguments; and understand ye the judgement from my lips.)

7 Whether God hath need to your leasing, that ye speak guileful things for him? (Hath God a need for your lies, so that ye speak these guileful things for him?)

8 Whether ye take his face, and enforce to deem for God? (Do ye take his place, and endeavour to judge for God?)

9 Either it shall please him, from whom nothing may be hid? Whether he, as a man, shall be deceived by your falsenesses? (Shall he, like a man, be deceived by your falseness, or your duplicity?)