Would you speak wickedly
The phrase "Would you speak wickedly" challenges the moral integrity of Job's friends. The Hebrew root for "wickedly" is "רָשַׁע" (rasha), which conveys a sense of acting unjustly or with malice. In the context of Job, this word underscores the gravity of misrepresenting God's character. Historically, the role of a friend or counselor was to provide truthful and righteous guidance. Job accuses his friends of failing in this duty, suggesting that their words are not only incorrect but morally corrupt. This serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning our words with God's truth, emphasizing the need for righteousness in our speech.

on God’s behalf
The phrase "on God’s behalf" implies a presumption to speak for the Almighty. The Hebrew preposition "לְ" (le) can mean "for" or "on behalf of," indicating a representation or advocacy. In ancient times, prophets and priests were often seen as God's spokespeople, but Job's friends are neither. This highlights the danger of assuming divine authority without divine appointment. It serves as a caution against the arrogance of claiming to know God's mind without revelation, urging believers to approach theological discussions with humility and reverence.

or speak deceitfully for Him
The phrase "or speak deceitfully for Him" further accuses Job's friends of dishonesty. The Hebrew word for "deceitfully" is "רָמָה" (ramah), which means to betray or mislead. This suggests a deliberate distortion of truth, which is particularly egregious when done in the name of God. In the scriptural context, deceit is consistently condemned, as it is contrary to God's nature of truth and justice. This phrase serves as a warning against the manipulation of divine truth for personal agendas, reminding believers that God does not require lies to defend His honor. It calls for integrity and truthfulness in all representations of God's character and will.

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, enduring immense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.

2. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who come to comfort Job but end up accusing him of wrongdoing, suggesting his suffering is due to his sins.

3. God
The Almighty Creator, whose character and justice are central themes in the Book of Job. Job's friends attempt to defend God's justice, albeit incorrectly.

4. The Land of Uz
The setting of the Book of Job, traditionally considered to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia.

5. Satan
The adversary who challenges Job's righteousness, initiating the trials that Job faces.Integrity in Speech
As believers, we must ensure that our words align with God's truth. Speaking deceitfully, even with good intentions, can misrepresent God's character.

Defending God’s Character
While it is important to defend God's character, we must do so with humility and truth, acknowledging our limited understanding of His ways.

Discernment in Counsel
When offering counsel to others, especially in times of suffering, we should be careful not to assume God's intentions or misrepresent His justice.

The Danger of Presumption
Presuming to speak for God without His guidance can lead to falsehoods and misrepresentation, as seen in the actions of Job's friends.

The Role of Suffering
Understanding that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin can help us avoid speaking falsely about God's purposes.(7) Will ye speak wickedly for God?--And now, in these verses, he gives utterance to a sublime truth, which shows how truly he had risen to the true conception of God, for he declares that He, who is no respecter of persons, desires to have no favour shown to Himself, and that in seeking to show favour they will greatly damage their own cause, for He is a God of truth, and by Him words as well as actions are weighed, and therefore nothing that is not true can stand any one in stead with Him.

Verse 7. - Will ye speak wickedly for God? We are not to suppose that Job's friends consciously used unsound and untrue arguments in their disputations with him on God's behalf. On the contrary, they are to be regarded as convinced of the truth of their own reasonings - as brought up in the firm belief, that temporal prosperity or wretchedness was dealt out by God, immediately, by his own will, to his subjects according to their behaviour. Holding this, they naturally thought that Job, being so greatly afflicted, must be a great sinner, and, as they could not very plausibly allege any open sins against him, they saw in his sufferings a judgment on him for secret sins. "His chosen friends, as Mr. Froude says, "wise, good, pious men, as wisdom and piety were then, without one glimpse of the true cause of his sufferings, saw in them a judgment of this character. He became to them an illustration, and even (such are the para-logisms of men of this description) a proof of their theory that 'the prosperity of the wicked is but for a while;' and instead of the comfort and help that they might have brought him, and which in the end they were made to bring him, he is to them no more than a text for the enunciation of solemn falsehood" ('Short Studies,' vol. 1. p. 300), i.e. of statements which were false, though solemnly believed by them to be true. And talk deceitfully for him. "Deceitfully," because untruly, yet so plausibly as to be likely to deceive others.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Will you speak
תְּדַבְּר֣וּ (tə·ḏab·bə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

wickedly
עַוְלָ֑ה (‘aw·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5766: Injustice, unrighteousness

on God’s behalf
הַ֭לְאֵל (hal·’êl)
Article, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

or speak
תְּֽדַבְּר֥וּ (tə·ḏab·bə·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

deceitfully for Him?
רְמִיָּֽה׃ (rə·mî·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7423: Remissness, treachery


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OT Poetry: Job 13:7 Will you speak unrighteously for God (Jb)