Job 13:11 — Word Study
WLCהֲלֹ֣א שְׂ֭אֵתוֹ תְּבַעֵ֣ת אֶתְכֶ֑ם וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ יִפֹּ֥ל עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
BSAWould His majestysᵉʼêth [excellence, glory] notlôʼ terrify youbâʻath▸ [make afraid, startle] Would the dread of Himpachad [fear, terror, His presence, His power] not fallnâphal▸ [come upon, overwhelm] upon youʻal
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הֲלֹ֣א | ¿ not | Particle, particle |
| שְׂ֭אֵתוֹ | majesty his | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| תְּבַעֵ֣ת | will it terrify | Verb, Piel, imperfect third person feminine singular |
| אֶתְכֶ֑ם | the object marker you | Particle, suffix |
| וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ | and dread his | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| יִפֹּ֥ל | will it fall? | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ | on you | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you? |
| KJV | Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? |
| ASV | Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you? |
| YLT | Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you? |
| WEB | Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you? |
| BBE | Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him? |
Translations agree on the concepts of majesty and dread, emphasizing the fear of God.
The verse consists of two main rhetorical questions, emphasizing the majesty and dread of God.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּעַת
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 13:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Defense Against His Friendsgenerated
Job 13:11 presents Job questioning whether the majesty of God should not invoke fear in those who confront Him. In this context, Job is defending himself against the accusations of his friends, who believe his suffering is due to hidden sin. He emphasizes the overwhelming nature of God's presence and the fear it should inspire, paralleling other scriptures that speak of the fear of God, such as Psalm 119:120 and Jeremiah 5:22.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 119:120 | My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 5:22 | Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 10:10 | But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation. |
| 4 | Matthew 10:28 | Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. |
| 5 | Revelation 15:3–4 | and they sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are Your works, O Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שְׂאֵתוֹ, Se.'e.tovgenerated
The word שְׂאֵת (s'eth) refers to majesty or elevation, indicating a sense of dignity or grandeur. It is often used to describe God's exaltation, highlighting His supreme authority and power. In this verse, it underscores the overwhelming nature of God's presence, which should terrify those who encounter it.
This noun in the construct form, combined with the suffix, points directly to God's majesty, suggesting that Job's friends should recognize the gravity of their situation when standing before such greatness.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around two main clauses, both beginning with a rhetorical question: הֲלֹ֣א (ha.Lo') introduces the inquiries about God's majesty and dread. The first clause focuses on whether His majesty terrifies, while the second questions if His dread falls upon the listeners.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the majesty and dread, placing them at the forefront of Job's argument, highlighting their significance in the context of divine fear.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שְׂאֵתוֹ as αὐτοῦ (autou), meaning 'His.' This choice reflects a direct acknowledgment of God's majesty, aligning with the Hebrew's emphasis on His greatness.
The Greek word used for dread corresponds well with the Hebrew, indicating a consistent understanding of the fear inspired by God's presence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 13:11 asks if God's majesty should not terrify us and if the dread of Him should not fall upon us. Job is making a point about the fear that should accompany an encounter with God's greatness, especially in light of the accusations he faces from his friends.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is referring to the greatness and authority of God, which should inspire awe and fear.
He emphasizes fear to highlight the seriousness of confronting God, especially when his friends are judging him.
It reflects Job's struggle to understand his suffering in light of God's greatness and the need for reverence before Him.
This verse teaches that recognizing God's majesty should lead us to a healthy fear of Him, acknowledging His power and authority.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I recognize God's majesty in my life?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and fear of God?
- What does it mean for me to stand in awe of God's power?
- How can I respond to God's greatness in my daily actions and choices?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Ishodad of Merv comments on Job's fear of God and the terror He inspires, reflecting on the implications for Job's friends.
The author seems to say that Job’s friends will abstain from pronouncing reproaches, because of the fear of God and the terror that he inspires.Early Church Fathers on Job 13 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 13:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleShall not his excellency make you afraid,.... To commit sin, any sin, and particularly that just mentioned, which they might expect to be reproved for; there is an excellency in the name of God,
Read John Gill on Job 13 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryShall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you? Make you afraid?
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 13 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHis excellency; his infinite wisdom, which sees your secret falsehoods; and his justice and power, which can and will punish you for it. Make you afraid of speaking rashly or falsely of his ways and counsels.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 13 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 13:11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?Ver. 11. Shall not his excellency make you afraid?] Heb. His highness, his majesty, his surpassing sublimity and transcendent glory; shall not this frighten you, and rein you in from wrongly dealing and warping? "Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain," Jeremiah 10:7. And, "Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence?" Jeremiah 5:22. If an earthly king be so dread a sovereign; if the glory of angels hath so terrified the best saints on earth, that they could hardly outlive such an apparition; what shall we think of the great and terrible God, as he is…
Read John Trapp on Job 13 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. His dread fall upon you?] The very apprehension of his wrath is sufficient to crush you to nothing.
Read AdamClarke on Job 13 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. his excellency] His majesty affright you. They shall be paralyzed when they stand before God who searches the heart.
Read Cambridge on Job 13 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleShall not his excellency - His exaltation שׂאת śe'êth from נשׂא nâśâ' to exalt, to lift up), or his majesty, Genesis 49:3. Make you afraid - Fill you with awe and reverence.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 13 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. His dread fall upon you — Pineda gives, in this place, a Spanish proverb, The hill and the stones are God’s: that is, the vantage ground is his.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 13 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires fall on you?
Tyndale line
Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?
Shall not his excellency make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?
Shall not his excellence make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
Shall not his excellencie make you afraid? and his feare fall vpon you?
Strictly literal
Shall not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
Doth not His excellency terrify you? And His dread fall upon you?
Does His excellence not terrify you? And His dread fall on you?
Doth not his excellency terrify you? and his dread fall upon you?
Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
From the Latin
As soon as he shall move himself, he shall trouble you: and his dread shall fall upon you.
Simplified
Isn't his majesty terrifying to you? Aren't you so afraid of him you're paralyzed?
Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in this verse, with all words matched. The Septuagint reflects the same meaning as the Hebrew, though the word order differs.
הֲלֹ֣א שְׂ֭אֵתוֹ תְּבַעֵ֣ת אֶתְכֶ֑ם וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ יִפֹּ֥ל עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 13:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part | Part — Particle · particleHTi/Tn
שְׂאֵת (s'eth) refers to concepts of elevation and dignity, including exaltation, swelling, and uprising. It is derived from a root meaning to rise up. The word encompasses both physical and figurative senses of elevation, such as rank or character. Notably, it can also refer to a leprous scab in a more literal context.
שְׂאֵת n.f. 1. exaltation, dignity. 2. swelling. 3. uprising
base
H7613 שְׂאֵת 1. exaltation, dignity. 2. swelling. 3. uprising
7613 s'eth seh-ayth'
from 5375; an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively,
elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank or character:--
be accepted, dignity, excellency, highness, raise up self,
rising.
see HEBREW for 05375
שְׂאֵת (se.et) — elevation.
1) elevation, exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising
1a) dignity, exaltation, loftiness
1b) swelling
1c) uprising
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3ms
בָּעַת (ba`ath) is a primitive root meaning to terrify or startle. It covers a range of actions, including overwhelming or assailing someone, and is often used in a poetic context. The verb can appear in various forms, such as being terrified (Niphal) or actively terrifying (Piel).
[בָּעַת] vb. fall upon, startle, terrify
Niph. be terrified
Pi. (mostly poet.)
fall upon; overwhelm; assail
terrify
base
H1204 [בָּעַת] fall upon, startle, terrify . be terrified
. (mostly poet.) . fall upon; overwhelm; assail
. terrify
1204 ba`ath baw-ath'
a primitive root; to fear:--affright, be (make) afraid,
terrify, trouble.
בָּעַת (ba.at) — to terrify.
1) to terrify, startle, fall upon, dismay, be overtaken by sudden terror
1a) (Niphal) to be terrified
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to fall upon, overwhelm
1b2) to terrify
V-Piel-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Piel · imperfect third person feminine singularHVpi3fs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo/Sp2mp — Particle · suffixHTo/Sp2mp
פַּ֫חַד (pachad) refers to the concept of dread or terror, often indicating both the feeling of fear and the object that inspires it. The word is derived from a root meaning to be alarmed, and it encompasses a range of meanings related to fear and terror.
פַּ֫חַד 49 n.m. dread
dread
= object of dread
as design. dei
base
H6343 פַּ֫חַד dread . dread
. = object of dread
. as design. dei
6343 pachad pakh'-ad
from 6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by
implication, the feeling):--dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great
(fear, -ly feared), terror.
see HEBREW for 06342
פַּ֫חַד (pa.chad) — dread.
1) terror, dread
1a) dread
1b) object of dread
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
נָפַל (naphal) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to fall,' encompassing a wide range of applications, including falling by accident, experiencing violent death, or going to ruin. It can also refer to prostrating oneself, attacking, or causing someone to fall. The term appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often indicating physical or metaphorical downfall.
נָפַל 433 vb. fall, lie
Qal 366
fall, by accident
Esp. of violent death
fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
fig. = experience calamity
fall, of a city
Fall prostrate
fall = prostrate oneself before
fall upon one's neck, in embrace
Fall upon = attack
desert or fall away to, go over to
Fig., of deep sleep
Other idiomatic uses
= lie; = lie prostrate
Hiph.
cause to fall
Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
Esp. of casting lot
Fig., let drop, cause to fail
cause deep sleep to fall
Other idioms
Hithp. throw, or prostrate oneself
base
H5307 נָפַל fall, lie .. fall, by accident
. . Esp. of violent death
. fig. = go to ruin, perish, etc.
. fig. = experience calamity
. fall, of a city
. . Fall prostrate
. fall = prostrate oneself before
. fall upon one's neck, in embrace
. . Fall upon = attack
. desert or fall away to, go over to
. Fig., of deep sleep
. Other idiomatic uses
. = lie; = lie prostrate
. . cause to fall
. Of causing death; = overthrow, bring to destruction
. Esp. of casting lot
. Fig., let drop, cause to fail
. cause deep sleep to fall
. Other idioms
. throw, or prostrate oneself
5307 naphal naw-fal'
a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications
(intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be
accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide
(by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall
(away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have
(inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay
(along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost,
lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make
to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.
see HEBREW for 06419
נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: fall.
: fall/drop/fail
1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fall
1a2) to fall (of violent death)
1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before
1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to, go away to, fall into the hand of
1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result
1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to
1a7) to lie, lie prostrate
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate
1b2) to overthrow
1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot
1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)
1b5) to cause to fall
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon
1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself
1d) (Pilel) to fall
נָפַל (na.phal) — to fall: deserting.
: deserting
1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to fall
1a2) to fall (of violent death)
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
fol (vb.): The idea of falling is most frequently expressed in Hebrew by naphal, but also by many other words; in Greek by pipto, and its compounds. The uses of the word in Scripture are very varied. There is the literal falling by descent; the falling of the countenance in sorrow, shame, anger, etc. (Ge 4:5,6); the falling in battle (Ge 14:10; Nu 14:3, etc.); the falling into trouble, etc. (Pr 24:16,17); prostration in supplication and reverence (Ge 17:3; Nu 14:5, etc.); falling of the Spirit of Yahweh (Eze 11:5…
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp2mp
