Job 9:13

[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

If God {H433} will not withdraw {H7725} his anger {H639}, the proud {H7293} helpers {H5826} do stoop {H7817} under him.

God will not withdraw his anger -even Rahav's supporters submit to him.

God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

Commentary

Context

Job 9:13 is part of Job’s profound and often despairing response to his friend Bildad. In this chapter, Job grapples with the immense power and inscrutability of God. He acknowledges God's omnipotence and wisdom, stating that no one can truly contend with Him (Job 9:32). Despite his intense suffering and desire for an audience with God, Job recognizes God’s absolute control over creation and destiny. This verse specifically emphasizes that even the most powerful entities or forces cannot withstand divine displeasure or anger.

Key Themes

  • God's Unchallengeable Power: The central message is God's absolute sovereignty and irresistible might. His will cannot be thwarted, and His anger, once manifest, cannot be withdrawn by any external force. This highlights the divine sovereignty that Job so acutely feels.
  • Human (and Cosmic) Weakness: In stark contrast to God's power, the verse underscores the utter helplessness of all created beings, including "proud helpers." These "helpers" are often interpreted as powerful cosmic forces, mythical giants, or even human allies who might boast of their strength. Regardless of their identity, they are shown to be utterly submissive to God's wrath, compelled to "stoop" under His authority.
  • Divine Anger and Justice: The phrase "God will not withdraw his anger" speaks to the seriousness and inevitability of divine judgment when provoked. It implies that when God's wrath is active, no one, no matter how mighty, can stand against it or intervene to stop it. Who can stand before His indignation?

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "proud helpers" (KJV) is a translation of the Hebrew 'ozerey rahāb (עֹזְרֵי רָהָב). The term rahāb (רָהָב) can refer to pride or insolence. However, in poetic and prophetic literature, it is often used as a symbolic name for a mythical sea monster or a chaotic, powerful entity, sometimes associated with Egypt (as seen in Isaiah 30:7). Thus, "proud helpers" could refer to powerful, rebellious forces or entities that imagine they can withstand God. The word "stoop" (KJV) comes from the Hebrew šāḥaḥ (שָׁחַח), meaning to bow down, be humbled, or be brought low, emphasizing their complete and forced submission to God's overwhelming power.

Practical Application

Job 9:13 offers a profound lesson on humility and the ultimate authority of God. For believers, it serves as a reminder that:

  • Reverence for God: We should approach God with awe and reverence, recognizing His infinite power and justice. Our own strength, wisdom, or alliances are insignificant compared to His.
  • Trust in His Sovereignty: Even in intense suffering, Job's words remind us that God is in complete control. While His ways may be mysterious, His power is absolute. This can be a source of comfort, knowing that nothing is beyond His reach, and also a call to humble submission.
  • Humility in the Face of Power: The verse challenges human pride and any attempt to resist divine will. Any "proud helper," whether a person, an ideology, or a system, that attempts to stand against God's purposes is destined to "stoop." This encourages us to align ourselves with God's will rather than resisting it. As James 4:10 states, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

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Cross-References

  • Job 26:12

    He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

  • Psalms 89:10

    Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

  • Isaiah 30:7

    For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength [is] to sit still.

  • Isaiah 51:9

    ¶ Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. [Art] thou not it that hath cut Rahab, [and] wounded the dragon?

  • James 4:6

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

  • James 4:7

    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

  • Isaiah 31:2

    Yet he also [is] wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.