Job 13:24

KJV

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

KJV (with Strong's)

Wherefore hidest {H5641} thou thy face {H6440}, and holdest {H2803} me for thine enemy {H341}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Why do you hide your face and think of me as your enemy?

Berean Standard Bible

Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?

American Standard Version

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 13:24 encapsulates the raw, agonizing cry of a righteous man grappling with profound, inexplicable suffering. In this poignant verse, Job directly confronts God, expressing his deep distress over what he perceives as divine abandonment and an unjust declaration of hostility. It reveals the depths of his spiritual anguish, where the very source of comfort and justice seems to have turned against him, leaving him bewildered and desperate for an explanation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Job's third speech (chapters 12-14), a crucial segment of the dialogue where Job intensifies his direct appeals to God and his rebuttals against his friends. Having previously expressed his longing for an audience with God in [Job 9:32-35](/job/9-32 "Job 9:32-35 - Job's Desire for a Mediator") and [Job 10:2](/job/10-2 "Job 10:2 - Job 10:2 - Job's Plea for Understanding"), Job 13:24 marks a pinnacle of his lament, revealing his perception of God as not merely distant, but actively adversarial. His friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, consistently argue for a direct correlation between sin and suffering, pushing Job to confess an unstated transgression. Job, however, maintains his innocence and shifts his focus from debating his friends to directly challenging God's perceived injustice, demanding an explanation for his torment. This particular verse follows Job's declaration of his integrity and his desire to present his case before the Almighty, even if it means facing divine wrath.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the concept of a deity "hiding their face" or "turning away" was a powerful idiom signifying a withdrawal of favor, a refusal to grant an audience, or a deliberate act of abandonment and displeasure. Kings or patrons would hide their face from those they rejected or deemed unworthy, signaling a complete cessation of relationship and protection. For Job, a devout man in a culture where divine blessing was often linked to righteousness and suffering to sin, God's perceived hiddenness and hostility were not merely emotional states but profound theological crises. The idea of God treating a righteous individual as an "enemy" would have been an unthinkable reversal of the expected divine-human relationship, especially for someone like Job, who was introduced as "blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil" in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction to Job's Character").
* **Key Themes:** Job 13:24 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **divine hiddenness** (*haster panim*), where God's presence and favor seem withdrawn, leaving the sufferer in spiritual darkness and confusion, a theme echoed in many psalms (e.g., [Psalm 27:9](/psalm/27-9 "Psalm 27:9 - Do Not Hide Your Face From Me")). Secondly, it highlights the **perceived divine antagonism**, where Job, despite his blamelessness, feels targeted and treated as an adversary by God Himself, challenging the simplistic retribution theology espoused by his friends. This raises fundamental questions about the nature of God's justice and sovereignty, particularly in the face of innocent suffering. Lastly, the verse exemplifies **Job's unwavering honesty and integrity** in his lament. Despite his profound pain and theological bewilderment, Job does not abandon God but wrestles with Him in agonizing sincerity, demonstrating that authentic faith can encompass raw questioning and even accusation, a characteristic that God later commends in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hidest (Hebrew, _tastir'_):** From the root סָתַר (satar), meaning "to hide, conceal, keep secret." When applied to God's face (פָּנִים, panim), it denotes a deliberate act of withdrawal, an intentional turning away. This is not merely a lack of communication or a feeling of distance, but a perceived active concealment of divine presence and favor, leaving Job in a state of spiritual isolation and abandonment. It implies a conscious decision by God to withhold comfort, understanding, and even His very countenance from Job.
* **Holdest me (Hebrew, _tahsheveni'_):** From the root חָשַׁב (hashav), meaning "to reckon, account, consider, devise." This verb suggests a cognitive process, a divine judgment or classification. Job is not merely saying that God is *treating* him like an enemy, but that God is *considering* or *reckoning* him as an enemy. This deepens the sense of injustice, as it implies a false accusation or a misidentification of Job's character and standing before God, making the suffering even more bewildering and unbearable.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Wherefore hidest thou thy face":** This clause is a desperate rhetorical question, a plea for understanding from a God who seems to have vanished or deliberately turned away. It expresses Job's profound sense of abandonment and isolation. In biblical idiom, God's "face" represents His presence, favor, and benevolent attention. To hide one's face is to withdraw favor, to ignore, or to show displeasure. Job feels that God has deliberately cut off communication and comfort, leaving him in darkness and despair, unable to discern God's purposes or receive His solace.
* **"and holdest me for thine enemy?":** This second clause escalates Job's lament from perceived abandonment to outright hostility. Job, who has lived a blameless life and feared God, cannot reconcile his character with God's treatment of him. He feels that God has unjustly labeled him an adversary, a foe to be contended with, rather than a faithful servant. This accusation reveals the depth of Job's bewilderment and the perceived injustice of his suffering, as he sees himself as being attacked by the very One who should be his protector and vindicator.

#### Literary Devices
Job 13:24 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's intense anguish and theological struggle. The verse opens with a **Rhetorical Question**, "Wherefore hidest thou thy face," which is not truly seeking information but expressing Job's profound bewilderment, frustration, and desperate longing for divine explanation. It highlights the perceived absurdity and injustice of his situation. This is followed by a striking example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human actions and emotions—hiding one's face and holding someone as an enemy—to God. While God does not literally have a face to hide, this imagery powerfully conveys Job's experience of divine absence and antagonism. Finally, the entire verse functions as a profound **Lament**, a common genre in biblical literature (especially the Psalms), where the speaker voices deep sorrow, complaint, and questioning to God in the midst of suffering. Job's lament is particularly poignant because it comes from one who is righteous, challenging the conventional wisdom of his time regarding suffering and divine justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 13:24 delves into the profound theological mystery of divine hiddenness and the experience of suffering at the perceived hand of God. It challenges the simplistic notion that all suffering is a direct consequence of sin, pushing the boundaries of traditional retribution theology. Job's cry resonates with the human experience of feeling forsaken by God, even when one maintains integrity. This verse invites us to consider the complexities of God's sovereignty and justice, acknowledging that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension, yet affirming that even in profound doubt and accusation, a genuine relationship with God can endure. It foreshadows the ultimate revelation that God's purposes are grander and more intricate than human suffering can fully explain, often involving spiritual battles beyond our immediate sight.

* [Psalm 44:24](/psalm/44-24 "Psalm 44:24 - Why Do You Hide Your Face?")
* [Isaiah 45:15](/isaiah/45-15 "Isaiah 45:15 - Truly, You Are a God Who Hides Himself")
* [Psalm 10:1](/psalm/10-1 "Psalm 10:1 - Why, O Lord, Do You Stand Far Off?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 13:24 serves as a profound validation for those who find themselves in the crucible of suffering, feeling abandoned or even targeted by God. It affirms that it is not only permissible but often necessary to bring our rawest emotions, our deepest doubts, and our most challenging questions directly before God. Job's honest lament demonstrates that authentic faith is not the absence of struggle or questioning, but the willingness to wrestle with God in the midst of life's most bewildering mysteries. This verse encourages us to maintain an open and honest dialogue with our Creator, even when His actions seem incomprehensible or His presence feels absent. It reminds us that God is big enough to handle our anger, our confusion, and our accusations, and that such wrestling can ultimately deepen our trust, even if answers are not immediately forthcoming. The book of Job ultimately reveals that God is sovereign, just, and intimately involved, even when His purposes are hidden from our view, and that our suffering may serve a greater, unseen purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When you experience profound suffering, do you feel comfortable expressing your rawest emotions and questions to God, or do you feel you must maintain a façade of perfect faith?**
* **How does Job's willingness to accuse God challenge or affirm your understanding of a healthy relationship with the Divine?**
* **In what ways might God's "hiddenness" be an invitation to deeper trust rather than a sign of abandonment?**
* **How can the story of Job help us to reframe our understanding of suffering, moving beyond a simplistic cause-and-effect relationship with sin?**

### FAQ
**Is it acceptable to question God or express anger towards Him, as Job does?**

Answer: Yes, the book of Job, particularly verses like [Job 13:24](/job/13-24 "Job 13:24 - Job's Lament of Divine Hiddenness"), strongly indicates that it is acceptable, and even spiritually healthy, to express raw emotions, doubts, and questions to God. The biblical narrative frequently portrays individuals, including Job, David (in the Psalms), and Jeremiah, wrestling honestly with God in their pain and confusion. God does not rebuke Job for his questions or accusations, but rather for speaking about Him without knowledge (as seen in [Job 38:2](/job/38-2 "Job 38:2 - God's Challenge to Job")). Ultimately, God commends Job for speaking rightly about Him, in contrast to his friends ([Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God's Vindication of Job")). This demonstrates that God values authenticity and a direct, albeit agonizing, relationship over a superficial piety that suppresses genuine feelings.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's agonizing cry in [Job 13:24](/job/13-24 "Job 13:24 - Job's Lament of Divine Hiddenness"), "Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?", finds its most profound and redemptive fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job was an innocent sufferer, his experience foreshadows the ultimate innocent sufferer, Jesus, who took upon Himself the full weight of humanity's sin. On the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), echoing Job's lament of divine hiddenness and abandonment. In that moment, God truly "hid His face" from His beloved Son, not because Jesus was an enemy, but because He was bearing the sin that separates humanity from God. Jesus, the perfectly righteous one ([1 Peter 2:22](/1_peter/2-22 "1 Peter 2:22 - Christ's Sinlessness")), was "reckoned" as an enemy of God for our sake, becoming sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). Through Christ's suffering and His bearing of divine wrath, the "face" of God is no longer hidden from believers; instead, we are invited into a reconciled relationship, seeing God's glory "in the face of Jesus Christ" ([2 Corinthians 4:6](/2_corinthians/4-6 "2 Corinthians 4:6 - The Light of the Gospel")). Thus, Job's desperate cry for vindication and understanding is ultimately answered in the cross, where God's justice and love perfectly converge to bring salvation and reveal His true character.

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 19:11

He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as [one of] his enemies.

Psalms 13:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Lamentations 2:5

The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.

Psalms 88:14

LORD, why castest thou off my soul? [why] hidest thou thy face from me?

Psalms 44:24

Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

Isaiah 8:17

And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Deuteronomy 32:20

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end [shall be]: for they [are] a very froward generation, children in whom [is] no faith.