Job 13:25
Job 13:25 in Multiple Translations
Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Will you be hard on a leaf in flight before the wind? will you make a dry stem go more quickly on its way?
Would you frighten a leaf blown by the wind or hunt down a piece of straw?
Wilt thou breake a leafe driuen to and from? and wilt thou pursue the drie stubble?
A leaf driven away dost Thou terrify? And the dry stubble dost Thou pursue?
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
Against a leaf, that is carried away with the wind, thou shewest thy power, and thou pursuest a dry straw.
I am as insignificant as [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I useless, nothing more than a bit of dry chaff [RHQ]?
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 13:25
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 13:25 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הֶ/עָלֶ֣ה
נִדָּ֣ף
תַּעֲר֑וֹץ
וְ/אֶת
קַ֖שׁ
יָבֵ֣שׁ
תִּרְדֹּֽף
הֶ/עָלֶ֣ה
ʻâleh
H5929
leaf
Part | N-ms
נִדָּ֣ף
nâdaph
H5086
to drive
V-Niphal
תַּעֲר֑וֹץ
ʻârats
H6206
to tremble
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
Conj | DirObjM
קַ֖שׁ
qash
H7179
stubble
N-ms
יָבֵ֣שׁ
yâbêsh
H3002
dry
Adj
תִּרְדֹּֽף
râdaph
H7291
to pursue
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 13:25
הֶ/עָלֶ֣ה
ʻâleh
H5929
"leaf"
Part | N-ms
This Hebrew word means a leaf on a tree, often referring to foliage. It appears in the Bible when describing trees and plants, like in Genesis. The KJV translates it as branch or leaf.
Definition: leaf, leafage
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: branch, leaf. See also: Genesis 3:7; Proverbs 11:28; Psalms 1:3.
נִדָּ֣ף
nâdaph
H5086
"to drive"
V-Niphal
To drive or disperse is the meaning of this Hebrew word, often used to describe people or animals being forced to move. It's like being pushed or shoved, as seen in some biblical events.
Definition: 1) to drive, drive away, drive asunder 1a) (Qal) to drive about 1b)(Niphal) to be driven, be driven about
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: drive (away, to and fro), thrust down, shaken, tossed to and fro. See also: Leviticus 26:36; Psalms 68:3; Psalms 1:4.
תַּעֲר֑וֹץ
ʻârats
H6206
"to tremble"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
To tremble or dread means to feel fear or be terrified, like being in awe of something or someone, as described in various Bible stories.
Definition: 1) to tremble, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, break, be terrified, cause to tremble 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to cause to tremble, terrify 1b2) to tremble, feel dread 1b) (Niphal) to be awesome, be terrible 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to regard or treat with awe, regard or treat as awful 1c2) to inspire with awe, terrify
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: be affrighted (afraid, dread, feared, terrified), break, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, shake terribly. See also: Deuteronomy 1:29; Psalms 10:18; Psalms 89:8.
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
Conj | DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
קַ֖שׁ
qash
H7179
"stubble"
N-ms
This Hebrew word refers to dry straw or stubble, often used to describe something that is worthless or easily destroyed. It appears in prophetic passages, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, to symbolize God's judgment.
Definition: stubble, chaff
Usage: Occurs in 16 OT verses. KJV: stubble. See also: Exodus 5:12; Isaiah 40:24; Psalms 83:14.
יָבֵ֣שׁ
yâbêsh
H3002
"dry"
Adj
Means dry, describing something that is no longer wet or moist, like dry ground. It is used in the Bible to describe a place or thing that is free from water. This word appears in various books, including Exodus and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) dry 2) dried
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: dried (away), dry. See also: Numbers 6:3; Ezekiel 17:24; Isaiah 56:3.
תִּרְדֹּֽף
râdaph
H7291
"to pursue"
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms
To pursue or chase after someone means to follow them with hostile intent. This can be a physical pursuit or a pursuit of someone's life or well-being, as seen in many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pursue, put to flight, chase, dog, attend closely upon 1a2) to persecute, harass (fig) 1a3) to follow after, aim to secure (fig) 1a4) to run after (a bribe) (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be pursued 1b2) one pursued (participle) 1c) (Piel) to pursue ardently, aim eagerly to secure, pursue 1d) (Pual) to be pursued, be chased away 1e) (Hiphil) to pursue, chase
Usage: Occurs in 135 OT verses. KJV: chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r). See also: Genesis 14:14; 2 Samuel 20:13; Psalms 7:2.
Study Notes — Job 13:25
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 13:25 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 13:25
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 13:25
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 13:25
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 13:25
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 13:25
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 13:25
- Cambridge Bible on Job 13:25
- Barnes' Notes on Job 13:25
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 13:25
- Sermons on Job 13:25
Context — Job Prepares His Case
23How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
24Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
25Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
26For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth. 27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 26:36 | As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them. |
| 2 | Job 21:18 | Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm? |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 24:14 | Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 4 | Matthew 12:20 | A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. |
| 5 | Isaiah 17:13 | The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale. |
| 6 | Job 14:3 | Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You? |
Job 13:25 Summary
In this verse, Job is asking God if He would really frighten or chase after someone as fragile and insignificant as a windblown leaf or dry chaff. Job is feeling weak and vulnerable, and he is wondering why God is treating him so harshly. This verse can help us understand that even in our weakest moments, God is still our loving and compassionate Father, as seen in Matthew 10:29-31 where Jesus teaches that God cares for even the smallest creatures. By reflecting on this verse, we can learn to trust God's kindness and gentleness, even when we feel like we are being blown away like a leaf or chased after like dry chaff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Job comparing himself to in this verse?
Job is comparing himself to a windblown leaf and dry chaff, emphasizing his feeling of being fragile and insignificant before God, much like the Apostle Paul felt in 2 Corinthians 12:10 when he described his weaknesses.
Why is Job asking God these questions?
Job is asking God these questions because he feels that God is treating him harshly and unfairly, and he is seeking to understand why God is doing so, as expressed in his desire for God to reveal his transgressions in Job 13:23.
What is the significance of the image of dry chaff?
The image of dry chaff represents something that is worthless and easily blown away, highlighting Job's feeling of being insignificant and vulnerable before God, similar to the psalmist's cry in Psalms 38:9 where he feels crushed and weak.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Job?
This verse is part of Job's lament and his desire to understand why God is allowing him to suffer, which is a central theme throughout the book of Job, as seen in Job 10:2 where Job asks God to show him why he is being punished.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I feel like a windblown leaf or dry chaff in my own life, and how can I trust God in those moments?
- How can I balance my desire for God's justice with my need for His mercy and compassion, as expressed in Psalms 51:1?
- What are some ways that God has shown me His kindness and gentleness in the past, and how can I reflect on those experiences when I feel fragile or insignificant?
- How can I use this verse to pray for others who may be feeling weak or vulnerable, and what are some ways that I can come alongside them in their struggles?
Gill's Exposition on Job 13:25
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro?.... A leaf that falls from a tree in autumn, and withers and is rolled up, and driven about by the wind, which it cannot resist, to which Job here compares
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 13:25
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? (Leviticus 26:36; Psalms 1:4). Job compares himself to a leaf already fallen, which the storm still chases here and there.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 13:25
Doth it become thy infinite and excellent majesty to use all thy might to crush such a poor, impotent, frail creature as I am, that can no more resist thy power than a leaf, or a little loose and dry straw can resist the fury of the wind or fire.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 13:25
Job 13:25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?Ver. 25. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? &c.] q.d. Egregiam vero laudem, Thinkest thou to get any honour by encountering and overturning me, who was at my best but as a leaf, or as stubble, weak and worthless; and am now, by reason of mine afflictions, but as a leaf blown off, and whirled up and down, Indignum est maiestate tua, ut misellum homuncionem, &c. (Jan.); or as stubble fully dried, which is soon scattered by the wind, Psalms 1:4, or quickly burnt by the fire, Nahum 1:10. David reasoneth in this manner with Saul, 1 Samuel 24:14, "After whom is the king of Israel come forth? after whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea." A great purchase surely! a great victory! - An gloria tanta est Insidias homini supposuisse Deum? (Tibul.) The truth is, God doth not afflict any man (whom he knows to be a thing of nothing) on purpose to try his strength, or to show his power; but either to exercise his justice upon the wicked, or to prove the faith of his people, and to promote their salvation.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 13:25
(25) Wilt thou break a leaf.—His confession of sin here approaches even to what the Psalmist describes as the condition of the ungodly (Psalms 1:4).
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 13:25
Verse 25. Wilt thou break a leaf] Is it becoming thy dignity to concern thyself with a creature so contemptible?
Cambridge Bible on Job 13:25
25. Wilt thou break] Or, Wilt thou affright, that is, chase. The “driven leaf” and the “dry stubble” are figures for that which is so light and unsubstantial that it is the sport of every wind of circumstance. So Job describes himself, in contrast with God, and asks, Is thy determination to assail this kind of foe the explanation of my afflictions?
Barnes' Notes on Job 13:25
Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? - Job here means to say that the treatment of God in regard to him was like treading down a leaf that was driven about by the wind - an insigni ficant, unsettled, and worthless thing.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 13:25
25. Break — Terrify, agitate, (chase) — Gesenius. A fallen leaf chased hither and thither by omnipotence: such was fallen Job. The figure is one of simplicity and yet one of power.
Sermons on Job 13:25
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Christ and His Children by C.H. Spurgeon | The preacher delves into the concept of timidity, exploring its various facets such as lack of mental or moral strength, reticence, cowardice, and shameful fear. Drawing from bibli |
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Se Pt5 - Practical Holiness by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of guarding one's mind and making decisions based on what is true. He warns against allowing sinful influences, such as telev |
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(Basics) 42. Jesus Love Is Seen in His Dying by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding that God blesses us with material possessions so that we can use them to bless others. Jesus taught that it i |
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Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, Reverend C.H. Spurgeon speaks about the comfort and hope that can be found in God's mercy and grace. He uses the metaphor of a bruised reed and smoking flax to desc |
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Self-Examination by J.C. Ryle | J.C. Ryle emphasizes the critical need for self-examination among believers, urging them to reflect on their spiritual state in light of the abundant privileges and dangers present |
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The Faithful Promiser (31 Day Devotional) by John MacDuff | John MacDuff preaches about the glorious promises of God, highlighting the delight of pleading individual promises at the mercy-seat and the importance of trusting in God's faithfu |
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Confess Christ's Lordship by A.W. Tozer | Wayne Barber preaches on the powerful concept of 'Crush' as seen in Romans 16:20, emphasizing the complete destruction and shattering of Satan's strength and power. The verb 'Suntr |