Job 13:6

Study note

Setting — Job addresses his companions immediately after wishing they would remain silent, positioning his speech as a direct rebuttal to their counsel. He speaks at a moment of heightened tension, demanding their attention before challenging their motives in the following verse.

The words — The Hebrew term תוֹכַחְתִּי (to.khach.ti) literally means "my argument" or "my contention," while הַקְשִׁיבוּ (hak.shivu) translates to "pay attention" or "listen closely." These words frame the verse as a formal demand for careful hearing rather than a casual request.

The thread — The motif of demanding attentive hearing appears in Job 21:2 and Job 34:2, where speakers similarly command listeners to give ear before delivering their case. Judges 9:7 also records a public summons to listen, establishing a pattern of formal appeals for judicial or prophetic attention.

Why it lands — The text states a direct command to hear an argument and observe the speaker's words without embellishment. It asks the reader to recognize that serious discourse requires deliberate attention before judgment or rebuttal.

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.