Job 6:13 Meaning: No Help in Me, Wisdom Driven Away?
Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?
Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?
Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Meaning in one sentence
Job 6:13, does Job admit total hopelessness or assert he still has wisdom? Read the deep lament and find hope beneath the despair.
Context
Job is in the middle of a bitter response to his friend Eliphaz. Eliphaz had suggested that Job's despair was a sign of godlessness. But Job feels crushed by God and abandoned by friends. He has just wished that God would cut him off completely. At the end of this opening speech, he turns inward. He checks himself: Is there any strength left inside him? Has sound wisdom been completely banished from his life? The answer feels like a 'no' to both. But notice: Job is still talking to his friends. He still expects them to understand. That small act of speaking is itself a thread of hope.
Key Words
Two words carry the weight of this verse. The word for 'help' (ezerah) means assistance or succour. But Job says it is not 'in me', inside himself he finds no resource to lift his own fortunes. Then 'wisdom' (tushiyyah) is a rich word. It often means sound, effective wisdom, the kind that brings success or deliverance. Some translators render it 'sound wisdom' or 'prosperity'. Job says this wisdom is 'driven away' (nadach), literally banished, thrust out from him. He feels that nothing stable or saving remains within his reach. Yet the very fact that he can name what is missing shows that he still knows what true wisdom looks like. The emptiness he feels is not the end of understanding.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. Some, like the Methodist commentator Adam Clarke, hear Job saying that his help is entirely in himself, and that is perfect weakness, nothing left. Others, like the Baptist commentator John Gill, argue that Job still possesses sound wisdom and the testimony of a good conscience; he is not deranged. The Hebrew word tushiyyah can be translated as 'wisdom' or as 'deliverance' and 'success', which opens the door to both readings. Both traditions recognise that Job is in deep anguish, but they differ on whether he is acknowledging total defeat or asserting a remnant of clarity. The verse leaves room for lament and for honesty about weakness.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Job is admitting he has gone insane or lost all rational thought. In fact, the Hebrew word tushiyyah does not mean raw intellect. It means sound wisdom or effective help. Job is not saying he has lost his mind. He is saying that all resources for rescue and all sense of a way forward have been driven away from him. The difference matters: his reason and his faith are still functioning enough to name his loss.
Living This Out
This week you might feel just like Job, completely empty inside, with no idea how to move forward. Maybe a relationship has crumbled, or your health has failed, or your prayers feel unanswered. The temptation is to pretend you have more strength than you do. Job shows a better way. He speaks the truth about his helplessness. He names it to his friends and to God. You can do that too. You don't have to muster up inner resources you don't have. You can say, 'I have no help in me. Wisdom feels driven away.' And that very admission is a step toward the God who hears the brokenhearted.
Main takeaway: Job shows us that honest lament in utter helplessness is not a loss of faith, but a raw trust that God can handle our despair.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Job felt like he had no help left and couldn't think straight. Sometimes you feel that way too. God wants you to tell Him how you feel, even if you are sad or confused.
For ages 9, 12
Job was honest with his friends and with God. He said, 'There is no help in me, and wisdom is driven away.' He wasn't giving up on God, he was being real about how hard his life was. When you feel overwhelmed, you can be honest like Job. God can handle your raw feelings. In fact, He welcomes them.
Questions People Ask
What does 'wisdom is driven away' mean in Job 6:13?
The Hebrew word for 'wisdom' (tushiyyah) often means sound wisdom or effective help that leads to success. 'Driven away' means banished or thrust out. Job is saying that any sense of a way forward or any inner resource has been taken from him.
Is Job saying he has lost his mind in this verse?
No. Most commentators, including Gill and Wesley, note that Job is not claiming insanity. He is saying he has no inner strength or deliverance left. His reason and faith are still working enough for him to articulate his loss.
Does Job 6:13 mean God has abandoned Job?
The verse does not say that. Job feels helpless and without internal resources, but he continues to speak to his friends and to God. The lament itself is an act of faith, a cry from a man who still expects God to hear.
What is the difference between 'help' and 'wisdom' in this verse?
'Help' (ezerah) refers to assistance or succour, especially from within oneself. 'Wisdom' (tushiyyah) is broader, covering sound judgment, success, and effective counsel. Job feels he lacks both external effectiveness and internal clarity.
How does this verse fit into Job's overall argument with his friends?
Job's friends accused him of impatience and hidden sin. Here Job defends his despair by showing that his resources are gone. He is not sinfully stubborn; he is honestly weak. The verse is part of his assertion that his suffering is real and crushing.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study