O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

JOB 14:13KJV
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Job 14:13 (KJV)

What does Job 14:13 mean?

Job 14:13 expresses Job’s longing for God to hide him in the grave until God’s anger has passed, hoping that God would then remember him and set a time to bring him back. Job wishes for a pause from his suffering, asking God to conceal him in death until there is hope for restoration.

Job is speaking directly to God in the middle of deep suffering, feeling overwhelmed by pain and God’s apparent anger. In this verse, Job imagines death as a place of hiding—using the word “grave” to mean the realm of the dead—where he could be kept safe and out of sight until God’s wrath is over. Job’s plea shows both his despair and a faint hope that God might one day remember him and restore him to life.

The Hebrew behind Job 14:13

  • “Grave” (שְׁאוֹל, she’ol): This word refers to the realm of the dead, not just a physical grave. Job is not simply asking for death, but for a hidden place beyond life where he could wait out God’s anger.
  • “Hide” (צָפַן, tsafan): This word means to conceal or keep something secret. Job is asking God to keep him out of sight, as if putting him somewhere safe from harm.
  • “Wrath” (אַף, aph): This word often means anger, especially God’s anger. Job sees his suffering as a result of God’s anger and wants to be hidden until it passes.
  • “Appoint a set time” (שִׁית חֹק, shith choq): This phrase means to set or fix a definite time. Job is hoping that God would decide on a specific moment to remember him and possibly restore him.

Why Job 14:13 matters

  • This verse shows that Job’s suffering leads him to wish for a break—even through death—rather than outright despair or rejection of God, revealing his complex relationship with God.
  • Job’s request to be hidden until God’s wrath is past highlights his belief that God’s anger is temporary and that restoration might be possible in the future.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing Job’s struggle with hope and hopelessness; he does not simply want to die, but to be remembered by God after a time of anger.