Job 35:13

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

Surely God {H410} will not hear {H8085} vanity {H7723}, neither will the Almighty {H7706} regard {H7789} it.

For God will not listen to empty cries; Shaddai pays no attention to them.

Surely God does not listen to empty pleas, and the Almighty does not take note of it.

Surely God will not hear an emptycry, Neither will the Almighty regard it.

Commentary

Job 35:13 is a statement made by Elihu, the youngest of Job's counselors, during his attempts to explain God's justice and wisdom. Elihu argues that God is too great and righteous to be affected by human actions in the way Job suggests, and therefore, God will not pay attention to empty or insincere words.

Context

In Job chapter 35, Elihu continues his discourse, asserting God's transcendence and His unwavering justice. He contends that human righteousness does not benefit God, nor does human wickedness harm Him in His essence. Elihu then transitions to the idea that God does indeed hear the cries of the oppressed (Job 35:9), but He does not regard prayers or complaints that are empty, insincere, or born out of a spirit of challenging God's righteousness rather than seeking true deliverance or understanding. This verse is a direct challenge to Job's perceived complaints, implying they may be "vanity."

Key Themes

  • Divine Discernment: The verse emphasizes God's perfect ability to discern the true nature and intent behind human words and prayers. He sees beyond outward expressions to the heart's condition.
  • The Nature of True Prayer: It highlights that God does not respond to empty ritual, insincere appeals, or complaints that lack humility and genuine repentance. Effective prayer must come from a sincere heart.
  • God's Unwavering Justice: Elihu reinforces the idea that God's justice is absolute. He will not engage with "vanity" because it is contrary to His righteous and truthful character.

Linguistic Insights

The pivotal word in this verse is "vanity" (Hebrew: shav - ืฉึธืื•ึฐื). This term is rich in meaning, encompassing emptiness, futility, falsehood, worthlessness, and even idolatry. It is used in other contexts to describe taking God's name in vain, or referring to idols as "vain things" that hold no power or truth. In Job 35:13, it signifies words or prayers that are hollow, insincere, or uttered without genuine faith, reverence, or a right understanding of God's character. God will not "hear" (shama - ืฉึธืืžึทืข), implying attentive listening that leads to action, nor will He "regard" (yabin - ื™ึธื‘ึดื™ืŸ), meaning to pay attention to or comprehend, such empty utterances.

Practical Application

Job 35:13 offers a profound lesson on the importance of sincerity in our relationship with God. It reminds us that God is not impressed by mere words or religious performance, but by the condition of our hearts. When we approach God in prayer, our words should reflect genuine faith, humility, and a desire to align with His will, not simply to air grievances or make demands from a place of self-righteousness. As 1 Samuel 16:7 states, "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." This verse encourages believers to cultivate a truly sincere and humble spirit in all their interactions with the Almighty, knowing that He discerns all things.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 15:29

    ยถ The LORD [is] far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

  • Jeremiah 11:11

    ยถ Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

  • Isaiah 1:15

    And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

  • James 4:3

    Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

  • Psalms 102:17

    He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

  • Hosea 7:14

    And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me.

  • Job 22:22

    Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
โ† Back