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.

Where else these words appear

“hide” Hebrew H6845 · used in 30 verses

  • Exodus 2:2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
  • Job 24:1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?
  • Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

“grave” Hebrew H7585 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
  • Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
  • Proverbs 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

“secret” Hebrew H5641 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
  • Psalms 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
  • Proverbs 28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

“appoint” Hebrew H7896 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
  • Job 10:20 Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,
  • Psalms 88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.