Job 13:11

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

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

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

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

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

In Job 13:11, Job continues his impassioned discourse, directly challenging his friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) who have been offering what he considers misguided and unhelpful counsel. This verse serves as a powerful rhetorical question, designed to make them consider the gravity of their words and the supreme being they claim to be defending.

Context

This verse is part of Job's third response to his friends, specifically within his plea for them to be silent and consider his integrity (Job 13:1-12). Earlier in the chapter, Job calls his friends "forgers of lies" and "physicians of no value" (Job 13:4). He warns them against speaking deceitfully on God's behalf, suggesting that even if their intentions are to defend God, using falsehoods or misrepresenting divine justice is a grave error. Job 13:11 is a direct consequence of their actions, implying that God's majesty should inspire profound reverence, not manipulative arguments.

Key Themes

  • Reverence for God's Majesty: The phrase "his excellency" refers to God's supreme greatness, majesty, and moral perfection. Job suggests that the sheer weight of God's character should naturally inspire a deep and holy fear, preventing presumptuous or deceitful speech.
  • The Fear of the Lord: This is not merely terror, but a profound awe and respect that leads to righteous living and truthful speech. Job implies that his friends have lost sight of this reverential fear, leading them to offer false comfort and accusations. This concept is foundational in wisdom literature, as seen in Proverbs 9:10.
  • Consequences of 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. This highlights the danger of misrepresenting God or defending Him with unrighteous means.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "his excellency" translates the Hebrew word ga'on (גָּאוֹן), which denotes majesty, pride, sublimity, or grandeur. When applied to God, it signifies His incomparable greatness and glorious dignity. The term "dread" (Hebrew: eimatah, אֵימָתָה) refers to terror or awe, particularly the overwhelming fear that God's presence or judgment can evoke. Together, these terms emphasize the overwhelming nature of God's character and the appropriate response of awe and humility.

Practical Application

Job's warning remains relevant today. It challenges believers to consider the integrity of their words and actions, especially when speaking about or for God. Do our words truly reflect God's character, or are we using Him to justify our own opinions or prejudices? The verse calls us to a deeper sense of reverence and humility before God, ensuring that our defense of faith is always rooted in truth and genuine awe of His "excellency." It reminds us that God does not need our lies or human cleverness to uphold His truth; He requires our integrity.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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