Job 31:21

21 si he alzado contra el huérfano mi mano, porque vi que yo tenía apoyo en la puerta,

Job 31:21 Meaning and Commentary

Job 31:21

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless
Either in a menacing way, threatening what he would do to them; which, from a man of wealth and authority, a civil magistrate, a judge, is very terrible to the poor and fatherless; or in order to strike him, which would be to smite with the fist of wickedness; or give a signal to others, by lifting up the hand to smite, as Ananias gave orders to smite the Apostle Paul; or thereby to give his vote against the fatherless wrongly, suffrages being sometimes made by lifting up the hands; or hereby Job signifies, that he was so far from doing the fatherless any real injury, that he had not so much as lifted up his hand, and even a finger against him:

when I saw my help in the gate;
in the court of judicature held in the gate of the city, as was usual; though he knew he had the bench of judges for him, or they would give sentence in his behalf, and against the fatherless, if he did but hold up his hand, or lift up a finger to them, so ready would they be take his part and be on his side; yet he never made use of his power and interest to their detriment, or took such an advantage against them.

Job 31:21 In-Context

19 si he visto a alguno perecer por falta de ropa, y sin abrigo al necesitado,

20 si sus lomos no me han expresado gratitud , pues no se ha calentado con el vellón de mis ovejas;

21 si he alzado contra el huérfano mi mano, porque vi que yo tenía apoyo en la puerta,

22 que mi hombro se caiga de la coyuntura, y mi brazo se quiebre en el codo.

23 Porque el castigo de Dios es terror para mí, y ante su majestad nada puedo hacer.