Hope springs from recognizing our desperate need for God’s intervention.
In “Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?” (v.13), Job—an ancient patriarchic figure who likely lived between 2000-1600 BC—expresses the raw depth of his inner turmoil. Job resided in the land of Uz, a region possibly located east of Canaan, near Edom or northern Arabia. Despite his enduring faith, he confronts a moment where he questions whether any possibility of rescue even remains. Job feels helpless, as though his ability to deliver himself from suffering has vanished, revealing his profound sense of isolation.
Job’s lament highlights the human condition that longs for security but struggles to find it in times of great distress. When he says “Is it that my help is not within me” (v.13), he alludes to a deep sense of powerlessness, feeling that he lacks any strength left to uphold himself. Yet the overarching message of the book of Job reminds the reader that while our own efforts may falter, the steadfast love of God endures. This aligns with future Scriptural teachings, such as in the New Testament, where believers find God’s strength in their weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Additionally, the phrase “And that deliverance is driven from me?” (v.13) conveys how Job senses God’s deliverance to be distant and elusive. In later writings (James 5:11), the perseverance of Job becomes an example of steadfast faith in the midst of trials. By acknowledging his helplessness, Job paradoxically points to the ultimate help that comes from a loving and sovereign God, foreshadowing a truth later revealed in Christ for eternal salvation.
Set to dark mode
Job 6:13 meaning
In “Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?” (v.13), Job—an ancient patriarchic figure who likely lived between 2000-1600 BC—expresses the raw depth of his inner turmoil. Job resided in the land of Uz, a region possibly located east of Canaan, near Edom or northern Arabia. Despite his enduring faith, he confronts a moment where he questions whether any possibility of rescue even remains. Job feels helpless, as though his ability to deliver himself from suffering has vanished, revealing his profound sense of isolation.
Job’s lament highlights the human condition that longs for security but struggles to find it in times of great distress. When he says “Is it that my help is not within me” (v.13), he alludes to a deep sense of powerlessness, feeling that he lacks any strength left to uphold himself. Yet the overarching message of the book of Job reminds the reader that while our own efforts may falter, the steadfast love of God endures. This aligns with future Scriptural teachings, such as in the New Testament, where believers find God’s strength in their weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Additionally, the phrase “And that deliverance is driven from me?” (v.13) conveys how Job senses God’s deliverance to be distant and elusive. In later writings (James 5:11), the perseverance of Job becomes an example of steadfast faith in the midst of trials. By acknowledging his helplessness, Job paradoxically points to the ultimate help that comes from a loving and sovereign God, foreshadowing a truth later revealed in Christ for eternal salvation.