Job 13:8

Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?

Will ye accept {H5375} his person {H6440}? will ye contend {H7378} for God {H410}?

Do you need to take his side and plead God's case for him?

Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?

Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

Commentary

In Job 13:8, Job confronts his three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—who have been offering their assessments of his suffering. This verse is part of Job's impassioned defense against their accusations, where he questions their sincerity and the very foundation of their arguments. He suggests that in their zeal to defend God's justice, they are actually misrepresenting Him and showing partiality, rather than speaking truth.

Context

This verse comes amidst Job's third discourse, where he directly challenges the wisdom and integrity of his companions. Throughout the Book of Job, Job's friends insist that his immense suffering must be a direct consequence of some hidden sin, aligning with the traditional view of divine retribution. They believe they are defending God's righteousness by condemning Job. However, Job perceives their arguments as flawed, insincere, and even deceptive, calling them "physicians of no value" in Job 13:4. He challenges whether they would "accept his person" (show partiality) if they were arguing before a human judge, implying they are doing just that before God.

Key Themes

  • Partiality vs. Truth: The phrase "Will ye accept his person?" directly addresses the concept of showing favoritism or partiality based on one's perceived status or position. Job implies his friends are attempting to flatter God or align themselves with Him by condemning Job, rather than speaking honestly about his situation. This is a crucial point, as God consistently condemns partiality (Deuteronomy 10:17).
  • Misrepresenting God: Job questions whether his friends are truly "contending for God" in a righteous manner. He suggests that their arguments, though framed as a defense of God, are actually based on false premises and therefore misrepresent God's character and justice. This foreshadows God's own rebuke of the friends later in the book for not speaking what was right about Him (Job 42:7).
  • Integrity in Argument: Job's challenge highlights the importance of integrity and truthfulness, even when discussing divine matters. He implies that defending God through deceit or false assumptions is not true service to Him.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "accept his person" translates the Hebrew nasa' panim (נָשָׂא פָנִים), which literally means "to lift up the face." In this context, it signifies showing favoritism or partiality, often in a judicial setting. It implies judging someone based on who they are (or who you perceive them to be) rather than on the facts or truth of the matter. The word for "contend" is rib (רִיב), which means to strive, dispute, or plead a cause. Job questions the manner in which his friends are pleading God's cause, suggesting it's done with flawed reasoning and partiality.

Practical Application

Job 13:8 serves as a timeless reminder that zeal for God must be tempered with truth and integrity. It cautions against:

  • Judging Others Hastily: We should be careful not to make quick judgments about the reasons for others' suffering or misfortunes, especially by presuming to know God's exact motives.
  • Defending God Falsely: It is never acceptable to defend God or His truth with lies, misrepresentations, or partiality. God does not need our deceit to uphold His glory.
  • Humility in Theology: This verse encourages humility in our understanding of God's ways. Even with good intentions, we can misrepresent God if our arguments are not grounded in truth and a deep understanding of His character, as revealed in Scripture. Our ultimate goal should be to speak truth, even if it means challenging conventional wisdom or popular theological stances.
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Cross-References

  • Proverbs 24:23 (3 votes)

    ¶ These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

  • Malachi 2:9 (2 votes)

    Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

  • Job 34:19 (2 votes)

    [How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.

  • Exodus 23:2 (2 votes)

    Thou shalt not follow a multitude to [do] evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest [judgment]:

  • Exodus 23:3 (2 votes)

    Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.

  • Job 32:21 (2 votes)

    Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

  • Leviticus 19:15 (2 votes)

    Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.