Job 13:16

16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!

Job 13:16 in Other Translations

16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.

16 But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.

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?

16 Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before Him.

Job 13:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 13:16

He also [shall be] my salvation
Job, though he asserted the integrity of his heart and life, yet did not depend on his ways and works for salvation, but only on the Lord himself; this is to be understood not of temporal salvation, though God is the author of that, and it is only to be had of him, yet Job had no hope concerning that; but of spiritual and eternal salvation, which God the Father has contrived, determined, and resolved on, and sent his Son to effect; which Christ being sent is the author of by his obedience, sufferings, and death; and in him, and in his name alone, is salvation; and every soul, sensible of the insufficiency of himself and others to save him, will resolve, as Job here, that he, and he only, shall be his Saviour, who is an able, willing, and complete one; see ( Hosea 14:3 ) ; and the words are expressive of faith of interest in him. Job knew him to be his Saviour, and living Redeemer, and would acknowledge no other; but claim his interest in him, now and hereafter, and which was his greatest support under all his troubles; see ( Job 19:26 Job 19:27 ) ( Psalms 27:1 ) ;

for an hypocrite shall not come before him;
a hypocrite may come into the house of God, and worship him externally, and seem to be very devout and religious; and he shall come before the tribunal of God, and stand at his bar, to be tried and judged; but he shall not continue in the presence of God, nor enjoy his favour, or he shall not be able to make his cause good before him; and indeed he does not care to have himself examined by him, nor shall he be saved everlastingly, but undergo the most severe punishment, ( Matthew 24:51 ) . Job here either has respect to his friends, whom he censures as hypocrites, and retorts the charge upon they brought on him; or he has reference to that charge, and by this means clears himself of it, since there was nothing he was more desirous of than to refer his case to the decision of the omniscient God, and righteous Judge; which if he was an hypocrite he would never have done, since such can never stand so strict and severe an examination.

Job 13:16 In-Context

14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.

16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!

17 Listen carefully to what I say; let my words ring in your ears.

18 Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 30:5; Isaiah 12:1; Isaiah 54:7-8; Hosea 14:4; Philippians 1:19
• 2. S Job 8:13
• 3. S Genesis 3:8