Job 13:15
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
In the midst of answering his three friends, Job turns from arguing with them to declaring his resolve to bring his case before God directly, trusting Him even at the risk of his life.
What Does Job 13:15 Mean?
Job 13:15 is one of the boldest declarations of faith in all of Scripture: even if God takes his life, Job will still trust Him. Job has been hammered by his friends' accusations and crushed by loss, yet here he plants his confidence not in his circumstances but in God Himself. This is faith stripped down to its core -- not faith that everything will turn out comfortably, but faith that clings to God even when He seems to have become the source of the suffering. Job has nowhere else to turn, and rather than turning away, he turns toward the very One he cannot understand.
The second half of the verse is just as important: "but I will maintain mine own ways before him." Job's trust does not silence his honesty. He insists on bringing his case directly to God, defending his integrity rather than confessing to sins he has not committed. This combination is remarkable -- deep submission and bold appeal living together in one heart. Job shows that trusting God does not require pretending you have no questions or suppressing your protest. He holds fast to God while still longing to be heard by Him. Faith and frank speech, reverence and raw honesty, stand side by side in this single verse.
In the Original Language
The verb "trust" here renders yachal, often meaning to wait expectantly or hope; some manuscripts read the line as bold hope, others as defiant resolve. "Maintain" (yakach) means to argue or defend one's case.
Cross References
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;”
- Psalm 23:4
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom... Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
- Habakkuk 3:17-18
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 8:38-39
Application
When God seems distant or even against you, Job invites you to keep trusting Him while still bringing your honest questions and protests directly to Him in prayer.