Job 13:24 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Job asks God why He has turned His face away and treats him like an enemy.
What Does Job 13:24 Mean?
Job presses God with an anguished question. Why does God hide His face, the sign of favor and fellowship, and why does He treat Job as though he were an enemy to be opposed rather than a servant to be loved?
The hiding of God's face is among the deepest of spiritual sorrows, the sense that God has turned away. Job feels this absence keenly, yet even his lament is addressed to God, which is itself a kind of faith. He will not let go of the relationship even when it feels broken. This same cry was taken up by the Savior on the cross, who bore the hiding of God's face so that those who trust in Him would never finally be forsaken.
Job 13:24 in the Original Language
panim (פָּנִים), 'face' -- to seek God's face means His favorable presence; to hide it signals withdrawn fellowship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 13:24
What does Job 13:24 mean?
Job asks God why He has turned His face away and treats him like an enemy.