Job 13:7

7 You should not speak evil in the name of God; you cannot speak God's truth by telling lies.

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 I wish you would just stop talking; then you would really be wise!
6 Listen to my argument, and hear the pleading of my lips.
7 You should not speak evil in the name of God; you cannot speak God's truth by telling lies.
8 You should not unfairly choose his side against mine; you should not argue the case for God.
9 You will not do well if he examines you; you cannot fool God as you might fool humans.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.