Job 13:11

KJV

Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

KJV (with Strong's)

Shall not his excellency {H7613} make you afraid {H1204}? and his dread {H6343} fall {H5307} upon you?

Complete Jewish Bible

Doesn't God's majesty terrify you? Aren't you overcome with dread of him?

Berean Standard Bible

Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

American Standard Version

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 13:11 encapsulates Job's profound challenge to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who have presumptuously spoken on God's behalf with what Job perceives as deceitful and ill-informed arguments. Through a powerful rhetorical question, Job compels them to consider whether the overwhelming majesty and inherent awe of God's character should not naturally inspire in them a holy fear, thereby preventing them from uttering falsehoods or misrepresenting divine justice. This verse serves as a stark warning against presumptuous speech and a call to genuine reverence for the Almighty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 13:11 is situated within Job's third and most direct response to his friends, specifically in a section where he appeals for their silence and asserts his own integrity before God (Job 13:1-12). Having endured their repetitive and unhelpful theological pronouncements, Job labels them "forgers of lies" and "physicians of no value" in [Job 13:4](/job/13-4 "Job 13:4 - Job's Rebuke to His Friends"). He argues that their attempts to defend God by misrepresenting his character or by offering conventional, yet ultimately false, comfort are not only futile but also dangerous. The preceding verses ([Job 13:7-10](/job/13-7 "Job 13:7-10 - Job Warns Against Deceitful Speech")) directly warn against speaking deceitfully for God, setting the stage for the rhetorical force of [Job 13:11](/job/13-11 "Job 13:11 - The Dread of God's Excellency"). Job implies that if they truly apprehended God's greatness, their speech would be marked by humility and truth, not by the manipulative arguments they employ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, a cultural milieu where wisdom literature flourished. Debates about divine justice, human suffering, and the nature of God were common, often conducted through poetic dialogue. In this context, friends were expected to offer comfort and counsel to the afflicted, but Job's friends adhere rigidly to a retribution theology (suffering equals sin), failing to provide genuine empathy. The concept of "fear of the Lord" was foundational in ancient Israelite wisdom, signifying not mere terror but a profound reverence, awe, and submission to God's moral authority, which was understood as the beginning of true wisdom. Job's challenge taps into this deep-seated cultural understanding, implying that his friends have lost sight of this essential reverence, allowing their conventional wisdom to override genuine theological insight and compassionate engagement. The legalistic tone of their arguments also reflects a societal emphasis on justice and accountability, yet Job critiques their application of these principles as flawed and presumptuous when applied to God's mysterious ways.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job. Firstly, it underscores the **transcendence and incomprehensibility of God's majesty**. Job asserts that God's "excellency" is so profound that it should naturally evoke a deep, reverential fear, preventing any attempt to contain or manipulate His justice through human logic or deceit. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **true wisdom versus conventional wisdom**. Job's friends represent conventional wisdom, which rigidly applies a simplistic cause-and-effect understanding of suffering. Job, however, argues that true wisdom begins with the "fear of the Lord" ([Proverbs 9:10](/proverbs/9-10 "Proverbs 9:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom")), which demands humility and integrity, especially when speaking about God. Finally, the verse addresses the **consequences of presumptuous speech and falsehood**. Job warns that God's "dread" will "fall upon" those who speak falsely, even if they claim to be doing so in God's name, emphasizing that God requires truth and integrity from those who claim to represent Him, as seen in [Psalm 5:6](/psalm/5-6 "Psalm 5:6 - God Destroys Those Who Speak Lies").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Excellency (Hebrew, _ga'on'_):** This term (גָּאוֹן) denotes majesty, pride, sublimity, or grandeur. When applied to God, as here, it signifies His incomparable greatness, glorious dignity, and awe-inspiring splendor. It speaks to God's inherent, unapproachable glory and the overwhelming weight of His being. It's not merely a quality but the very essence of His supreme nature, which naturally commands reverence.
* **Dread (Hebrew, _eimatah'_):** This word (אֵימָתָה) refers to terror, awe, or overwhelming fear. It describes the profound, unsettling fear that God's presence, power, or impending judgment can evoke. Unlike common fear, this "dread" in a biblical context often leads to humility and repentance, as it arises from a recognition of God's absolute holiness and power. It's the natural, unavoidable response to confronting the _ga'on_ (excellency) of God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Shall not his excellency make you afraid?":** This is a powerful rhetorical question, designed to elicit an obvious affirmative answer. Job is asserting that the very nature of God's supreme majesty and glorious dignity (His "excellency") should inherently produce a profound sense of awe and reverential fear in his friends. He implies that their current presumptuous and deceitful speech demonstrates a lack of this fundamental reverence. The question challenges their spiritual perception and the integrity of their theological claims.
* **"and his dread fall upon you?":** This second clause functions as a synonymous parallel, reinforcing the first. "His dread" refers to the overwhelming, awe-inspiring terror that emanates from God's presence or judgment. The phrase "fall upon you" suggests an inevitable, inescapable consequence. Job is warning his friends that if they continue to speak falsely or presumptuously on God's behalf, the very "dread" of God's character, which should inspire reverence, will instead descend upon them as a terrifying judgment for their misrepresentation. It's a warning that their casual or deceitful words about God will not go unpunished.

#### Literary Devices
Job 13:11 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, "Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?" This question is not posed to elicit information but to make a forceful assertion, challenging the friends' conscience and exposing their spiritual blindness. It implies that the answer is self-evident: Yes, God's majesty *should* make them afraid. This rhetorical strategy amplifies the weight of Job's accusation. The verse also exhibits **Synonymous Parallelism**, where the second clause ("and his dread fall upon you?") echoes and intensifies the meaning of the first ("Shall not his excellency make you afraid?"). "His excellency" is paralleled by "his dread," and "make you afraid" by "fall upon you," emphasizing the overwhelming nature of God's character and its inevitable impact. Furthermore, there is a subtle element of **Personification** in "his dread fall upon you," giving the abstract concept of dread an active, almost physical quality of descending upon the friends, underscoring the inescapable consequence of their actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 13:11 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God and humanity's proper response to Him. It asserts that God's inherent majesty and glory are so immense that they naturally evoke a deep, reverential fear, which is the foundation of true wisdom and righteous conduct. This fear is not merely terror but an awe that compels humility, integrity, and truthful speech, especially when discussing divine matters. Job confronts his friends' shallow theology, which attempts to confine God within human logic and defend Him with deceit, implying that such actions dishonor God more than they defend Him. The verse underscores that God does not require human lies or manipulative arguments to uphold His truth; rather, He demands integrity and a humble recognition of His unapproachable greatness. It highlights the danger of presuming to speak for God without genuine reverence and understanding, a warning that resonates throughout scripture.

* [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge")
* [Psalm 111:10](/psalm/111-10 "Psalm 111:10 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom")
* [Isaiah 8:13](/isaiah/8-13 "Isaiah 8:13 - Sanctify the Lord of Hosts, and Let Him Be Your Fear")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 13:11 challenges us to examine the integrity of our own speech and actions, particularly when we claim to speak for God or defend His truth. Do our words truly reflect the majesty and holiness of God, or are we, like Job's friends, inadvertently using Him to justify our own opinions, prejudices, or incomplete understandings? This verse calls us to a deeper, more profound sense of reverence and humility before the Almighty. It reminds us that God's "excellency" should inspire such awe that it naturally purifies our motives and sanctifies our words, preventing us from engaging in manipulative arguments or spreading falsehoods, even with seemingly good intentions. True faith does not require us to invent defenses for God; it requires us to live and speak truthfully in light of His revealed character. We are called to embody the "fear of the Lord"—a reverential awe that leads to integrity, wisdom, and a profound respect for the divine mystery that often transcends our human comprehension.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to "defend" God with arguments or statements that are not entirely truthful or are based on incomplete understanding?**
* **How does my daily speech reflect (or fail to reflect) a genuine reverence for God's "excellency" and "dread"?**
* **What does it mean for me to truly "fear the Lord" in a way that shapes my integrity and humility, especially when discussing theological matters?**
* **Am I more concerned with being "right" in my theological arguments, or with accurately and humbly representing the character of God?**

### FAQ

**What is the difference between "excellency" and "dread" in this verse?**

Answer: While closely related, "excellency" (Hebrew: _ga'on_) refers to God's inherent, majestic greatness, His glorious dignity, and supreme splendor. It is the very essence of His being that commands awe. "Dread" (Hebrew: _eimatah_), on the other hand, describes the overwhelming, profound fear or terror that God's presence, power, or impending judgment naturally evokes. So, God's "excellency" is the source or cause, and "dread" is the appropriate, inevitable response or effect. Job is essentially asking if God's supreme majesty doesn't naturally cause a holy fear to fall upon those who truly perceive it, preventing them from speaking deceitfully, as warned in [Proverbs 14:27](/proverbs/14-27 "Proverbs 14:27 - The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life").

**Why does Job use a rhetorical question here instead of a direct statement?**

Answer: Job uses a rhetorical question to heighten the dramatic effect and to imply that the answer is self-evident and undeniable. By asking "Shall not his excellency make you afraid?", he is not seeking information but asserting a profound truth: the very nature of God's majesty _should_ naturally inspire awe and prevent presumptuous speech. This technique forces his friends to confront their own spiritual blindness and the inadequacy of their arguments, making the accusation more piercing than a simple declarative statement. It challenges them to look inward and acknowledge the obvious implications of God's character, much like the rhetorical questions found in [Psalm 14:4](/psalm/14-4 "Psalm 14:4 - Do All Workers of Iniquity Not Know?").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's longing for a mediator and his profound wrestling with God's justice find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "excellency" and "dread" of God, which Job speaks of, are perfectly embodied and revealed in Christ. He is the express image of God's glory ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory")), the very Word through whom all things were made ([John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All Things Made Through Christ")). While God's excellency in the Old Testament often evoked a terrifying dread, in Christ, this dread is transformed for those who believe. Jesus, through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, experienced the full "dread" of God's wrath against sin on the cross, allowing believers to approach God not with terror but with reverent confidence ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Hebrews 4:16 - Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")). He is the true wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God")), who perfectly revealed the Father, ensuring that those who speak of God do so truthfully, not with the falsehoods Job condemned. In Christ, God's majesty is not diminished but made accessible, inviting a holy reverence that leads to life, rather than the judgment Job's friends risked.

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

Job 31:23

For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

Psalms 119:120

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Matthew 10:28

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Jeremiah 5:22

Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

Jeremiah 10:10

But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

Isaiah 8:13

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and [let] him [be] your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread.

Revelation 15:3

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.