Job 13:15

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him, etc.] There is a double reading of these words; the “Keri”, or marginal reading, is wl, “in him”, which we follow; the “Cetib”, or textual reading, is al, “not”, which many follow, and render the words, “lo, he will slay me, I shall not hope”; or, “I have no hope”, or “do not expect” f554 that is, any other than to be slain or die; and this agrees with various expressions of his elsewhere, that he had no hope of any long continuance of life, or of restoration to health and outward happiness again, but expected to die quickly; (see <180611>Job 6:11 7:21 10:20 19:10); but I will maintain mine own ways before him; or “to his face” f555; though I die…”

“in him--So the margin or keri, reads. But the textual reading or chetib is "not," which agrees best with the context, and other passages wherein he says he has no hope (Job 6:11; Job 7:21; Job 10:20; Job 19:10). "Though He slay me, and I dare no more hope, yet I will maintain," &c., that is, "I desire to vindicate myself before Him," as not a hypocrite [UMBREIT and NOYES].”

“Though he slay me - “God may so multiply my sorrows and pains that I cannot survive them. I see that I may be exposed to increased calamities, yet I am willing to meet them. If in maintaining my own cause, and showing that I am not a hypocrite Job 13:16, it should so happen that my sufferings should be so increased that I should die, yet I will do it.” The word “slay,” or “kill,” here refers to temporal death. It has no reference to punishment in the future world, or to the death of the soul. It means merely that Job was determined to maintain his cause and defend his character, though his sufferings should be so increased that life would be the forfeit. Such was the extent of his…”

“he slay me: Job 13:18, Job 19:25-28, Job 23:10; Psa 23:4; Pro 14:32; Rom 8:38, Rom 8:39 but I will: Job 10:7, Job 16:17, Job 16:21, Job 23:4-7, Job 27:5, Job 31:31-37, Job 40:2, Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Job 40:8; Jo1 3:20 maintain: Heb. prove, or argue Job 13:16”