Job 31

Job 31:1

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

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

Job 31:2

THE . Hebrew Shaddai. App-4.

Job 31:3

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

Job 31:4

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

Job 31:11

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.

Job 31:16

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

Job 31:19

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

Job 31:20

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

Job 31:21

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

Job 31:22

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

Job 31:23

highness = majesty.

endure = escape.

Job 31:26

the sun = the light.

Job 31:27

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

Job 31:29

found. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6.

Job 31:30

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

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Job 31:31

men. Heb methim. App-14.

tabernacle = tent.

Job 31:33

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

as Adam. Compare Genesis 3:10.

Job 31:35

Oh! Figure of speech Ecphonesis. App-6.

adversary = man (Hebrew ’ish. App-14.) of my quarrel.

Job 31:38

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

Job 31:39

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

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

Job 31:40

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).