Withdraw Your hand from me
This phrase reflects Job's plea for relief from the suffering he attributes to God's direct intervention. In the context of the Book of Job, Job is experiencing intense personal suffering and perceives it as a result of God's hand upon him. The "hand" of God is often symbolic of His power and intervention in the world, as seen in other scriptures like Exodus 9:3, where God's hand brings plagues upon Egypt. Job's request for God to withdraw His hand indicates a desire for respite and a return to a state of peace. This plea can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament understanding of Jesus as the mediator who intercedes on behalf of humanity, offering relief from the consequences of sin and suffering.

and do not let Your terror frighten me
Here, Job is expressing his fear of God's overwhelming presence and the awe-inspiring nature of His power. The "terror" of God is a theme found throughout the Old Testament, where God's holiness and majesty often evoke fear and reverence, as seen in passages like Isaiah 6:5, where Isaiah is struck by the fear of God's holiness. Job's request not to be frightened by God's terror highlights the human struggle to reconcile the fear of the Lord with a desire for a personal relationship with Him. This tension is resolved in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who embodies both the power and the approachable nature of God, as seen in Hebrews 4:16, where believers are encouraged to approach God's throne of grace with confidence.

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, experiencing intense suffering and questioning God's justice.

2. God
The Almighty Creator, whom Job addresses directly in this verse, seeking relief from his suffering and divine terror.

3. Job's Suffering
The context of this verse is Job's immense physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering, which he attributes to God's hand.

4. Job's Friends
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they play a significant role in the surrounding chapters, offering explanations for Job's suffering that he finds unsatisfactory.

5. The Dialogue
This verse is part of Job's ongoing dialogue with God, where he expresses his desire for a fair hearing and relief from his afflictions.Understanding Divine Discipline
Job's plea for God to withdraw His hand can be seen as a request for relief from divine discipline. Believers can learn to discern when their trials may be a form of God's loving correction.

The Fear of the Lord
Job's mention of God's terror highlights the biblical concept of the fear of the Lord. This fear is not just about being afraid but involves reverence and awe for God's power and holiness.

Honest Prayer
Job's candid conversation with God encourages believers to approach God with honesty and transparency, expressing their true feelings and struggles.

Perseverance in Suffering
Despite his suffering, Job continues to seek God. This teaches the importance of perseverance and faithfulness in the face of trials.

Seeking Understanding
Job's desire for a fair hearing from God reflects a deep yearning for understanding. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding through prayer and Scripture.(21) Withdraw thine hand far from me.--That is, "Cease to torture me bodily, and to terrify me mentally; let me at least have freedom from physical pain and the undue apprehension of Thy terrors."

Verse 21. - Withdraw thine hand far from me; i.e. "thy afflicting hand." Job views all his physical suffering as coming directly from the hand of God - momentarily caused by him, and therefore removable by him at any moment. He has no thought for secondary causes. And let not thy dread make me afraid. Job speaks here and elsewhere of spiritual terrors - those vague and impalpable fears which suggest themselves inwardly to the soul, and are tar more painful, far more dreadful, than any amount of bodily anguish. Unless he is free from these, as well as from physical pains, he cannot plead his cause freely and fully.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Withdraw
הַרְחַ֑ק (har·ḥaq)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7368: To be or become far or distant

Your hand
כַּ֭פְּךָ (kap·pə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

from me,
מֵעָלַ֣י (mê·‘ā·lay)
Preposition-m | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

let Your terror
וְ֝אֵ֥מָתְךָ֗ (wə·’ê·mā·ṯə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 367: Fright, an idol

frighten me.
תְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי׃ (tə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯan·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 1204: To fall upon, startle, terrify


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OT Poetry: Job 13:21 Withdraw your hand far from me (Jb)