The Meaning of Job 11:13 Explained

Job 11:13

KJV: If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

YLT: If thou -- thou hast prepared thy heart, And hast spread out unto Him thy hands,

Darby: If thou prepare thy heart and stretch out thy hands toward him,

ASV: If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thou prepare  thine heart,  and stretch  out thine hands  toward him; 

What does Job 11:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 11:1-20 - "canst Thou By Searching Find Out God?"
Zophar waxes vehement as he censures Job's self-justification and his refusal to acknowledge the guilt which his friends attribute to him. There is some truth in his allegations, though it was cruel to goad Job with them, notwithstanding his repeated protestations.
It is quite true that many of us are filled with self-complacency, because we judge our best by others' worst. It may be also that we have a very poor conception of what God is and asks. It is best for us to strike our breasts with the publican and to confess ourselves the chief of sinners.
What a magnificent challenge is that of Job 11:7-12! Canst thou reach God's depths, or His perfections, or His heights? But, oh my soul, remember that through all His unsearchable depths God is love. For the closing paragraph see r.v. Job had said he could not lift up his face, Job 10:15, but when sin is put away, we may exchange glances with our Father. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 11

1  Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself
5  God's wisdom is unsearchable
13  The assured blessing of repentance

What do the individual words in Job 11:13 mean?

If you would prepare your heart and stretch out toward Him your hands
אִם־ אַ֭תָּ֗ה‪‬ הֲכִינ֣וֹתָ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וּפָרַשְׂתָּ֖ אֵלָ֣יו כַּפֶּֽךָ

הֲכִינ֣וֹתָ  would  prepare 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כּוּן 
Sense: to be firm, be stable, be established.
לִבֶּ֑ךָ  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וּפָרַשְׂתָּ֖  and  stretch  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַשׂ  
Sense: to spread, spread out, stretch, break in pieces.
אֵלָ֣יו  toward  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כַּפֶּֽךָ  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine singular
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.