Job 14:13

KJV

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

KJV (with Strong's)

O that {H5414} thou wouldest hide {H6845} me in the grave {H7585}, that thou wouldest keep me secret {H5641}, until thy wrath {H639} be past {H7725}, that thou wouldest appoint {H7896} me a set time {H2706}, and remember {H2142} me!

Complete Jewish Bible

"I wish you would hide me in Sh'ol, conceal me until your anger has passed, then fix a time and remember me!

Berean Standard Bible

If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!

American Standard Version

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 14:13 captures the heart-wrenching lament of a man engulfed by unimaginable suffering, articulating a desperate plea for a temporary refuge in the grave. This cry is not for annihilation but for a divinely orchestrated hiding place from God's perceived wrath, coupled with a remarkable, defiant hope that God would, at an appointed future time, remember him and bring about his restoration or vindication. It is a profoundly human expression, blending the depths of despair with a nascent, yet powerful, faith in God's ultimate sovereignty and faithfulness beyond the immediate horizon of death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within Job's third discourse (chapters 12-14), where he continues his impassioned response to the accusatory and rigid theological frameworks of his friends. Having previously voiced his initial, raw lament in [Job 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Initial Lament"), Job here intensifies his wrestling with the apparent injustice of his suffering and God's seemingly distant or even hostile posture. Chapter 14 specifically delves into the profound brevity and inherent fragility of human life, sharply contrasting it with the remarkable resilience observed in nature, particularly the capacity of a tree to sprout anew even after being cut down ([Job 14:7-9](/job/14-7-9 "Job 14:7-9 - Hope for a Tree")). Job laments that humanity lacks this natural capacity for renewal in this earthly existence, which leads him to view the grave as the only available sanctuary from his intense pain and God's perceived wrath. His longing for death is thus not an embrace of oblivion but a desperate cry for respite, critically qualified by the profound caveat of a future divine recall.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the "grave" or "Sheol" (Hebrew: שְׁאוֹל, _Sheol'_) was widely understood as the common, universal destination for all the dead—a shadowy, silent underworld, a place of diminished existence where there was no activity, no direct communion with God, and from which return was generally considered impossible. It was not typically conceived as a place of judgment or reward for individuals, nor was there a clear, developed doctrine of resurrection as understood in later biblical traditions or in the New Testament. Job's plea to be hidden in *Sheol* reflects this prevalent cultural understanding of death as an irreversible descent into this realm. However, his unique addition—"until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!"—transcends the conventional view of *Sheol* as an irreversible end, hinting at a remarkable, albeit embryonic, hope for a future beyond the grave, a hope that was not common in his cultural milieu.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 14:13](/job/14-13 "Job 14:13 - Job's Plea for the Grave and Hope for Remembrance") powerfully encapsulates several central themes of the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights the **intensity of human suffering and the legitimacy of lament**, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary to express raw despair and honest questioning before God, even when one feels abandoned or targeted by divine wrath. Secondly, it grapples with the **fragility and apparent finality of human mortality**, contrasting the fleeting nature of life with the enduring power and sovereignty of God. Most significantly, however, the verse introduces a nascent, yet profound, theme of **hope beyond death**. Despite the morbid imagery and desperate longing for respite, Job's desire for a "set time" and for God to "remember" him points towards a belief in a future divine intervention that transcends the grave, foreshadowing the more explicit resurrection hope articulated later in [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Declaration of a Living Redeemer"). Finally, the verse implicitly affirms **God's ultimate sovereignty** over life, death, and the timing of all events, as Job appeals to God alone to grant his desperate requests, recognizing that only God can orchestrate such a profound intervention.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Grave (Hebrew, _shᵉʼôwl'_):** The Hebrew word שְׁאוֹל (_shᵉʼôwl'_, H7585) refers to Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates; grave, hell, pit. For Job, desiring to be hidden in *Sheol* is not a wish for annihilation or an embrace of death as a final end. Instead, it functions as a desperate plea for a temporary sanctuary, a place of respite from his unbearable physical and emotional anguish, where God's perceived wrath might pass over him. It represents a state of suspended animation rather than ultimate cessation.
* **Wrath (Hebrew, _ʼaph'_):** The Hebrew word אַף (_ʼaph'_, H639) properly denotes the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath. Job perceives his relentless suffering as a direct manifestation of God's intense anger or judgment against him, despite his insistence on his own innocence. His desire for God's "wrath to be past" indicates his belief that his affliction is a temporary, though severe, divine discipline that he wishes to escape by being hidden.
* **Remember (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** The Hebrew verb זָכַר (_zâkar'_, H2142) means properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well. In a covenantal or divine context, it implies active engagement, intervention, and a fulfilling of a promise or an act of restorative justice. When Job asks God to "remember me," he is not merely asking God to think of him. He is pleading for God to act on his behalf, to intervene in his suffering, to vindicate him, and to restore him to a state of blessing at a divinely appointed time. This active remembrance is the linchpin of Job's hope, transforming his plea for death into a profound expression of faith in future divine action.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave":** This clause expresses Job's profound despair and his desperate longing for relief from his relentless suffering. He views the grave (_Sheol_) not as a final destination but as a temporary, divinely ordained hiding place or sanctuary from his present anguish, a place where he might find respite from the overwhelming pain and the perceived divine assault.
* **"that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past":** This further clarifies the purpose of the desired hiding. Job wishes to be concealed and protected from God's intense displeasure, which he believes is the direct cause of his affliction. The phrase "until thy wrath be past" indicates his perception that God's punitive action is temporary and will eventually subside, allowing for a future beyond his current torment.
* **"that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!":** This is the most remarkable and hopeful part of the verse. Despite his desire for a temporary retreat into death, Job holds onto a profound, almost defiant, hope for a future. He asks God, who is sovereign over all time, to designate a specific, divinely appointed moment for his recall. To "remember" him, in this context, implies an active, restorative intervention—a vindication, a reversal of his fortunes, or even a resurrection. This clause transforms the lament into a powerful expression of faith in God's ultimate justice and faithfulness beyond the immediate horizon of suffering and death.

#### Literary Devices
[Job 14:13](/job/14-13 "Job 14:13 - Job's Plea for the Grave and Hope for Remembrance") is a masterful example of **Lament** literature, a common genre in the Psalms and prophetic books, where the speaker pours out their grief, pain, and confusion to God. The verse employs **Apostrophe**, a direct address to an absent or abstract entity, as Job speaks directly to God, even in his perceived abandonment. There is a profound **Paradox** at play: Job seeks refuge in death (the grave) as a means to escape suffering, yet simultaneously holds onto a hope for life and remembrance *from* that very death. This creates a powerful **Juxtaposition** of despair and hope, highlighting the complexity and depth of Job's faith. The phrase "appoint me a set time, and remember me!" functions as a form of **Proto-Resurrection Hope** or a **Prophetic Utterance**, hinting at a future divine act that transcends the immediate reality of death, even though a full doctrine of resurrection was not yet fully developed. The imagery of being "hidden" and "kept secret" creates a sense of profound vulnerability and a desperate longing for divine protection from the overwhelming forces assailing him.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Job 14:13](/job/14-13 "Job 14:13 - Job's Plea for the Grave and Hope for Remembrance") stands as a profound theological statement on the human condition in the face of immense suffering and the enduring, though often paradoxical, nature of faith. It validates the raw honesty of human lament, demonstrating that it is permissible and even necessary to express the deepest anguish and confusion to God. The verse grapples with the mystery of divine justice and the problem of suffering, as Job perceives God's hand in his affliction. Most significantly, it offers an early, nascent articulation of hope beyond the grave, hinting at a future where God's faithfulness will overcome the apparent finality of death. This hope, rooted in God's sovereignty over time and His capacity to "remember" (i.e., actively intervene and restore), provides a vital theological bridge from the Old Testament understanding of *Sheol* to the later, more developed doctrines of resurrection.
* [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Declaration of a Living Redeemer")
* [Psalm 16:10-11](/psalms/16-10-11 "Psalm 16:10-11 - Path of Life and Fullness of Joy")
* [Hosea 13:14](/hosea/13-14 "Hosea 13:14 - Victory Over Death and Sheol")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Job 14:13](/job/14-13 "Job 14:13 - Job's Plea for the Grave and Hope for Remembrance") offers profound comfort and insight for anyone enduring extreme suffering, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It reminds us that our faith journey is not always one of unwavering joy, but often includes seasons of deep lament, questioning, and even despair. Job's raw honesty in crying out to God, even wishing for death as a temporary escape, validates our own struggles and gives us permission to bring our most desperate and uncomfortable emotions before our Creator. This verse teaches us that even in the darkest valleys, a flicker of hope for God's future remembrance and intervention can persist. It encourages us to cling to the belief that God is sovereign over all things, including our appointed times of life, death, and future restoration. For the believer, Job's cry foreshadows the ultimate hope of resurrection and eternal life, where death is indeed but a temporary sleep, awaiting God's appointed time for glorious new life. It challenges us to trust in God's plan, even when it extends far beyond our immediate understanding, pointing towards a future hope that transcends our present pain and promises ultimate vindication and reunion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw honesty in prayer encourage or challenge your own prayer life during times of intense suffering?**
* **In what ways do you, like Job, seek "hiding places" or temporary escapes from overwhelming trials or perceived divine displeasure?**
* **How does the "set time" and "remember me" aspect of Job's prayer speak to your understanding of God's timing and faithfulness in your own life's journey?**
* **How does this verse, despite its ancient context, foreshadow the Christian hope of resurrection and ultimate vindication through Christ?**

### FAQ
**Is Job asking for suicide in this verse?**

Answer: No, Job is not asking for suicide. His plea is explicitly directed to God: "O that *thou wouldest* hide me in the grave." This is a desperate prayer for divine intervention, asking God to orchestrate his temporary removal from his suffering through death, with the explicit expectation that God would later "remember" him and bring him forth. It is an appeal for God to act, not an intention to take his own life. Job's request is for a divinely appointed respite, a divinely controlled entry into *Sheol*, not self-destruction.

**What does Job mean by "thy wrath" in this context?**

Answer: In this context, "thy wrath" refers to Job's perception that his intense and prolonged suffering is a direct manifestation of God's anger or judgment against him. Despite his unwavering insistence on his own innocence, Job interprets his physical ailments, emotional anguish, and social ostracism as active divine displeasure. He believes that God is actively afflicting him, and he longs for this period of divine wrath to pass, allowing for a time of peace or restoration. It's important to note that this is Job's interpretation of his circumstances, reflecting his profound bewilderment, not necessarily a definitive theological statement about God's actual disposition towards him, which the book of Job ultimately challenges and refines through God's own speeches in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Answer to Job").

**How does Job's hope here relate to the concept of resurrection?**

Answer: While not a fully developed doctrine of bodily resurrection as found in the New Testament, Job's desire for a "set time" when God would "remember him" from the grave is a significant proto-resurrection hope. It suggests a belief that death is not the absolute end and that God has the power and intention to recall individuals from *Sheol*. This is a remarkable leap of faith for its time, hinting at a future beyond death where God's justice and faithfulness would be fully revealed. This nascent hope finds its most explicit Old Testament expression later in [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25-27 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Declaration of a Living Redeemer"), where Job declares his conviction that his Redeemer lives and will stand upon the earth, and that he himself will see God even after his skin is destroyed, implying a bodily restoration.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry in [Job 14:13](/job/14-13 "Job 14:13 - Job's Plea for the Grave and Hope for Remembrance") for a temporary hiding in the grave "until thy wrath be past" and for God to "appoint me a set time, and remember me!" finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, truly was "hidden in the grave" for a "set time"—three days and three nights, as foretold by the sign of Jonah ([Matthew 12:40](/matthew/12-40 "Matthew 12:40 - The Sign of Jonah")). He entered the realm of death, not as one under divine wrath for His own sin, but as the Lamb of God who took upon Himself the full wrath of God against humanity's sin ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Justified by His Blood")). His death was the ultimate passing of God's wrath, securing redemption for all who believe. Furthermore, God did indeed "remember" Him, not by merely recalling Him to mind, but by raising Him from the dead on the third day, demonstrating His absolute power over death and *Sheol* ([Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus from the Dead")). Christ's resurrection is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" ([1 Corinthians 15:20](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits")), guaranteeing that all who are "in Christ" will also be remembered and raised by God at His appointed time ([John 5:28-29](/john/5-28-29 "John 5:28-29 - The Resurrection of Life and Condemnation")). Thus, Job's ancient, yearning hope for a future beyond the grave, for divine remembrance and vindication, is perfectly and powerfully realized in the resurrection of Jesus, who is Himself "the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), offering eternal life and a glorious future to all who trust in Him.

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

Mark 13:32

But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Isaiah 26:20

¶ Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Isaiah 26:21

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Isaiah 57:1

¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

Isaiah 57:2

He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness.

Psalms 106:4

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour [that thou bearest unto] thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

Acts 17:31

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.