Job 13:22

Study note

Setting — Job addresses God directly, demanding a formal exchange after pleading for divine withdrawal and an end to His terrifying presence (Job 13:21). He immediately follows this by pressing God to disclose the exact number and nature of his transgressions (Job 13:23).

The words — The Hebrew קְרָא (qə.rā') means "call," and אֶֽעֱנֶ֑ה ('e.'e.nêh) means "I will answer," establishing the verse as a proposed verbal exchange. The term אֲ֝דַבֵּ֗ר ('a.da.bêr) translates literally to "let me speak," paired with the divine response verb הַשִׁיבֵֽנִי (ha.shi.vênî), "respond to me."

The thread — This reciprocal summons pattern appears in Job 14:15 and Job 9:16, both of which pair divine calling with human answering or vice versa. Job 9:32 diverges by noting that God’s non-human nature prevents the two from standing together in a legal proceeding.

Why it lands — The text presents a conditional offer of direct communication before demanding specific accountability for sin. It requires the reader to confront the tension between seeking divine clarity and facing the full weight of revealed guilt.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.