Job 13:15 - Great faith or stubborn willfullness?

[Michael V. Frazier]

I was recently asked what my thoughts were concerning the following comments on Job 13:15 by James E. Smith in his book The Wisdom Literature & Psalms.

Smith wrote:
Job 13:15 as translated in the KJV is one of the greatest statements of faith in the entire Bible: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him; even so I will defend my own ways before Him.” As much as one might wish to cling to this rendering for sentimental reasons, the Hebrew rendering points in a different direction. Literally, the verse reads: “Behold, he shall slay me, I shall not wait; but my ways to his face I will defend.” Job anticipated that God would slay him for what he was about to say. He would not wait for a death in the more distant future. He would speak his piece and accept his punishment.
[Smith, J. E. The Wisdom Literature & Psalms. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co., 1996.]

Job 13:15 provides an example of something that most Bible students have never heard of: Hebrew Qere (pronounced KEH-RAY) and Ketiv (pronounced KEH-REEV) readings.

Qere means "what is read" and Ketiv means "what is written." In the Hebrew Masoretic Text, there exists some marginal notes. When the scribes came across a word that they felt was a transmission error (an error made by a previous scribe), instead of correcting the error, they would put a note in the margin. The supposed error was left as a Ketiv (what is written) and the Qere (what is read) was noted in the margin to be spoken when reading the text. Most often, the pronunciations between the Qere and Ketiv did not change, but the spellings could definitely make a difference in the meaning—just like the words no and know sound alike but have different meanings.

The Masoretic Text reads, הֵן יִקְטְלֵנִי לא אֲיַחֵל אַךְ־דְּרָכַי אֶל־פָּנָיו אֹוכִֽיחַ׃
Reading right to left, the third word לא is the culprit in question. As written, the word (pronounced LO) means "no" or "not" (See Strong's H3808). But the Qere reading of the word is לֹו (also pronounced LO) which apparently means "in him." Unfortunately, there is no corresponding Strong's number that I may provide for the Qere translation.

So what are we to believe is the correct translation?

The KJV translators used the Qere reading, but many modern translators are using the Kestiv. Other literal translations read as follows:
Young: Lo, He doth slay me - I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.
Green: Behold, He will kill me [cut me off]; I will not wait, but I will justify my ways before His face.

The context also provides some clues to a proper understanding. The second half of the verse is not typically stated when quoting this verse, yet it may be the key to the first part. If Job was going to "maintain his own ways," then how was he actually "trusting" God in the first place? Thus, we cannot presume from the passage that Job is experiencing a moment of "great faith."

In conclusion, Smith's comments do not appear to be abjectly incorrect, although the tone of his comment could be far less condescending. Job 35:15 is probably better understood to be a statement of Job's determination that he was personally justified in his own faith rather than expressing the idea of placing his complete faith in God.