Bible Commentaries
Introduction
| 1 | Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties. |
Verse 1
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
-
- a covenant
- Genesis 6:2; 2 Samuel 11:2-4; Psalms 119:37; Proverbs 4:25; 23:31-33; Matthew 5:28,29; 1 John 2:16
- think
- Proverbs 6:25; James 1:14,15
Verse 2
For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
-
- 20:29; 27:13; Hebrews 13:4
Verse 3
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
-
- destruction
- 21:30; Psalms 55:23; 73:18; Proverbs 1:27; 10:29; 21:15; Matthew 7:13; Romans 9:22; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 2:1
- a strange
- Isaiah 28:21; Jude 1:7
Verse 4
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
-
- 14:16; 34:21; Genesis 16:13; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalms 44:21; 139:1-3; Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17; 32:19; John 1:48; Hebrews 4:13
Verse 5
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
-
- If
- Psalms 7:3-5
- walked
- Psalms 4:2; 12:2; 44:20,21; Proverbs 12:11; Jeremiah 2:5; Ezekiel 13:8
Verse 6
Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.
-
- Let me be weighed in an even balance
- Heb. Let him weigh me in balances of justice.
- 1 Samuel 2:3; Psalms 7:8,9; 17:2,3; 26:1; Proverbs 16:11; Isaiah 26:7; Daniel 5:27; Micah 6:11
- know
- Joshua 22:22; Psalms 1:6; 139:23; Matthew 7:23; 2 Timothy 2:19
Verse 7
If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
-
- If my
- Psalms 44:20,21
- mine heart
- Numbers 15:39; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Ezekiel 6:9; 14:3,7; Matthew 5:29
- cleaved
- Psalms 101:3; Isaiah 33:15
Verse 8
Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
-
- let me
- 5:5; 24:6; Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:30-33,38,51; Judges 6:3-6; Micah 6:15
- let my
- 5:4; 15:30; 18:19; Psalms 109:13
Verse 9
If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
-
- If mine
- Judges 16:5; 1 Kings 11:4; Nehemiah 13:26; Proverbs 2:16-19; 5:3-23; 6:25; 7:21; 22:14; Ecclesiastes 7:26
- if I
- 24:15,16; Jeremiah 5:8; Hosea 7:4
Verse 10
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
-
- grind
- Exodus 11:5; Isaiah 47:2; Matthew 24:41
- and let
- 2 Samuel 12:11; Jeremiah 8:10; Hosea 4:13,14
Verse 11
For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
-
- an heinous
- Genesis 20:9; 26:10; 39:9; Exodus 20:14; Proverbs 6:29-33
- an iniquity
- 28; Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; Ezekiel 16:38
Verse 12
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
-
- Proverbs 3:33; 6:27; Jeremiah 5:7-9; Malachi 3:5; Hebrews 13:4
Verse 13
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
-
- the cause
- Exodus 21:20,21,26,27; Leviticus 25:43,46; Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Jeremiah 34:14-17; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1
- when
- In ancient times slaves had no action at law against their owners; but Job admitted them to all civil rights, and permitted them to complain even against himself.
Verse 14
What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
-
- What then
- 9:32; 10:2; Psalms 7:6; 9:12,19; 10:12-15; 44:21; 76:9; 143:2; Isaiah 10:3; Zechariah 2:13
- when he
- Hosea 9:7; Micah 7:4; Mark 7:2; James 2:13
- what shall
- Romans 3:19
Verse 15
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
-
- Did not he
- 34:19; Nehemiah 5:5; Proverbs 14:31; 22:2; Isaiah 58:7; Malachi 2:10; 10:8-12; Psalms 139:14-16
Verse 16
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
-
- withheld
- 22:7-9; Deuteronomy 15:7-10; Psalms 112:9; Luke 16:21; Acts 11:29; Galatians 2:10
- the eyes
- Deuteronomy 28:32; Psalms 69:3; 119:82,123; Isaiah 38:14; Lamentations 4:17
Verse 17
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
-
- have
- Deuteronomy 15:11,14; Nehemiah 8:10; Luke 11:41; John 13:29; Acts 4:32
- the fatherless
- 29:13-16; Ezekiel 18:7,16; Romans 12:13; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17
Verse 18
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)
-
- her
- that is, the widow.
Verse 19
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
-
- 22:6; 2 Chronicles 28:15; Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 25:36,43; Luke 3:11; Acts 9:39; James 2:16; 1 John 3:18
Verse 20
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
-
- 29:11; Deuteronomy 24:13
Verse 21
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
-
- lifted
- 6:27; 22:9; 24:9; 29:12; Proverbs 23:10,11; Jeremiah 5:28; Ezekiel 22:7
- when
- Micah 2:1,2; 7:3
Verse 22
Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.
-
- let
- 10,40; Joshua 22:22,23; Psalms 7:4,5; 137:6
- bone
- or, chanel bone.
Verse 23
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
-
- destruction
- 20:23; 21:20; Genesis 39:9; Psalms 119:120; Isaiah 13:6; Joel 1:15; 2 Corinthians 5:11
- by
- 13:11; 40:9; 42:5,6; Psalms 76:7
Verse 24
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
-
- Genesis 31:1; Deuteronomy 8:12-14; Psalms 49:6,7,17; 52:7; 62:10; Proverbs 10:15; 11:28; Proverbs 30:9; Mark 10:24; Luke 12:15; Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:10,17
Verse 25
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;
-
- rejoiced
- Esther 5:11; Proverbs 23:5; Jeremiah 9:23; Ezekiel 28:5; Luke 12:19; 16:19,25
- because
- Deuteronomy 8:17,18; Isaiah 10:13,14; Daniel 4:30; Hosea 12:8; Habakkuk 1:16
- gotten much
- Heb. found much.
Verse 26
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
-
- beheld
- Genesis 1:16-18; Deuteronomy 4:19; 11:16; 17:3; 2 Kings 23:5,11; Jeremiah 8:2; Ezekiel 8:16
- sun
- Heb. light. the moon.
- Psalms 8:3,4; Jeremiah 44:17
- in brightness
- Heb. bright.
Verse 27
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
-
- my heart
- Deuteronomy 11:16; 13:6; Isaiah 44:20; Romans 1:21,28
- my mouth hath kissed my hand
- Heb. my hand hath kissed my mouth.
- 1 Kings 19:18; Psalms 2:12; Hosea 13:2
Verse 28
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
-
- an
- 11; 9:15; 23:7; Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 17:2-7,9; Judges 11:27; Psalms 50:6; Hebrews 12:23
- for
- Joshua 24:23,27; Proverbs 30:9; Titus 1:16; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 2:23; Jude 1:4
Verse 29
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
-
- 2 Samuel 1:12; 4:10,11; 16:5-8; Psalms 35:13,14,25,26; Proverbs 17:5; 24:17,18
Verse 30
Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
-
- have
- Exodus 23:4,5; Matthew 5:43,44; Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 2:22,23; 3:9
- mouth
- Heb. palate.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2,6; Matthew 5:22; 12:36; James 3:6,9,10
Verse 31
If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
-
- the men
- 1 Samuel 24:4,10; 26:8; 2 Samuel 16:9,10; 19:21,22; Jeremiah 40:15,16; Luke 9:54,55; Luke 22:50,51
- Oh
- 19:22; Psalms 27:2; 35:25; Proverbs 1:11,12,18; Micah 3:2,3
Verse 32
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
-
- The stranger
- 17,18; Genesis 19:2,3; Judges 19:15,20,21; Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 25:35,40,44,45; Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 5:10; Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9
- traveller
- or, way.
Verse 33
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:
-
- covered
- Genesis 3:7,8,12; Joshua 7:11; Proverbs 28:13; Hosea 6:7; Acts 5:8; 1 John 1:8-10
- as Adam
- or, after the manner of men.
- Hosea 6:7
Verse 34
Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
-
- Did I
- Exodus 23:2; Proverbs 29:25; Jeremiah 38:4,5,16,19; Matthew 27:20-26
- the contempt
- 22:8; 34:19; Exodus 32:27; Numbers 25:14,15; Nehemiah 5:7; 13:4-8,28; 2 Corinthians 5:16
- that I
- Esther 4:11,14; Proverbs 24:11,12; Amos 5:11-13; Micah 7:3
Verse 35
Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
-
- Oh
- 13:3; 17:3; 23:3-7; 33:6; 38:1-3; 40:4,5
- my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me
- or, my sign is that the Almighty will answer me.
- 13:21,22; Psalms 26:1
- mine
- 13:24; 19:11,23,24; 33:10,11; Matthew 5:25
Verse 36
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
-
- I
- Exodus 28:12; Isaiah 22:22
- a crown
- 29:14; Isaiah 62:3; Philippians 4:1
Verse 37
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
-
- declare
- 9:3; 13:15; 14:16; 42:3-6; Psalms 19:12
- as a
- Genesis 32:28; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:15,16; 1 John 3:19-21
Verse 38
If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;
-
- cry
- 20:27; Habakkuk 2:11; James 5:4
- complain
- Heb. weep.
- Psalms 65:13
Verse 39
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
-
- fruits
- Heb. strength.
- Genesis 4:12
- caused the owners thereof to lose their life
- Heb. caused the soul of the owners thereof to expire, or breathe out.
- 1 Kings 21:13-16,19; Proverbs 1:19; Isaiah 26:21; Ezekiel 22:6,12,13
Verse 40
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
-
- thistles
- Choach, probably the black thorn. (See on 2 Ki 14:9.)
- Genesis 3:17,18; Isaiah 7:23; Zephaniah 2:9; Malachi 1:3
- cockle
- or, noisome weeds. The.
- Psalms 72:20
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Bibliography Information
Torrey, R. A. "Commentary on Job 31:4". "The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge". http://odl.studylight.org/commentaries/tsk/job-31.html.
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