Job 31:9

9 If my heart has been seduced by [my neighbor's] wife or I have lurked at his door,[a]

Job 31:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 31:9

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman
By another man's wife, by wantonly looking at her beauty, and so lusting after her; and so, not through any blame or fault of hers, or by any artful methods made use of by her, to allure and ensnare; such as were practised by the harlot, ( Proverbs 7:1-27 ) ; but by neither was the heart of Job deceived, and drawn into the sin of uncleanness; for he had made a covenant with his eyes, as not to look at a virgin, so much less at another man's wife, to prevent his lusting after her; and whatever temptations and solicitations he might have been attended with, through the grace of God, as Joseph was, he was enabled to withstand them; though as wise a man, and the wisest of men, had his heart deceived and drawn aside thereby, ( Ecclesiastes 7:26 ) ;

or [if] I have laid wait at my neighbour's door:
to meet with his wife there, and carry on an intrigue with her; or to take the opportunity of going in when opened, in order to solicit her to his embraces, knowing her husband to be away from home; see ( Proverbs 5:8 ) ( Proverbs 7:8 Proverbs 7:19 ) .

Job 31:9 In-Context

7 If my step has turned from the way, my heart has followed my eyes, or impurity has stained my hands,
8 let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted.
9 If my heart has been seduced by [my neighbor's] wife or I have lurked at his door,
10 let my own wife grind [grain] for another man, and let other men sleep with her.
11 For that would be a disgrace; it would be a crime deserving punishment.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Dt 19:11; Ps 10:9; Pr 23:26-28
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