Job 13:6 — Word Study
WLCשִׁמְעוּ־ נָ֥א תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י וְרִב֖וֹת שְׂפָתַ֣י הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃
BSAHearshâmaʻ nownâʼ [please, I pray] my argumenttôwkêchâh [rebuke, correction] and listenqâshab [to hear and obey, give attention] to the plearîyb [strife, dispute] of my lipssâphâh [language, words]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׁמְעוּ־ | listen to | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| נָ֥א | please | Particle |
| תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י | argument my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וְרִב֖וֹת | and [the] contentions of | Conjunction, noun common feminine plural construct |
| שְׂפָתַ֣י | lips my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃ | pay attention to | Verb, Hiphil, imperative second person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips. |
| KJV | Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. |
| ASV | Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips. |
| YLT | Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend, |
| WEB | Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips. |
| BBE | Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips. |
Where they part company is שִׁמְעוּ־ — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features two main clauses, each with its own imperative verb, creating a direct and urgent appeal for attention.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbשָׁמַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 13:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Defense Against His Friendsgenerated
Job 13:6 is part of Job's response to his friends who have accused him of wrongdoing. In this verse, Job implores them to listen to his argument and the plea of his lips, emphasizing the importance of understanding his position amidst their judgments. This moment highlights Job's desire for a fair hearing as he defends his integrity and challenges their assumptions about his suffering.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 21:2–3 | “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me. |
| 2 | Job 33:1–3 | “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. |
| 3 | Job 34:2 | “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. |
| 4 | Judges 9:7 | When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you. |
| 5 | Proverbs 8:6–7 | Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תוֹכַחְתִּי, to.khach.Tigenerated
The word תוֹכַחְתִּי (to.khach.Ti) is a noun that means 'my argument' or 'rebuke'. It signifies a verbal correction or reproof, often used in contexts where reasoning is employed to make a point. The parsing indicates that it is a feminine singular construct with a suffix, showing possession.
This word is rooted in the concept of correction, indicating that Job is not merely making an accusation but is engaging in a reasoned discourse. It reflects the seriousness of his plea and the need for his listeners to recognize the weight of his words.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs שִׁמְעוּ and הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ govern the two main clauses of the verse, each calling for action from the listeners. The structure emphasizes Job's urgent plea for attention and understanding.
The first clause, שִׁמְעוּ־ נָ֥א תוֹכַחְתִּי, directly addresses the listeners, while the second clause, וְרִב֖וֹת שְׂפָתַ֣י הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ, instructs them to pay attention to the contentions of his lips, linking the two actions closely together.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שִׁמְעוּ־ as ἀκούσατε, which means 'listen' or 'hear'. This choice reflects a direct appeal for attentiveness, aligning with Job's request for his audience to truly hear him.
For וְרִב֖וֹת, the LXX uses κρίσιν, which translates to 'judgment' or 'dispute', suggesting a focus on the legal or contentious nature of Job's argument, emphasizing the seriousness of his plea.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 13:6 shows Job asking his friends to listen to his argument and pay attention to the plea of his lips. He seeks to be heard and understood in the midst of their accusations, emphasizing the importance of his words.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job's 'argument' refers to his defense of his integrity and the reasoning he presents to counter the accusations of his friends.
Job feels misunderstood and seeks a fair hearing, wanting his friends to truly hear his side of the story.
The word 'please' indicates Job's earnestness and the urgency of his request for attention, showing that he is pleading for understanding.
Job's plea reflects his desperate situation, as he is suffering and feels unjustly accused, thus he seeks to clarify his position and defend himself.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I seek to be heard in my own disputes or arguments?
- How can I ensure that I listen attentively to others, especially when they are in distress?
- What does it mean to me to express my thoughts clearly and seek understanding from others?
- How do I respond when I feel misunderstood or unfairly judged by others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators have referenced this verse to discuss the nature of Job's arguments and pleas, illustrating the depth of his suffering and desire for understanding.
Hear now my reproofs, and hearken to the judgment of my lips. Now he did well first to bring forward 'reproof,' and afterwards 'judgment.' For except by reproof first the swelling of the fool be put down,Early Church Fathers on Job 13 →
“Consider now the words which I am about to say in order to correct you, and then judge whether I pronounce them thoughtfully.” “Do you not speak before the Lord and utter deceit before him?” “Do you not realize that God hears your…Early Church Fathers on Job 13 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 13:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHear now my reasoning,.... Job entreats his friends that they would be no longer speakers, but hearers; that they would vouchsafe to sit still, and hear what he had to say; though he was greatly
Read John Gill on Job 13 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. Pleadings of my lips - `reproofs of my lips:' the reproofs which my lips will lay upon you: so Septuagint (Maurer) [ riybowt (H7378)].
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 13 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Attend to it, and consider it more seriously than you have done. The pleadings of my lips, i.e. the arguments which I shall produce.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 13 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 13:6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.Ver. 6. Hear now my reasoning, &c.] Or, hear, I pray you. Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; suffer the word of exhortation and of reprehension; sharp though it be, and to the flesh irksome, yet suffer it, since it is for your good. Quintilian testifieth of Vespasian, that he was patientissimus veri, one that could well endure to be told the truth; but there are few Vespasians. Many people are like the nettle: touch it never so gently, it will sting you. And hearken to the pleadings of my lips] Heb. The contention of my lips. See that you not only hear, but hearken to it with attention of body, intention of…
Read John Trapp on Job 13 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. Hear now my reasoning] The speeches in this book are conceived as it delivered in a court of justice, different counsellors pleading against each other. Hence most of the terms are forensic.
Read AdamClarke on Job 13 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6–12. Severe rebuke of the three friends, in which (1) they are charged with partiality for God, and with acting the advocate for Him (Job 13:6-8); and (2) they are threatened with the chastisement of God for their insincerity, and for falsely pleading even in God’s behalf (Job 13:9-12).
Read Cambridge on Job 13 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
“Listen now to my argument, and be attentive to my lips’ contentions.
Tyndale line
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Nowe heare my disputation, and giue eare to the arguments of my lips.
Strictly literal
Hear now my defence, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear, I pray you, my argument, And to the pleadings of my lips attend,
Please hear my argument, || And attend to the pleadings of my lips,
Do hearken but to my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
Hear now my own reasoning; listen to the pleading of my own lips.
From the Latin
Hear ye therefore my reproof, and attend to the judgment of my lips.
Simplified
Listen to my argument and pay attention to what I have to say.
Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads שִׁמְעוּ־ נָ֥א תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י וְרִב֖וֹת שְׂפָתַ֣י הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃, while the Septuagint matches five of the six words. This correspondence indicates a strong agreement between the two texts, with only the arrangement and specific wording differing.
שִׁמְעוּ־ נָ֥א תוֹכַחְתִּ֑י וְרִב֖וֹת שְׂפָתַ֣י הַקְשִֽׁיבוּ׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 13:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.
נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)
base
H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)
4994 na' naw
a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may
usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly
to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,
occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)
thee (you), go to, now, oh.
נָא (na) — please.
1) I (we) pray, now, please
1a) used in entreaty or exhortation
Part — ParticleHTj
תּוֹכֵחָה (towkechah) refers to rebuke or correction, while תּוֹכַ֫חַת (towkachath) pertains to argument or reproof. Both terms involve verbal expressions of correction or chastisement. The entries emphasize their use in contexts of correction and reasoning, but do not provide specific verse references.
תּוֹכֵחָה n.f. rebuke, correction
base
תּוֹכַ֫חַת n.f. argument, reproof
argument, impeachment, spoken by lips and mouth
reproof, chiding
correction, rebuke
base
H8433a תּוֹכֵחָה rebuke, correction H8433b תּוֹכַ֫חַת argument, reproof . argument, impeachment, spoken by lips and mouth
. reproof, chiding
. correction, rebuke
8433 towkechah to-kay-khaw'
and towkachath {to-kakh'-ath}; from 3198; chastisement;
figuratively (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in
defence):--argument, X chastened, correction, reasoning,
rebuke, reproof, X be (often) reproved.
see HEBREW for 03198
תּוֹכֵחָה (to.khe.chah) — rebuke.
rebuke, correction, punishment, chastisement
תּוֹכַ֫חַת (to.kha.chat) — argument.
1) argument, reproof
1a) argument, impeachment
1b) reproof, chiding
1c) correction, rebuke
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
רִיב (riyb) refers to strife or dispute, encompassing personal or legal contests. It can denote adversarial situations, chiding, or legal cases. The entries consistently highlight its meanings related to conflict, such as quarrels and controversies, without significant disagreement among the lexicons.
רִיב 62 n.m. strife, dispute
base
H7379 רִיב strife, dispute
7379 riyb reeb
or rib {reeb}; from 7378; a contest (personal or legal):--+
adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy,
multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing),
suit.
see HEBREW for 07378
רִיב (riv) — strife.
1) strife, controversy, dispute
1a) strife, quarrel
1b) dispute, controversy, case at law
Conj | N-cp — Conjunction · noun common feminine plural constructHC/Ncfpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word שָׂפָה (*saphah*) encompasses meanings related to 'lip,' 'speech,' and 'edge.' It is derived from concepts of termination, suggesting boundaries like the edge of a vessel or the bank of a river. The word can refer to physical lips, language, or the edges of various objects, including shores.
שָׂפָה 176 n.f. lip, speech, edge
lip
language
edge: shore of sea; bank of river
base
H8193 שָׂפָה lip, speech, edge . lip
. language
. edge: shore of sea; bank of river
8193 saphah saw-faw'
or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from
5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (compare 5490);
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by
analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band,
bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip,
prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
see HEBREW for 05595
see HEBREW for 08192
see HEBREW for 05490
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lips.
: lips/mouth
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: words.
: words/language
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: edge.
: edge/border/opening
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
שָׂפָה (sa.phah) — lip: shore.
: shore/bank(of_sea/river)
1) lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding
1a) lip (as body part)
1b) language
1c) edge, shore, bank (of cup, sea, river, etc)
N-fd | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
קָשַׁב (qashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to listen or pay attention, particularly with reference to inclining one's ears. It encompasses actions like hearkening and giving heed. The word appears in contexts such as Isaiah 32:3, where it emphasizes attentiveness. The entries consistently describe its usage in both the Qal and Hiphil forms.
[קָשַׁב] 46 vb. incline, attend, of ears
Qal Is 32:3
Hiph. give attention
base
H7181 קָשַׁב incline, attend, of ears
7181 qashab kaw-shab'
a primitive root; to prick up the ears, i.e.
hearken:--attend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline,
mark (well), regard.
קָשַׁב (qa.shav) — to listen.
1) to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen
1a) (Qal) incline, attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen
1b) (Hiphil) to pay attention, give attention
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp — Verb · Hiphil · imperative second person masculine pluralHVhv2mp