Job 13:5 Meaning and Explanation
“O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job wishes his friends would simply be silent, since silence would be wiser than their speeches.
What Does Job 13:5 Mean?
Worn down by their lectures, Job cries out that the best gift his friends could give him is silence. If they would only stop talking, their stillness would count for more wisdom than all their arguments combined.
There is profound counsel here for anyone sitting with the grieving. Sometimes the wisest ministry is a closed mouth and a present heart. Earlier these same friends had sat with Job seven days saying nothing, and that was their finest hour. The verse echoes the larger biblical truth that the wise restrain their lips, and that being quick to hear and slow to speak honors both the sufferer and the God who sees.
Job 13:5 in the Original Language
chashah (חָשָׁה), 'to hold one's peace' -- to keep still, to refrain from speaking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 13:5
What does Job 13:5 mean?
Job wishes his friends would simply be silent, since silence would be wiser than their speeches.