Bible Commentaries
Job 31

Verse 1

I. Note the "I" of self-justification; and see note on Job 29:2 .

why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 2

THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4 .

Verse 3

Is not . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis . App-6 .

Verse 4

Doth not He . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 11

crime. Hebrew zimmah. App-44 .

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah.

iniquity to be punished by the judges = a judicial iniquity; or, an iniquity in the eye of the law.

Verse 16

poor. Hebrew. dal = impoverished or reduced in means. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

Verse 19

poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

Verse 20

loins have not blessed. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia, App-6 :. the loins so covered.

Verse 21

help. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for those who would he on his side.

Verse 22

the bone. Authorized Version margin, "the chanel bone". Obsolete Eng. for channel = what is channelled or scooped out: i.e. the socket.

Verse 23

highness = majesty.

endure = escape.

Verse 26

the sun = the light.

Verse 27

my mouth hath kissed my hand: i.e. the outward sign of homage [to, or in worship, of the sun].

Verse 29

found. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 .

Verse 30

his. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ) reads "their".

soul. Hebrew. nephesh . App-13 .

Verse 31

men. Heb methim. App-14 .

tabernacle = tent.

Verse 33

transgressions. Hebrew. pasha'. App-44 . Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "transgression" (singular)

as Adam. Compare Genesis 3:10 .

Verse 35

Oh! Figure of speech E cphonesis. App-6 .

adversary = man (Hebrew ' i s h . App-14 .) of my quarrel.

Verse 38

land cry . . . complain. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 .

Verse 39

have caused, &c. = made the souls of the owners groan.

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 40

Let thistles grow. This is not an imprecation, but an argument in favor of his integrity: i.e. Had he been as his friends alleged, would he not have had bad instead of bountiful harvests? See translation below.

ended: so far as his friends were concerned. He had words for God (ch. Job 42:1-6 ).