Lectionary Calendar
Monday, September 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Read the Bible

The NET Bible®

Job 31:28

then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Hope;   Idolatry;   Integrity;   Rich, the;   Sun;   Temptation;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Riches, Earthly;   Security-Insecurity;   Trust in Riches;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Moon, the;   Riches;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hope;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Job;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Job, the Book of;   Moon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Idolatry;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Moon;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Kiss;   Sabbath;   Sun;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Idolatry,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Job;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adoration;   Deny;   Queen of Heaven;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Sun;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,for I would have denied God above.
Hebrew Names Version
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
King James Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
English Standard Version
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
New Century Version
If I had, these also would have been sins to be punished, because I would have been unfaithful to God.
Amplified Bible
This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
New American Standard Bible
That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
World English Bible
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
Legacy Standard Bible
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,For I would have denied God above.
Berean Standard Bible
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
Contemporary English Version
Such horrible sins would have deserved punishment from God.
Complete Jewish Bible
then this too would be a criminal offense, for I would have been lying to God on high.
Darby Translation
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is also a sin that must be punished. If I had worshiped them, I would have been unfaithful to God All-Powerful.
George Lamsa Translation
Then God has seen my crafty ways, and I have lied before him.
Good News Translation
Such a sin should be punished by death; it denies Almighty God.
Lexham English Bible
this also is an iniquity to be judged, for I have deceived God above.
Literal Translation
this also would be an iniquity for the judges; for I would have denied God above.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(that were a wickednesse worthy to be punyshed, for then shulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
American Standard Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
Bible in Basic English
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.
King James Version (1611)
This also were an iniquitie to be punished by the Iudge: For I should haue denied the God that is aboue.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
(That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I should have lied against the Lord Most High.
English Revised Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: for I should have lied to God that is above.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
which is the moost wickidnesse, and deniyng ayens hiyeste God;
Update Bible Version
This also was an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
Webster's Bible Translation
This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.
New King James Version
This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
New Living Translation
If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
New Life Bible
these also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.
New Revised Standard
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
Revised Standard Version
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
Young's Literal Translation
It also [is] a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to God above.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.

Contextual Overview

24 "If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security!' 25 if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained, 26 if I looked at the sun when it was shining, and the moon advancing as a precious thing, 27 so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth, 28 then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above. 29 If I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy or exulted because calamity found him— 30 I have not even permitted my mouth to sin by asking for his life through a curse— 31 if the members of my household have never said, ‘If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job's meat!'— 32 But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler—

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an: Job 31:11, Job 9:15, Job 23:7, Genesis 18:25, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, Deuteronomy 17:9, Judges 11:27, Psalms 50:6, Hebrews 12:23

for: Joshua 24:23, Joshua 24:27, Proverbs 30:9, Titus 1:16, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:23, Jude 1:4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:32 - lifted

Cross-References

Genesis 29:13
When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister's son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him.
Genesis 31:3
The Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you."
Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.'"
Genesis 31:24
But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, "Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob."
Genesis 31:55
Early in the morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters goodbye and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned home.
Exodus 4:27
The Lord said to Aaron, "Go to the wilderness to meet Moses. So he went and met him at the mountain of God and greeted him with a kiss.
Ruth 1:9
May the Lord enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband!" Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly.
Ruth 1:14
Again they wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her.
1 Samuel 13:13
Then Samuel said to Saul, "You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the Lord your God gave you. Had you done that, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever!
1 Kings 19:20
He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you." Elijah said to him, "Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge,.... As well as adultery, Job 31:11; by the civil magistrates and judges of the earth, who are God's vicegerents, and therefore it behooves them to take cognizance of such an iniquity, and to punish for it, which affects in so peculiar a manner the honour and worship of the true God; this by the law of Moses was punished by stoning to death,

Deuteronomy 13:9; however this will be taken notice of and punished by God the Judge of all, whose law is broken hereby, and who will visit this iniquity more especially on those who commit it, and their posterity after them. Idolaters of every sort shall have their part and portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, Exodus 20:3; the consideration of its being such a heinous sin, and so deserving of punishment, deterred Job from it; the Targum paraphrases it, a most amazing iniquity, it being, as follows, a denial of the true God:

for I should have denied the God [that is] above; that is, had he worshipped the sun and moon secretly or openly; for, as the atheist denies him in words, the idolater denies him in facts, worshipping the creature besides the Creator, and giving his glory to another, and his praise to idols; which is a virtual denial of him, even of him who is above the sun and moon in place, being higher than the heavens; and in nature, excellency, and glory, being the Creator of them, and they his creatures; and in power and authority, who commands the sun, and it rises not, and has appointed the moon for seasons, Job 9:7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judqe - Note Job 31:11. Among the Hebrews idolatry was an offence punishable by death by stoning; Deuteronomy 17:2-7. It is possible, also, that this might have been elsewhere in the patriarchal times a crime punishable in this manner. At all events, Job regarded it as a heinous offence, and one of which the magistrate ought to take cognizance.

For I should have denied the God that is above - The worship of the heavenly bodies would have been in fact the denial of the existence of any Superior Being. This, in fact, always occurs, for idolaters have no knowledge of the true God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 31:28. For I should have denied the God that is above. — Had I paid Divine adoration to them, I should have thereby denied the God that made them.


 
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