Job 3:13

KJV

For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

KJV (with Strong's)

For now should I have lain still {H7901} and been quiet {H8252}, I should have slept {H3462}: then had I been at rest {H5117},

Complete Jewish Bible

Then I would be lying still and in peace, I would have slept and been at rest,

Berean Standard Bible

For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest

American Standard Version

For now should I have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept; then had I been at rest,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 3:13 captures the profound depth of Job's despair, expressing a fervent wish for the peace and stillness of death as an escape from his unimaginable suffering. Having endured catastrophic loss and debilitating illness, Job longs for the quiet repose of the grave, where he imagines he would find a cessation of torment and a profound rest, contrasting sharply with the relentless agony of his current existence. This verse marks a pivotal moment in the book, articulating the raw human cry for relief in the face of overwhelming pain and setting the stage for the ensuing theological dialogue on the nature of suffering and divine justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 3:13 is situated within Job's initial lament, which breaks a seven-day period of silent mourning with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Following the catastrophic events detailed in [Job 1-2](/job/1-2 "Job 1-2 - Job's Righteousness and Initial Trials"), where Job loses his children, wealth, and health, he curses the day of his birth in [Job 3:1-10](/job/3-1 "Job 3:1-10 - Job Curses His Birth"). This curse is not an act of rebellion against God, but a desperate cry for non-existence, a wish that he had never been born or had died at birth. Verse 13 specifically articulates the *reason* for this wish: the perceived peace and rest that death would offer, a stark contrast to his living nightmare. It serves as a foundation for his subsequent arguments and the friends' responses, framing the entire dialogue around the problem of suffering and the human desire for cessation from pain.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the concept of death was often associated with a shadowy realm known as Sheol (the grave or underworld), a place of silence and inactivity. While not a place of conscious torment in the way later traditions might depict, it was generally seen as a diminished existence, cut off from the land of the living and from God's active presence. However, for someone in Job's extreme agony, even this silent, inactive state was preferable to his current torment. The idea of death as "rest" was a common human sentiment, particularly for those burdened by toil, sorrow, or pain. It represented a cessation of earthly struggles, a return to the dust from which humanity was formed, and a release from the relentless demands of life. This perspective is echoed in various ancient texts and is a universal human response to unbearable suffering.
* **Key Themes:** Job 3:13 powerfully encapsulates several core themes prevalent throughout the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights **Profound Despair and Suffering**, revealing the utter brokenness and emotional anguish that has consumed Job. His longing for death underscores the intensity of his pain, where non-existence is viewed as the ultimate relief. Secondly, the verse introduces the theme of **Death as Rest**, portraying the grave not merely as an end, but as a deeply desired state of peace and cessation from struggle. This concept, while rooted in Job's immediate agony, resonates with broader biblical ideas of rest from earthly labors, as seen in passages like [Revelation 14:13](/revelation/14-13 "Revelation 14:13 - Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord"). Finally, Job's lament sets the stage for the central **Problem of Suffering**, particularly the suffering of the righteous. His words challenge simplistic theological frameworks that equate suffering directly with sin, forcing a deeper contemplation of divine justice, sovereignty, and the mysterious ways of God in the face of human pain.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lain still (Hebrew, _shakhav_):** This verb (שָׁכַב) literally means "to lie down," often used in the context of sleeping, resting, or lying in a grave. In Job 3:13, it conveys the imagery of a body laid to rest, emphasizing the stillness and inactivity associated with death. It's a passive state, desired as an escape from active suffering.
* **quiet (Hebrew, _shaqat_):** The Hebrew word (שָׁקַט) means "to be quiet," "to be undisturbed," "to be at peace," or "to be tranquil." It suggests a cessation of agitation, turmoil, and noise. For Job, this "quiet" is the antithesis of his current chaotic and painful existence, representing a profound internal and external peace that only death seems to offer.
* **rest (Hebrew, _menuchah_):** This noun (מְנוּחָה) signifies a deep tranquility, repose, quietness, and a complete cessation of activity or trouble. It implies the kind of peaceful respite one finds after strenuous labor, a long journey, or intense conflict. In Job's context, it is the ultimate relief from his relentless physical and emotional torment, a state of profound peace that he believes is only attainable in the grave.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For now should I have lain still and been quiet,"**: This opening clause expresses Job's hypothetical wish. The "now" emphasizes his immediate, desperate longing. "Lain still" and "been quiet" are parallel expressions, reinforcing the desire for an inert, undisturbed state. It paints a picture of a body at peace, free from the convulsions of pain and the turmoil of despair.
* **"I should have slept:"**: This clause continues the hypothetical scenario, using the common biblical metaphor of "sleep" for death. It underscores the unconsciousness and cessation of earthly awareness that Job craves. Sleep is a natural state of rest and oblivion, making it a fitting image for the ultimate repose in death, where pain and consciousness of suffering would cease.
* **"then had I been at rest,"**: This final clause states the desired outcome and the ultimate motivation for Job's longing. The "rest" (מְנוּחָה, _menuchah_) is the culmination of the stillness, quietness, and sleep. It signifies a complete and profound cessation of all his troubles, a state of deep tranquility and peace that is utterly absent from his current life. This is the core of his wish: not simply to die, but to find an end to his suffering through death.

#### Literary Devices
Job 3:13 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the depth of Job's despair. **Metaphor** is prominently used, with "slept" serving as a direct comparison for death, highlighting its quiet, unconscious, and restful aspects. This is a common biblical idiom for passing away. **Parallelism** is evident in the phrasing "lain still and been quiet" and "should have slept: then had I been at rest," where synonymous or complementary ideas are presented in successive clauses, intensifying the singular desire for peace through cessation. The entire expression is also a form of **Hyperbole**, as Job's language is extreme, reflecting the overwhelming nature of his suffering and his profound longing for an absolute end to his pain, even if it means non-existence. This dramatic language emphasizes the unbearable quality of his current agony.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 3:13, with its raw articulation of despair and longing for death as rest, connects deeply to the biblical understanding of the human condition under the curse of sin and the ultimate hope found in God. While Job's immediate desire is for the cessation of pain in the grave, his lament highlights the universal human yearning for relief from suffering and the inherent brokenness of a world marred by sin. The verse implicitly raises questions about divine justice and the purpose of suffering, which are central to the entire book of Job. The concept of "rest" here, though initially sought in death, foreshadows a greater, spiritual rest that God promises to His people, a rest that transcends the grave and is found in His eternal presence. It underscores that true and lasting rest is ultimately not found in non-existence, but in the redemptive work of God.

* [Revelation 14:13](/revelation/14-13 "Revelation 14:13 - Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord")
* [Psalm 88:10-12](/psalms/88-10 "Psalm 88:10-12 - A Prayer of Despair")
* [Ecclesiastes 9:5](/ecclesiastes/9-5 "Ecclesiastes 9:5 - The Dead Know Nothing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's unfiltered expression of despair in this verse serves as a profound validation of human suffering. It reminds us that it is permissible, and often necessary, to voice our deepest anguish, doubts, and longings for relief, even to the point of wishing for an end to our pain. This verse challenges us to approach those in profound distress with radical empathy, resisting the urge to offer simplistic theological answers or to minimize their suffering. Instead, we are called to sit with them in their pain, just as Job's friends initially did in silence, and to create a safe space for their laments. For believers, Job's experience also underscores that while earthly rest in the grave may be a temporary cessation of pain, the ultimate and eternal rest is found not in death itself, but in the presence of God, a hope that transcends the limitations of Job's understanding at this moment. This should move us to offer a Gospel-centered hope that acknowledges suffering but points to a future where all tears will be wiped away.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw honesty challenge our assumptions about faith and suffering, particularly the idea that true faith always involves stoic endurance without complaint?**
* **When facing profound pain or despair, how can we balance our human desire for relief with trust in God's ultimate sovereignty and His often mysterious purposes?**
* **In what ways can we offer genuine empathy and understanding to those who are experiencing deep despair, rather than offering simplistic answers or theological platitudes?**

### FAQ
**Does Job's desire for death imply he was suicidal?**

Answer: While Job expresses a deep longing for death as an escape from his unbearable suffering, it's crucial to distinguish this from a proactive, self-destructive intent typically associated with suicide. Job's wish is for a passive cessation of existence, a longing that he had never been born or had died at birth, rather than an active plan to end his life. He yearns for the *peace* of death, not death as an act of rebellion or self-annihilation. This is a common theme in biblical laments, where individuals in extreme distress wish for death as a release from torment (e.g., [Jonah 4:3](/jonah/4-3 "Jonah 4:3 - Jonah's Desire to Die"), [1 Kings 19:4](/1_kings/19-4 "1 Kings 19:4 - Elijah's Plea to Die")). It reflects the intense human desire for relief from overwhelming pain, not necessarily a will to defy God or end one's life by one's own hand.

**How does this verse relate to the Christian view of death?**

Answer: Job's lament in [Job 3:13](/job/3-13 "Job 3:13 - Job's Longing for Rest in Death") reflects a common human desire for rest in the face of suffering, a sentiment that resonates across all cultures and times. For the Christian, while death still represents a cessation of earthly toil and pain, it is viewed through the lens of Christ's resurrection. The "rest" that Job longed for finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the Christian hope of eternal life and resurrection. Believers anticipate not just the silence of the grave, but a glorious future with God, where there will be no more sorrow, pain, or tears ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")). Paul expresses this transformed perspective in [Philippians 1:21-23](/philippians/1-21 "Philippians 1:21-23 - To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain"), stating that "to live is Christ and to die is gain," because to die is "to be with Christ, which is better by far." Thus, while the desire for rest is universal, the Christian hope elevates it beyond mere cessation to a joyful, conscious communion with the Savior.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's profound longing for rest in death, articulated in [Job 3:13](/job/3-13 "Job 3:13 - Job's Longing for Rest in Death"), finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Job, in his agony, could only conceive of rest as the cessation of being in the silent grave. However, the New Testament reveals a deeper, redemptive rest offered by the Suffering Servant, Jesus, who entered into the fullness of human pain, even to the point of death on the cross. Christ's suffering was not for His own sin, but for ours, bearing the full weight of the curse that brings all human pain and ultimately death. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered the power of death itself, transforming the grave from a place of mere cessation into a pathway to eternal life. He invites all who are weary and burdened to find true rest in Him, declaring, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). This rest is not merely the absence of pain, but a spiritual peace and security found in communion with God, a foretaste of the eternal Sabbath rest promised to the people of God ([Hebrews 4:9-11](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-11 - The Rest of God's People")). Job's desperate cry for an end to suffering points forward to the One who ultimately brings an end to all suffering, death, and tears, making all things new ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")) through His victorious resurrection ([1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ, the Firstfruits of Resurrection")).

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 17:13

If I wait, the grave [is] mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

Job 19:27

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; [though] my reins be consumed within me.

Job 7:21

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].

Job 21:23

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

Job 14:10

But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where [is] he?

Job 14:12

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

Job 7:8

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no [more]: thine eyes [are] upon me, and I [am] not.