
Text -- Job 31:1-5 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Job 31:1 - -- So far have I been from any gross wickedness, that I have abstained from the least occasions and appearances of evil.
So far have I been from any gross wickedness, that I have abstained from the least occasions and appearances of evil.

What recompence may be expected from God for those who do otherwise.

Wesley: Job 31:2 - -- How secretly soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so that men cannot reprove them, yet there is one who stands upon an higher place, whence he se...
How secretly soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so that men cannot reprove them, yet there is one who stands upon an higher place, whence he seeth in what manner they act.

Wesley: Job 31:5 - -- If when I had an opportunity of enriching myself, by wronging others, I have readily and greedily complied with It.
If when I had an opportunity of enriching myself, by wronging others, I have readily and greedily complied with It.
JFB: Job 31:1 - -- (Job 31:1-40)
Job proceeds to prove that he deserved a better lot. As in the twenty-ninth chapter, he showed his uprightness as an emir, or magistrat...
(Job 31:1-40)
Job proceeds to prove that he deserved a better lot. As in the twenty-ninth chapter, he showed his uprightness as an emir, or magistrate in public life, so in this chapter he vindicates his character in private life.

He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses.

JFB: Job 31:1-4 - -- Rather, "cast a (lustful) look." He not merely did not so, but put it out of the question by covenanting with his eyes against leading him into tempta...

JFB: Job 31:2 - -- Had I let my senses tempt me to sin, "what portion (would there have been to me, that is, must I have expected) from (literally, of) God above, and wh...

JFB: Job 31:4 - -- Knowing this, I could only have expected "destruction" (Job 31:3), had I committed this sin (Pro 5:21).
Clarke: Job 31:1 - -- I made a covenant with mine eyes - ברית כרתי לעיני berith carati leeynai : "I have cut"or divided "the covenant sacrifice with my eye...
I made a covenant with mine eyes -

Clarke: Job 31:1 - -- Why then should I think upon a maid? - ומה אתבונן על בתולה umah ethbonen al bethulah . And why should I set myself to contemplate,...
Why then should I think upon a maid? -

Clarke: Job 31:2 - -- For what portion of God is there from above? - Though I have not, in this or in any other respect, wickedly departed from God, yet what reward have ...
For what portion of God is there from above? - Though I have not, in this or in any other respect, wickedly departed from God, yet what reward have I received?

Clarke: Job 31:3 - -- Is not destruction to the wicked - If I had been guilty of such secret hypocritical proceedings, professing faith in the true God while in eye and h...
Is not destruction to the wicked - If I had been guilty of such secret hypocritical proceedings, professing faith in the true God while in eye and heart an idolater, would not such a worker of iniquity be distinguished by a strange and unheard-of punishment?

Clarke: Job 31:4 - -- Doth not he see my ways - Can I suppose that I could screen myself from the eye of God while guilty of such iniquities?
Doth not he see my ways - Can I suppose that I could screen myself from the eye of God while guilty of such iniquities?

Clarke: Job 31:5 - -- If I have walked with vanity - If I have been guilty of idolatry, or the worshipping of a false god: for thus שאו shau , which we here translate...
If I have walked with vanity - If I have been guilty of idolatry, or the worshipping of a false god: for thus
TSK: Job 31:1 - -- a covenant : Gen 6:2; 2Sa 11:2-4; Psa 119:37; Pro 4:25, Pro 23:31-33; Mat 5:28, Mat 5:29; 1Jo 2:16
think : Pro 6:25; Jam 1:14, Jam 1:15
a covenant : Gen 6:2; 2Sa 11:2-4; Psa 119:37; Pro 4:25, Pro 23:31-33; Mat 5:28, Mat 5:29; 1Jo 2:16

TSK: Job 31:3 - -- destruction : Job 21:30; Psa 55:23, Psa 73:18; Pro 1:27, Pro 10:29, Pro 21:15; Mat 7:13; Rom 9:22; 1Th 5:3; 2Th 1:9; 2Pe 2:1
a strange : Isa 28:21; Ju...

TSK: Job 31:4 - -- Job 14:16, Job 34:21; Gen 16:13; 2Ch 16:9; Psa 44:21, Psa 139:1-3; Pro 5:21, Pro 15:3; Jer 16:17, Jer 32:19; Joh 1:48; Heb 4:13

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: Job 31:1 - -- I made a covenant with mine eyes - The first virtue of his private life to which Job refers is chastity. Such was his sense of the importance o...
I made a covenant with mine eyes - The first virtue of his private life to which Job refers is chastity. Such was his sense of the importance of this, and of the danger to which man was exposed, that he had solemnly resolved not to think upon a young female. The phrase here, "I made a covenant with mine eyes,"is poetical, meaning that he solemnly resolved. A covenant is of a sacred and binding nature; and the strength of his resolution was as great as if he had made a solemn compact. A covenant or compact was usually made by slaying an animal in sacrifice, and the compact was ratified over the animal that was slain, by a kind of imprecation that if the compact was violated the same destruction might fall on the violators which fell on the head of the victim. This idea of cutting up a victim on occasion of making a covenant, is retained in most languages. So the Greek
Why then should I think upon a maid - Upon a virgin -

Barnes: Job 31:2 - -- For what portion of God is there from above? - Or, rather, "What portion should I then have from God who reigns above?"Job asks with emphasis, ...
For what portion of God is there from above? - Or, rather, "What portion should I then have from God who reigns above?"Job asks with emphasis, what portion or reward he should expect from God who reigns on high, if he had not made such a covenant with his eyes, and if he had given the reins to loose and wanton thoughts? This question he himself answers in the following verse, and says, that he could have expected only destruction from the Almighty.

Barnes: Job 31:3 - -- Is not destruction to the wicked? - That is, Job says that he was well aware that destruction would overtake the wicked, and that if he had giv...
Is not destruction to the wicked? - That is, Job says that he was well aware that destruction would overtake the wicked, and that if he had given indulgence to impure desires he could have looked for nothing else. Well knowing this, he says, he had guarded himself in the most careful manner from sin, and had labored with the greatest assiduity to keep his eyes and his heart pure.
And a strange punishment - -

Barnes: Job 31:4 - -- Doth he not see my ways? - This either means that God was a witness of all that he did - his thoughts, words, and deeds, and would punish him i...
Doth he not see my ways? - This either means that God was a witness of all that he did - his thoughts, words, and deeds, and would punish him if he had given indulgence to improper feelings and thoughts; or that since God saw all his thoughts, he could boldly appeal to him as a witness of his innocence in this matter, and in proof that his life and heart were pure. Rosenmuller adopts the latter interpretation; Herder seems to incline to the former. Umbreit renders it, "God himself must be a witness that I speak the truth."It is not easy to determine which is the true meaning. Either of them will accord well with the scope of the passage.

Barnes: Job 31:5 - -- If I have walked with vanity - This is the second specification in regard to his private deportment. He says that his life had been sincere, up...
If I have walked with vanity - This is the second specification in regard to his private deportment. He says that his life had been sincere, upright, honest. The word vanity here is equivalent to falsehood, for so the parallelism demands, and so the word (
If my foot hath hasted to deceit - That is, if I have gone to execute a purpose of deceit or fraud. He had never, on seeing an opportunity where others might be defrauded, hastened to embrace it. The Septuagint renders this verse, "If I have walked with scoffers -
Poole: Job 31:2 - -- The reason of my continency and chastity was, the consideration of God’ s presence, and providence, and judgments.
What portion of God what f...
The reason of my continency and chastity was, the consideration of God’ s presence, and providence, and judgments.
What portion of God what fruit or recompence might be expected from God for those who do such things? Nothing but destruction, as it follows, Job 31:3 . I considered, that though these practices might at first please me, yet they would be bitterness in the latter end. From above ; an emphatical phrase, to note, that how secretly and slily soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so as men cannot reprove or reproach them; yet there is one who stands upon a higher place, whence he hath the better prospect, who seeth both when, and in what manner, and with what design they do these things.

Poole: Job 31:3 - -- Destruction is their portion, and a strange punishment, some extraordinary and dreadful judgment, which of right and course belongs to them, and onl...
Destruction is their portion, and a strange punishment, some extraordinary and dreadful judgment, which of right and course belongs to them, and only to such as they are, although it hath pleased God out of his sovereign power to inflict it upon me, who have lived in all good conscience before him. Heb. an alienation or estrangement , to wit, from God and from his favour. Had I been such a one, I neither could nor should have expected any kindness or mercy from God, as now I do.

Poole: Job 31:4 - -- i.e. All my counsels and courses. This is another reason why he was so circumspect and exact in restraining his thoughts, and senses, and whole man ...
i.e. All my counsels and courses. This is another reason why he was so circumspect and exact in restraining his thoughts, and senses, and whole man from sinful practices, because he knew that God would discern them, and therefore punish them, as he said, Job 31:3 .

Poole: Job 31:5 - -- Walked i.e. conversed in the world, dealt with men.
With vanity i.e. with lying, or falsehood, or hypocrisy, as this word is oft used, as Psa 4:2 1...
Walked i.e. conversed in the world, dealt with men.
With vanity i.e. with lying, or falsehood, or hypocrisy, as this word is oft used, as Psa 4:2 12:3 36:3 Pro 30:8 , and as the next words explain it.
If my foot hath hasted to deceit if when I have had any temptation or opportunity of enriching myself, by defrauding or wronging others, I have readily and greedily complied with it, as hypocrites (such as you account me) use to do, and have not rejected and abhorred it; for more is here understood than is expressed. The sense is imperfect, and supposeth an imprecation, which is either understood, after the manner of the Hebrews, or expressed in the next verse.
Haydock: Job 31:1 - -- Filled. If my servants have not testified sufficient affection for me, (Haydock) because I kept them under restraint, and obliged them to wait on my...
Filled. If my servants have not testified sufficient affection for me, (Haydock) because I kept them under restraint, and obliged them to wait on my guests, (Menochius; St. Gregory) I still would not omit that duty; (ver. 32.; Haydock) or if they gave way to the greatest excesses of rage, so as to threaten to devour me, I refrained from wishing any evil to my enemy, ver. 30. (Calmet) ---
Others suppose that Job's domestics urged him on to revenge, and spoke as if they were ready to eat his enemies; (Cajetan; Tirinus) while some explain the expression in a contrary sense, to denote the extreme attachment of Job's servants to his person; in which manner the Church uses it, speaking of Christ's feeding us with his own body and blood. (Calmet) ---
Septuagint, "If frequently my maids said who?" &c. Hebrew, "said not, oh! that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied." (Protestants) (Haydock) ---
Have I given my servants any reason to utter these expressions?

Haydock: Job 31:1 - -- I made. Job is compelled to proclaim his own praises, for his vindication, as St. Paul was, being at the same time convinced that he had only done h...
I made. Job is compelled to proclaim his own praises, for his vindication, as St. Paul was, being at the same time convinced that he had only done his duty, Luke xvii. 10. This is the third part of his discourse. Having given a picture of his prosperous and of his miserable condition, he observes that the latter was not inflicted in consequence of any misconduct, since he had always been attentive to avoid (Calmet) the most remote danger of offending God, or his neighbour. (Haydock) ---
That I. Hebrew, "for why should I think upon a virgin?" (Haydock) ---
Why should I expose myself, (Calmet) by indiscreet looks, (Haydock) since the passage from the eye to the heart is so easy, Ecclesiastes ii. 10. (Menochius) ---
In the warfare between the flesh and the spirit, Job deemed this precaution necessary, (Worthington) and was thus preserved from carnal thoughts. (St. Gregory xx. 2.)

High, if I should give way to such unchaste thoughts. (Menochius)

Haydock: Job 31:3 - -- Aversion of God. Hebrew "strange punishment. " (Protestants) Incontinence is a source of much mischief, and of the most dreadful punishments, as ...
Aversion of God. Hebrew "strange punishment. " (Protestants) Incontinence is a source of much mischief, and of the most dreadful punishments, as the deluge and fate of Sodom evince. (Haydock)

Vanity, or hypocrisy, (Calmet) so as to overreach others. (Menochius)
Gill: Job 31:1 - -- I made a covenant with mine eyes,.... Not to look upon a woman, and wantonly gaze at her beauty, lest his heart should be drawn thereby to lust after ...
I made a covenant with mine eyes,.... Not to look upon a woman, and wantonly gaze at her beauty, lest his heart should be drawn thereby to lust after her; for the eyes are inlets to many sins, and particularly to uncleanness, of which there have been instances, both in bad men and good men, Gen 34:2; so the poet t represents the eye as the way through which the beauty of a woman passes swifter than an arrow into the hearts of men, and makes impressions there; see 2Pe 2:14; hence Zaleucus ordered adulterers to be punished, by plucking out the eyes of the adulterer u; wherefore Job, to prevent this, entered into a solemn engagement with himself, laid himself under a strong obligation, as if he had bound himself by a covenant, made a resolution in the strength of divine grace, not to employ his eyes in looking on objects that might ensnare his heart, and lead him to the commission of sin; he made use of all ways and means, and took every precaution to guard against it; and particularly this, to shut or turn his eyes from beholding what might be alluring and enticing to him: it is said x of Democritus, that he put out his eyes because he could not look upon a woman without lusting after her:
why then should I think upon a maid; of corrupting and defiling her, since he had made a covenant with his eyes, and this would be a breach of that covenant: and therefore, besides the sin of lusting after her, or of corrupting her, he would be a covenant breaker, and so his sin would be an aggravated one: or he made a covenant with his eyes, to prevent any impure thoughts, desires, and inclinations in him; for the eye affects the heart, and stirs up lust in it, and excites unclean thoughts and unchaste desires: this shows that the thought of sin is sin; that fornication was reckoned a sin before the law of Moses; and that Job better understood the spirituality of the law than the Pharisees did in the time of Christ, and had the same notion of lust in the heart being fornication and adultery as he had; and that good men are not without temptation to sin, both from within and from without; and therefore should carefully shun all appearances of evil, and whatsoever leads unto it, and take every necessary precaution to guard against it.

Gill: Job 31:2 - -- For what portion of God is there from above?.... What good portion, as the Targum paraphrases it, can impure persons expect from God? such who indulg...
For what portion of God is there from above?.... What good portion, as the Targum paraphrases it, can impure persons expect from God? such who indulge themselves, and live in the sin of uncleanness, cannot hope to have any part in God, or a portion of good things from him; he is above, and in the highest heavens, and every good thing comes from thence, and from him there; and particularly the spiritual blessings, wherewith he blesses his people, are in heavenly places in Christ, and from thence come to them; and here a special respect may be had to God himself, who is the portion of his people, both in life and at death, and to all eternity; but men that live a vicious course of life cannot conclude they have any part in God and Christ, nor in the grace of God, and the blessings of it, nor enjoy communion with him:
and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? heaven is an inheritance which belongs to the children of God, and he, as their heavenly Father, has bequeathed it unto then; this is from the almighty God, God all sufficient; he has chosen this inheritance for them, and appointed them unto it; this is laid up by him and reserved in heaven for them; and he gives both a right unto it, and a meetness for it, and will put them into the possession of it: but then impure persons, as fornicators and adulterers, have no inheritance in the kingdom of God and of Christ, Eph 5:5; and this was a reason with Job, and what had an influence on him, to be careful to avoid the sin of uncleanness. Some understand the words as a question concerning what would be the portion and heritage of a wicked man, a corrupter of virgins; the answer to which is given in the next verse, destruction and a strange punishment; this is their portion from God, and the heritage appointed to them by him; see Job 20:29.

Gill: Job 31:3 - -- Is not destruction to the wicked?.... It is even to such wicked men, who live in the sin of fornication, and make it their business to ensnare and co...
Is not destruction to the wicked?.... It is even to such wicked men, who live in the sin of fornication, and make it their business to ensnare and corrupt virgins; and which is another reason why Job was careful to avoid that sin; wickedness of every sort is the cause of destruction, destruction and misery are in the ways of wicked men, and their wicked ways lead unto it, and issue in it, even destruction of soul and body in hell, which is swift and sudden, and will be everlasting: this is laid up for wicked men among the treasures of God's wrath, and they are reserved that, and there is no way of deliverance from it but by Christ:
and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity; the iniquity of fornication and whoredom, Pro 30:20; who make it their business to commit it, and live in a continued course of uncleanness and other sins; a punishment, something strange, unusual, and uncommon, as the filthy venereal disease in this world, and everlasting burnings in another; or "alienation" y, a state of estrangement and banishment from the presence of God and Christ, and from the society of the saints, to all eternity; see Mat 25:46.

Gill: Job 31:4 - -- Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? That is, God, who is above, and the Almighty that dwells on high; he looks down from heaven, and beho...
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? That is, God, who is above, and the Almighty that dwells on high; he looks down from heaven, and beholds all the ways and works, the steps and motions, of the children of men; there is no darkness where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves; the fornicator and adulterer choose the night season for the commission of their sin, fancying no eye sees them; but they cannot escape the eye of God, who is omniscient; he observes the ways they walk in, the methods they take to compass their designs; he marks and counts every step taken by them, as he does indeed take notice of and reckons up every action of men, good and bad; and the consideration of this was another argument with Job to avoid the sin of uncleanness; for however privately he might commit it, so as not to be seen by men, it could not be hidden from the all seeing eye of God. Some take these words to be an obtestation, or appeal to God for the truth of what he had said; that he made a covenant with his eyes, and took every precaution to prevent his failing into the sin of uncleanness; and he whose eyes were upon his ways, knew how holily and unblamably he had walked; or else, as if the sense was, that had he given in to such an impure course of life, he might expect the omniscient God, that is above, and dwells on high, would bring upon him destruction, and a strange punishment, since he is the avenger of all such; others connect the words with the following, doth he not see my ways and steps, whether I have walked with vanity, &c. or not?

Gill: Job 31:5 - -- If I have walked with vanity,.... Or with vain men, as Bar Tzemach interprets it, keeping company and having fellowship with them in their vain and si...
If I have walked with vanity,.... Or with vain men, as Bar Tzemach interprets it, keeping company and having fellowship with them in their vain and sinful practices; or in the vanity of his mind, indulging himself in impurity of heart and life; or rather using deceitful methods to cheat and defraud others; for this seems to be another vice Job clears himself of, acting unjustly in his dealings with men, or dealing falsely with them:
or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; to cheat men in buying and selling, being ready and swift to do it, and in haste to become rich, which puts men oftentimes on evil ways and methods to attain it; see Pro 28:20.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Job 31:1 This half-verse is the effect of the covenant. The interrogative מָה (mah) may have the force of the negative, and so be translated ...

NET Notes: Job 31:2 Heb “lot of Shaddai,” which must mean “the lot from Shaddai,” a genitive of source.

NET Notes: Job 31:5 The verbs “walk” and “hasten” (referring in the verse to the foot) are used metaphorically for the manner of life Job lived.
Geneva Bible: Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine ( a ) eyes; why then should I think upon ( b ) a maid?
( a ) I kept my eyes from all wanton looks.
( b ) Would not God t...

Geneva Bible: Job 31:3 [Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to ( c ) the workers of iniquity?
( c ) Job declares that the fear of God was a bridle...

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Job 31:1-40
MHCC -> Job 31:1-8
MHCC: Job 31:1-8 - --Job did not speak the things here recorded by way of boasting, but in answer to the charge of hypocrisy. He understood the spiritual nature of God's c...
Matthew Henry -> Job 31:1-8
Matthew Henry: Job 31:1-8 - -- The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are the two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always caref...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Job 31:1-4; Job 31:5-8
Keil-Delitzsch: Job 31:1-4 - --
1 I have made a covenant with mine eyes,
And how should I fix my gaze upon a maiden!
2 What then would be the dispensation of Eloah from above,
A...

Keil-Delitzsch: Job 31:5-8 - --
5 If I had intercourse with falsehood,
And my foot hastened after deceit:
6 Let Him weigh me in the balances of justice,
And let Eloah know my in...
Constable -> Job 29:1--31:40; Job 31:1-40
Constable: Job 29:1--31:40 - --2. Job's defense of his innocence ch. 29-31
Job gave a soliloquy before his dialogue with his th...
