Job 6:13

KJV

[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

KJV (with Strong's)

Is not my help {H5833} in me? and is wisdom {H8454} driven quite {H5080} from me?

Complete Jewish Bible

Clearly, I have no help in myself; common sense has been driven from me.

Berean Standard Bible

Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?

American Standard Version

Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 6:13 encapsulates the raw anguish and profound sense of abandonment felt by Job amidst his unparalleled suffering. In this poignant rhetorical question, Job expresses a complete depletion of internal resources, questioning whether any "help" or "wisdom" remains within him to navigate his unbearable circumstances. It is a cry of utter despair, revealing a man pushed to the brink of physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion, feeling isolated even from his own inner strength and clarity of thought, highlighting the overwhelming nature of his trials.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 6:13 is situated within Job’s first extended response to Eliphaz the Temanite, which spans [Job 6](/job/6 "Job's First Response to Eliphaz") and [Job 7](/job/7 "Job's Lament and Plea to God"). This response follows Eliphaz's counsel, which subtly accuses Job of sin as the cause of his suffering ([Job 4:7-9](/job/4-7 "Eliphaz's Accusation of the Wicked")). In contrast, Job vehemently defends his innocence and laments the severity of his pain, expressing a fervent wish for death as a release ([Job 6:8-9](/job/6-8 "Job's Desire for Death")). He also conveys deep disappointment in his friends' lack of true empathy ([Job 6:14-23](/job/6-14 "Job's Rebuke of His Friends")) and protests the injustice of his situation. Verse 13 specifically articulates his internal desolation, a feeling of being utterly bereft of personal resilience or understanding, which underscores his desire for an end to his agony and sets the stage for his subsequent pleas to God.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region likely east of Palestine, and portrays a patriarchal society where wealth was measured in livestock and servants, and wisdom was highly valued. The cultural expectation among Job's friends, common in ancient Near Eastern thought, was a direct correlation between sin and suffering (the "retribution principle"). This belief system dictated that great suffering must be the result of great sin, implying that Job's immense suffering must stem from equally immense, though hidden, transgressions. Job's friends, therefore, approached him not with unreserved compassion but with a theological framework that led them to accuse him. Job's lament in verse 13 must be understood against this backdrop of societal expectation and theological pressure, where his internal collapse is exacerbated by external judgment, leaving him feeling utterly alone and without internal or external support.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes in the book. It highlights the theme of **profound human suffering** and the psychological toll it takes, pushing an individual to the limits of endurance where even internal resources seem to vanish. It also touches upon the theme of **the inadequacy of human wisdom** in the face of divine mystery, as Job's own "wisdom" is "driven quite from him," and his friends' conventional wisdom proves utterly unhelpful in explaining his plight or offering true comfort. Furthermore, it foreshadows the broader theme of **divine hiddenness** and the struggle to comprehend God's ways, as Job's internal crisis reflects his inability to reconcile his suffering with his understanding of a just God, a struggle that permeates his entire discourse in [the Book of Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job"). This verse underscores the deep human need for understanding and the pain of its absence, a sentiment echoed later in [Job's longing for an audience with God](/job/23-3 "Job's Longing to Find God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Help (Hebrew, _‘ezrâh'_):** This term typically refers to external assistance or aid, often from God or another person. However, in this context, Job uses it reflexively, asking if any internal capacity for resilience, strength, or self-support remains within him. The rhetorical question implies a resounding "no," signifying that he feels completely depleted, unable to draw upon any inner fortitude to cope with his immense trials. It speaks to a profound sense of personal collapse, a feeling that all personal resources have been exhausted.
* **Wisdom (Hebrew, _tûwshîyâh'_):** This word denotes sound wisdom, good judgment, practical understanding, or even substance and success. Job's query, "is wisdom driven quite from me?", suggests a loss of perspective, clarity of thought, or the ability to make sense of his situation. He feels his capacity for rational thought, for finding solutions, or for understanding the meaning of his suffering has entirely deserted him, leaving him in a state of intellectual and spiritual disorientation, unable to grasp the "substance" or reality of his predicament.
* **Driven quite (Hebrew, _nâdach'_):** This verb, a primitive root, means "to push off," "to expel," "to banish," or "to thrust away." Its use here emphasizes the forceful, involuntary nature of the loss Job describes. His wisdom isn't merely absent; it has been actively expelled or banished from him, suggesting an external force or overwhelming circumstances have stripped him of his mental and spiritual equilibrium, leaving him feeling utterly helpless and disoriented.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[Is] not my help in me?":** This first clause is a rhetorical question expressing Job's utter internal depletion. He is not genuinely asking for information but lamenting the absence of any remaining personal strength, resilience, or capacity to endure. It conveys a feeling of being completely emptied, with no inner resource left to draw upon, highlighting the overwhelming nature of his affliction and the profound sense of abandonment he feels even from himself.
* **"and is wisdom driven quite from me?":** This second rhetorical question extends Job's lament to his intellectual and spiritual faculties. He feels that his ability to reason, to understand his circumstances, or to find any sense or purpose in his suffering has been utterly removed or expelled from him. It speaks to a profound disorientation and a loss of clarity, suggesting that his trials have stripped him not only of physical well-being but also of mental and spiritual equilibrium, leaving him in a state of intellectual and existential bewilderment.

#### Literary Devices
Job 6:13 is a masterful example of a **Rhetorical Question**, a figure of speech in which a question is asked not to elicit an answer but to make a forceful statement or produce a dramatic effect. Here, Job's questions are not seeking information from his friends but are powerful expressions of his deep despair and the perceived absence of internal resources. The questions serve to emphasize the extremity of his condition, conveying his feeling of utter helplessness more vividly than a direct statement could. Furthermore, the verse employs **Hyperbole**, as Job exaggerates his condition to convey the intensity of his suffering. While he may not be literally devoid of all wisdom or help, his feeling of being "driven quite from me" emphasizes the overwhelming nature of his pain, which has consumed his perception of his own capabilities. This dramatic language underscores the profound psychological and spiritual impact of his trials, making his lament all the more poignant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 6:13 resonates with the universal human experience of profound suffering, where individuals may feel utterly depleted and question their own internal capacity to cope. Theologically, it highlights the limits of human self-reliance and the deep need for a source of strength beyond oneself, particularly when faced with trials that defy understanding. Job's lament underscores the mystery of suffering and God's sovereignty, as his plight is not due to personal sin but part of a divine drama beyond his comprehension. This verse invites empathy for those in deep despair, reminding us that even the most righteous can feel abandoned and utterly without internal solace, prompting a re-evaluation of simplistic theological explanations for suffering. It points to the reality that true help and wisdom often come from outside ourselves, from a divine source.

* [Psalm 77:7-9](/psalm/77-7 "Psalm 77:7-9 - Asaph's Lament and Questioning of God's Faithfulness")
* [Psalm 142:4](/psalm/142-4 "Psalm 142:4 - David's Cry for Refuge and Help")
* [Lamentations 3:18](/lamentations/3-18 "Lamentations 3:18 - Jeremiah's Sense of Lost Hope")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 6:13 offers a profound and sobering look into the human psyche under extreme duress. It validates the experience of feeling utterly depleted, where one's own inner resilience and clarity seem to have vanished. In moments of overwhelming grief, loss, injustice, or spiritual dryness, it is natural to question one's capacity to continue, to feel that "help" and "wisdom" have been "driven quite from me." This verse reminds us that such feelings are not a sign of spiritual failure but a common, albeit painful, aspect of the human condition when confronted with suffering beyond our control. For those ministering to the afflicted, Job's cry serves as a crucial reminder to approach with empathy, patience, and a willingness to simply bear witness to their pain, rather than offering quick solutions or theological platitudes. It calls us to create space for raw lament, acknowledging that true comfort often begins with validating the depth of despair, trusting that even in the darkest valleys, God is present, even if His presence is not immediately felt or understood. Our role is often to point to the steadfast presence of God, even when it feels absent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways have you experienced a feeling of your "help" or "wisdom" being "driven quite from you" during times of intense suffering or crisis?**
* **How does Job's raw honesty challenge our assumptions about how believers "should" respond to pain?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the importance of lament and expressing genuine despair in our walk with God?**
* **How can we better support others who feel utterly depleted, avoiding the pitfalls of Job's friends?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 6:13 suggest that Job had lost his faith or was questioning God's existence?**

Answer: While Job 6:13 certainly reveals Job's profound despair and a sense of internal collapse, it does not necessarily indicate a loss of faith in God's existence. Rather, it reflects a deep crisis of understanding and a struggle with God's justice and ways. Job is questioning his own capacity to cope and understand, not necessarily God's reality. Throughout the book, even in his most bitter laments, Job continues to address God, to appeal to Him, and to long for an encounter with Him ([Job 13:3](/job/13-3 "Job's Desire to Argue His Case Before God"); [Job 23:3](/job/23-3 "Job's Longing to Find God")). His questions are born out of intense pain and confusion, not outright atheism. He is grappling with the disconnect between his righteous life and his overwhelming suffering, feeling abandoned by his own inner resources in the face of a seemingly indifferent or hidden God. His lament is a desperate plea from a man who still believes in God, but is utterly bewildered by His actions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 6:13, with its cry of internal depletion and the feeling of wisdom being "driven quite from me," finds a profound echo and ultimate answer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job's experience of utter abandonment and the loss of internal "help" and "wisdom" foreshadows the ultimate suffering of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who, on the cross, cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). In that moment, Christ truly experienced the ultimate spiritual abandonment, bearing the sin of the world and feeling the full weight of separation from God, a desolation far deeper than Job's. Yet, unlike Job, whose wisdom was driven from him, Christ is the very embodiment of divine wisdom, the "power of God and the wisdom of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Wisdom of God")). He is the true "help" that Job longed for, not an internal, finite human resource, but the infinite, divine source of strength and understanding. For those who feel their own help and wisdom have vanished, Christ offers the ultimate solace and restoration, becoming our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption ([1 Corinthians 1:30](/1_corinthians/1-30 "1 Corinthians 1:30 - Christ as Our Wisdom and Righteousness")), and promising that His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness ([2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Grace is Sufficient")). In Him, the deepest human despair meets divine compassion and a never-failing source of help and wisdom, ensuring that we are never truly abandoned.

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

2 Corinthians 1:12

¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Job 26:2

How hast thou helped [him that is] without power? [how] savest thou the arm [that hath] no strength?

Job 12:2

No doubt but ye [are] the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

Job 12:3

But I have understanding as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

Job 19:28

But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

Job 13:2

What ye know, [the same] do I know also: I [am] not inferior unto you.

Galatians 6:4

But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.