Job 13:17 (KJV)

What does Job 13:17 mean?

Job 13:17 is Job’s urgent request for his listeners to pay close attention as he speaks and shares his thoughts. Job is asking those around him to listen carefully and take seriously what he is about to say.

In this verse, Job is speaking directly to his friends, who have been arguing with him about his suffering. Job wants them to truly hear his side, not just with their ears but with real attention. The verse shows Job’s determination to present his case clearly and be understood, even as he faces misunderstanding and pain.

The Hebrew behind Job 13:17

• "Hear" and "diligently" both use the Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama‘), which means to listen or pay attention. The repetition stresses how important it is to really listen, not just hear words.
• "Speech" is מִלָּה (millah), meaning a spoken word or utterance. Job is emphasizing that what he is about to say matters and deserves careful attention.
• "Declaration" is תַּעֲוָה (ta‘awah), which can mean a statement or testimony. Job is presenting his words almost like a formal testimony, asking his friends to weigh them seriously.
• "Ears" is אָזֶן (ozen), the ordinary word for ears, but here it highlights the act of truly listening, not just physically hearing.

Why Job 13:17 matters

• This verse shows Job’s frustration that his friends have not really listened to him so far, and his desire to be heard fully and fairly.
• The double use of "hear" in Hebrew underlines how Job is pleading for real understanding, not just surface-level attention.
• Job’s words here set up the next part of his speech, where he will lay out his defense and challenge the assumptions his friends have made about his suffering.