Job 31:33

33 I didn't hide my sin as others do. I didn't hide my guilt in my heart.

Job 31:33 Meaning and Commentary

Job 31:33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam
Job could not be understood, by this account he had given of the holiness of his life, that he thought himself quite free from sin; he had owned himself to be a sinner in several places before, and disclaimed perfection; and here he acknowledges he was guilty of transgressing the law of God, and that in many instances; for he speaks of his "transgressions" in the plural number; but then he did not seek to cover them from the of God or men, but frankly and ingenuously confessed them to both; he did not cover them, palliate, excuse, and extenuate them, as Adam did his, by laying the blame to his wife; and as she by charging it on the serpent; and those excuses they made are the inventions they found out, ( Ecclesiastes 7:29 ) ; or the meaning is, Job did not do "as men" F11 in common do; who, when they have sinned, either through fear or shame, endeavour to conceal it, and keep it out of the sight of others, unless they are very hardened and audacious sinners, such as the men of Sodom were, see ( Hosea 6:7 ) ;

by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom;
meaning perhaps some particular iniquity which his nature was most inclined to; this he did not attempt to hide in secret, as what is put into the bosom is; or that he did not spare it and cherish it, and, from an affection to it, keep it as persons and things beloved are, laid in the bosom; and so Mr. Broughton reads the words, "hiding my sin of a self-love"; either having a self-love to it, or hiding it of self-love, that is, from a principle of self-love, to preserve his honour, credit, and reputation among men.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (Mdak) "ut homo", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Beza, Bolducius, Mercerus, Drusius, Schmidt; "more hominum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Aben Ezra.

Job 31:33 In-Context

31 The workers in my house always said, 'Job always gives plenty of food to everyone.'
32 No stranger ever had to spend the night in the street. My door was always open to travelers.
33 I didn't hide my sin as others do. I didn't hide my guilt in my heart.
34 I was never afraid of the crowd. I never worried that my relatives might hate me. I didn't have to keep quiet or stay inside.
35 "I wish someone would listen to me! I'm signing my name to everything I've said. I hope the Mighty One will give me his answer. I hope the one who brings charges against me will write them down.
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