Job 31 Study Notes

31:22 See note at vv. 16-22.

31:23 Job’s obedience was motivated by the two aspects of the fear of the Lord: terror and awe.

31:24-28 Job offered another list of if-then statements (cp. vv. 16-22), denying that he had sinned in any of these ways (v. 28).

31:24-25 Job disavowed materialistic and greedy desires. Eliphaz’s implied criticism was false (22:24-25).

31:26-27 Job had not secretly paid homage to false deities identified with the sun or moon, as some would do by throwing a kiss toward the heavens. Such false worship did affect the Israelites later (2Kg 21:3). Job understood that idolatry and paganism were an abomination to the Lord (Dt 4:19; 17:2-5).

31:29-30 Job had not gloated over an enemy’s misfortune. This would violate accepted ethical standards (Pr 24:17-18; 25:21-22; Mt 5:43-47).

31:31-32 God’s concern included the welfare of the stranger (Lv 24:22; Dt 26:12; Ps 94:6-7). Hospitality is commended in both the OT and the NT (Gn 24:24-32; 1Tm 5:10).

31:33-34 Job had not covered up his sins by tucking them away in his heart (lit “bosom”) like a thief concealing stolen goods. Job had not played the hypocrite by sinning in secret while pretending to be virtuous (2Kg 5:24-27). He had no need to shut himself up from public view (Gn 3:8-9). Jesus condemned spiritual hypocrisy (Mt 6:2-4; 23:25-28).

31:35-37 Job had repeatedly pleaded for a fair hearing before God (13:18-23; 23:2-7) even though he feared such a meeting (9:14-16) and felt the need for an arbitrator (9:32-35; 16:21). Job, nonetheless, felt so confident that his integrity would be vindicated that he signed his affidavit. His signature is literally his tav, the last letter in the Hebrew alphabet, in the form of an X in ancient Hebrew. The name of the letter means “mark” (Ezk 9:4). Documents were usually sealed with an engraved seal (1Kg 21:8), but when signed by hand, even a literate person used the tav. When God presented his indictment (7:20), Job would place it proudly on his shoulder and approach the Lord as a prince wearing a victor’s crown. Job was certain that he had proven his innocence and righteousness (23:3-7; 27:6).

31:38-40 Job finished with a final testimony toward his vindication in the form of two more conditional statements and a curse (see vv. 16-22). He had demonstrated his integrity and righteousness toward his fellow man. He had neither overworked his land (see Lv 25:2-7) nor defrauded its tenants (24:10-11). He fortified his declaration with an imprecation involving the failure of his crops (Gn 3:18; Is 5:6).