Job Chapter 31 — Job's Oath of Innocence
Job delivers a detailed defense of his character, asserting his innocence regarding lust, greed, and social injustice while asking God for a hearing.
1“I made a covenant with my eyes;
2For what is the portion from God above,
3Is it not calamity to the unrighteous,
4Doesn’t he see my ways,
5“If I have walked with falsehood,
6(let me be weighed in an even balance,
7if my step has turned out of the way,
8then let me sow, and let another eat.
9“If my heart has been enticed to a woman,
10then let my wife grind for another,
11For that would be a heinous crime.
12for it is a fire that consumes to destruction,
13“If I have despised the cause of my male servant
14what then will I do when God rises up?
15Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him?
16“If I have withheld the poor from their desire,
17or have eaten my morsel alone,
18(no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
19if I have seen any perish for want of clothing,
20if his heart hasn’t blessed me,
21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless,
22then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade,
23For calamity from God is a terror to me.
24“If I have made gold my hope,
25If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
26if I have seen the sun when it shined,
27and my heart has been secretly enticed,
28this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
29“If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me,
30(I have certainly not allowed my mouth to sin
31if the men of my tent have not said,
32(the foreigner has not camped in the street,
33if like Adam I have covered my transgressions,
34because I feared the great multitude,
35oh that I had one to hear me!
36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,
37I would declare to him the number of my steps.
38If my land cries out against me,
39if I have eaten its fruits without money,
40let briers grow instead of wheat,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Job 31:1
““I made a covenant with my eyes; For what is the portion from God above,”
This verse highlights Job's proactive commitment to moral purity and self-discipline in his private thoughts.
Job 31:15
“Didn’t he who made me in the womb make him? Did not one fashion us in the womb?”
Job expresses a remarkably advanced view of human equality, recognizing that both he and his servants share the same Creator.
Job 31:35
“oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me!”
This is Job's final demand for a formal trial and a direct response from God regarding his suffering.
Chapter Summary
In Job 31, Job presents his final and most formal defense of his integrity, often referred to as his 'oath of innocence.' Structured through a series of conditional statements, Job lists various sins he has carefully avoided, including lust, falsehood, adultery, and the mistreatment of his servants. He emphasizes his commitment to social justice, noting that he has always cared for the poor, the widow, and the fatherless. Job also denies being influenced by wealth or the temptation of secret idolatry. He argues that his actions were driven by a profound respect for God as the common Creator of all humanity. The chapter concludes with Job's desperate plea for a legal hearing, expressing his willingness to face God and answer for his life with the confidence of a prince, even as he laments that his land might testify against him if he were truly unrighteous.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 'covenant with my eyes' refers to Job's personal pledge to maintain moral purity. He explains that he intentionally chose to guard his vision to avoid looking upon others with lust or improper intent.
Job asserts that he never withheld help from the poor or ignored the needs of widows and orphans. He claims to have shared his food and clothing with the needy, treating them with the care a father provides for his children.
This is part of an 'oath of imprecation,' where Job calls a curse upon himself if he were found guilty of adultery. He suggests that if he had been unfaithful, he would deserve to lose his own household and status as a just consequence.
Study Note
Job 31 is a classic example of an ancient Near Eastern legal 'negative confession,' where an individual lists the sins they have not committed to establish their righteousness.
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