Job 13:10

KJV

He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.

KJV (with Strong's)

He will surely {H3198} reprove {H3198} you, if ye do secretly {H5643} accept {H5375} persons {H6440}.

Complete Jewish Bible

If you are secretly flattering [him], he will surely rebuke you.

Berean Standard Bible

Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.

American Standard Version

He will surely reprove you, If ye do secretly show partiality.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 13:10 serves as a potent warning from Job to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, asserting that God Himself will surely rebuke them if they continue to show partiality or favoritism, especially in their misguided attempts to defend divine justice by condemning Job. This verse underscores God's absolute impartiality and omniscience, revealing that even hidden biases or secret acts of "accepting persons" are fully known to Him and will be met with His righteous reproof.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 13 is situated within Job's impassioned response to his friends' accusations and flawed theological arguments. Having endured their counsel through two cycles of speeches, Job's patience wears thin. He directly challenges their wisdom, calling them "forgers of lies" and "worthless physicians" in [Job 13:4](/job/13-4 "Job 13:4 - Job's Scathing Assessment of His Friends"). He longs to present his case directly to God, believing that God, unlike his friends, will hear him justly ([Job 13:3](/job/13-3 "Job 13:3 - Job's Desire to Speak with God")). Within this chapter, Job expresses his conviction that even if God were to slay him, he would still maintain his integrity ([Job 13:15](/job/13-15 "Job 13:15 - Job's Declaration of Trust in God")). Job 13:10 is a direct admonition, warning his friends that their efforts to justify God through unrighteous judgment of Job will not be tolerated by the very God they claim to defend.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a location whose precise geography is debated but generally placed in the patriarchal period, possibly around the time of Abraham. In this ancient Near Eastern context, justice was a foundational pillar of society, often administered by elders or respected figures. The concept of "accepting persons" (showing partiality) was a grave perversion of justice, frequently condemned in ancient law codes and wisdom literature. Judges or those in positions of authority were expected to be impartial, treating rich and poor, powerful and weak, with equal fairness. The warning against "secretly" accepting persons highlights the cultural understanding that even hidden biases or subtle forms of favoritism, perhaps motivated by fear, social pressure, or a desire to appear pious, were morally reprehensible and ultimately detectable by the divine.
* **Key Themes:** Job 13:10 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Justice and Impartiality**. God is depicted as one who cannot be manipulated or swayed by human biases, even those cloaked in religious zeal. His judgment is based on truth and righteousness, not on external appearances or human attempts to curry favor, a truth echoed throughout Scripture, as seen in [Deuteronomy 10:17](/deuteronomy/10-17 "Deuteronomy 10:17 - God's Impartiality"). Secondly, the verse highlights the **Danger of False Witness and Unrighteous Counsel**. Job's friends, in their zeal to defend God's justice (as they understood it), resort to condemning Job without full knowledge of his situation, effectively showing partiality against him. Job warns them that such a defense, built on unrighteousness, is an affront to God. Finally, the emphasis on "secretly" accepting persons underscores the theme of **Divine Omniscience and the Futility of Hidden Sin**. God sees beyond outward appearances and knows the true intentions of the heart, making hypocrisy or concealed favoritism impossible to hide from Him, a concept foundational to biblical wisdom literature found in [Proverbs 15:3](/proverbs/15-3 "Proverbs 15:3 - God's Omniscience").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Reprove (Hebrew, _yakhaḥ'_):** This verb carries a strong sense of authoritative correction, rebuke, or conviction. It implies not merely a gentle suggestion but a powerful, often confrontational, exposure of error or sin. In this context, it signifies God's direct and forceful intervention to correct the friends' misguided theological arguments and their partiality.
* **Secretly (Hebrew, _bāseter'_):** This adverb emphasizes the hidden, concealed, or private nature of the act. It suggests that even subtle, unspoken, or perhaps unconscious biases and favoritism are not hidden from God's sight. The friends might believe their actions are justified or unnoticed, but Job asserts that God sees the true intent and method.
* **Accept persons (Hebrew, _nāśā' pānîm'_):** This is a crucial Hebrew idiom, literally meaning "to lift up the face." In a judicial or social context, it refers to showing special regard, deference, or partiality to someone, often based on their status, wealth, or influence, rather than judging them impartially based on truth or merit. The idiom implies a perversion of justice, where external factors override righteous judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He will surely reprove you":** This opening clause delivers a powerful and certain declaration of divine judgment. "He" refers to God, the ultimate judge. The adverb "surely" emphasizes the absolute certainty and inevitability of this divine rebuke. Job is not merely offering his opinion but speaking prophetically about God's impending action against their unrighteous conduct.
* **"if ye do secretly accept persons":** This conditional clause specifies the offense that will trigger God's reproof. The act of "accepting persons" refers to showing favoritism or partiality, a practice consistently condemned in biblical law and wisdom literature. The addition of "secretly" is critical; it indicates that even if their favoritism is not overt, or if they believe their motives are pure (e.g., defending God), God sees the underlying bias and the unrighteousness of their judgment against Job. Job implies they are showing partiality by siding with traditional theology against him, despite his innocence, perhaps out of a desire to appease God or maintain their own theological framework.

#### Literary Devices
Job 13:10 employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Admonition**, as Job delivers a direct and stern warning to his friends, shifting from a defensive posture to an offensive one, challenging their perceived wisdom. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; Job's friends believe they are defending God's honor and justice by condemning Job, yet Job warns them that God Himself will *reprove them* for their method of defense, implying that their "defense" is actually an offense to God's true character. The phrase "secretly accept persons" uses **Idiom** (nāśā' pānîm), which carries a rich cultural and legal meaning of showing partiality, making the warning more impactful to an ancient audience. Furthermore, the verse sets up a powerful **Contrast** between human attempts at hidden partiality and divine omniscience and impartial judgment, highlighting God's ability to see and judge the heart's true intentions, even those concealed from human view.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The warning in Job 13:10 resonates deeply with the consistent biblical theme of God's absolute impartiality and His demand for justice from humanity. God is portrayed as one who cannot be bribed, manipulated, or swayed by human biases or status. His righteousness is untainted, and He judges all people fairly, without favoritism. This divine characteristic serves as the ultimate standard for human conduct, particularly for those in positions of judgment or authority. To "accept persons" is to usurp God's righteous judgment and to introduce human corruption into divine principles. Job's friends, by showing partiality against him under the guise of defending God, were essentially misrepresenting God's character, believing He would approve of their unrighteous methods. This verse reminds us that God desires truth in the inward parts and that genuine righteousness extends even to our hidden motives and biases.

* [Deuteronomy 10:17](/deuteronomy/10-17 "Deuteronomy 10:17 - God shows no partiality")
* [Proverbs 24:23](/proverbs/24-23 "Proverbs 24:23 - Impartiality in Judgment")
* [James 2:9](/james/2-9 "James 2:9 - The Sin of Partiality")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 13:10 serves as a timeless mirror, inviting us to examine our own hearts and actions for any subtle forms of partiality or hidden biases. In a world often driven by status, wealth, or social connections, the call to impartiality is profoundly counter-cultural. This verse challenges us to cultivate a Christ-like perspective that values every individual equally, regardless of their background, influence, or perceived standing. It prompts us to consider how we might "secretly accept persons" in our relationships, workplaces, or even within our faith communities—perhaps by favoring those who agree with us, those who are more outwardly successful, or those who belong to our preferred social circles. Furthermore, it warns against defending God or His truth with unrighteous means, reminding us that God does not need our lies or our biased judgments to uphold His glory. True integrity demands that our words and actions, especially when speaking about or on behalf of God, are grounded in truth, justice, and genuine love, not in human traditions, convenient falsehoods, or subtle prejudices.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "secretly accepting persons," perhaps unconsciously or out of a desire for social acceptance?**
* **How do I ensure that my defense of God's truth or my theological positions are rooted in genuine righteousness and not in biased assumptions or uncharitable judgments of others?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a more truly impartial and just perspective in my interactions, reflecting God's own character more faithfully?**

### FAQ
**What does "accept persons" mean in a biblical context?**

Answer: In a biblical context, "accepting persons" (Hebrew: *nāśā' pānîm*, literally "to lift up the face") is an idiom that refers to showing favoritism, partiality, or deference to someone based on external factors such as their wealth, status, social standing, or personal connections, rather than judging them impartially based on truth, merit, or justice. It implies a perversion of justice, where one's judgment is swayed by bias rather than by objective truth. This concept is condemned throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament law (e.g., [Leviticus 19:15](/leviticus/19-15 "Leviticus 19:15 - Do Not Show Partiality")) to the New Testament teachings (e.g., [James 2:1-4](/james/2-1 "James 2:1-4 - The Sin of Partiality")).

**Why does Job warn his friends about this specific sin?**

Answer: Job warns his friends about "secretly accepting persons" because he perceives them as doing exactly that in their counsel to him. They are showing partiality against Job by assuming his guilt based solely on his suffering, aligning themselves with a rigid, traditional theology that posits suffering as direct punishment for sin. In their zeal to defend God's justice (as they understood it), they are effectively condemning Job without truly hearing his case or acknowledging his integrity. Job implies that they are attempting to gain favor with God or appear righteous by condemning him, even if their arguments are flawed or based on false assumptions. He is telling them that God does not need or desire such a defense; in fact, God will "reprove" them for it, as it misrepresents His true character of perfect impartiality and justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 13:10, with its stark warning against partiality and its affirmation of God's impartial judgment, finds its ultimate fulfillment and perfect embodiment in Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament repeatedly condemns "accepting persons," it is in Christ that we see divine impartiality perfectly lived out. Jesus consistently demonstrated a radical disregard for human distinctions and biases, engaging with the marginalized, the outcast, and the despised with the same love and truth as He did with the powerful and respected. He welcomed tax collectors and sinners ([Luke 5:29-32](/luke/5-29 "Luke 5:29-32 - Jesus Eats with Sinners")), ministered to the Samaritan woman ([John 4:7-26](/john/4-7 "John 4:7-26 - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman")), and challenged the religious elite ([Matthew 23:1-36](/matthew/23-1 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees"))—all without a hint of favoritism or prejudice. He is the righteous judge who "does not judge by appearance but judges with righteous judgment" ([John 7:24](/john/7-24 "John 7:24 - Judge Righteously")). Furthermore, Christ's atoning work on the cross addresses the very root of human partiality—sin—and provides the means for believers to be transformed into His likeness, enabling us to live impartially through the power of the Holy Spirit ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile in Christ")). He is the ultimate "reprover" who exposes sin, not through human bias, but through perfect truth, and the one who perfectly reveals God's righteous and impartial character to all humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

James 2:9

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Job 42:7

¶ And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].

Job 42:8

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.

Psalms 82:2

How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Psalms 50:21

These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.

Psalms 50:22

Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver.