Job 21:31

Job 21:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
• New International Version (NIV)Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?

Context of Job 21:31

29Have you not asked those who travel this way, And do you not recognize their witness? 30That evil men are [now] reserved for the day of disaster and destruction, They will be led away on the day of [God’s] wrath? But who will confront him with his actions and rebuke him face to face, And who will repay him for what he has done? 32When he is carried to his grave, A guard will keep watch over his tomb. 33The [dirt] clods of the valley are sweet to him [and gently cover him], Moreover, all men will follow after him [to a grave], While countless ones go before him.

Job 21:31 word by word

מִֽי־יַגִּ֣יד עַל־פָּנָ֣יו דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְהֽוּא־עָ֝שָׂ֗ה מִ֣י יְשַׁלֶּם־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Who shall declareנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• his wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• to his faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• and who shall repayשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
• he hath doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213

Cross-references for Job 21:31

• 2 Samuel 12:7Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you as king over Israel, and I spared you from the hand of Saul.
• 1 Kings 21:19You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Have you murdered and also taken possession [of the victim’s property]?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick up your blood as well.” ’ ”
• Psalms 50:21These things you have done and I kept silent; You thought that I was just like you. Now I will reprimand and denounce you and state the case in order before your eyes.
• Jeremiah 2:33How well you prepare your path To seek and obtain [adulterous] love! Even the most wicked of women Have learned [indecent] ways from you.
• Mark 6:18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful [under Mosaic Law] for you to have your brother’s wife.”
• Acts 24:25But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control [honorable behavior, personal integrity], and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I find [a convenient] time I will send for you.”
• Galatians 2:11Now when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him face to face [about his conduct there], because he stood condemned [by his own actions].
• Job 21:19You say, ‘God stores away [the punishment of] man’s wickedness for his children.’ Let God repay him so that he may know and experience it.
• Job 41:11Who has first given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine. [Who can have a claim against Me who made the unmastered beast?]
• Deuteronomy 7:10but repays those who hate Him to their faces, by destroying them; He will not hesitate with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face.
• Isaiah 59:13Rebelling against and denying the Lord, Turning away from [following] our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and muttering from the heart lying words.
• Romans 12:19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
• James 2:13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.

Commentaries on Job 21:31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? - But while the wicked is in power, who shall dare to tell him to his face what his true character is? or, who shall dare to repay him the evil he has done? As such a person cannot have his punishment in this life, he must have it in another; and for this the day of wrath - the day of judgment, is prepared.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? - That is, the face of the wicked. Who shall dare to rise up and openly charge him with his guilt? The idea is, that none would dare to do it, and that, therefore, the wicked man was not punished according to his character here, and was reserved to a day of future wrath. And who shall repay him what he hath done? - The meaning is, that many wicked people lived without being punished for their sins. No one was able to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-34Verses 27-34 Job opposes the opinion of his friends, That the wicked are sure to fall into visible and remarkable ruin, and none but the wicked; upon which principle they condemned Job as wicked. Turn to whom you will, you will find that the punishment of sinners is designed more for the other world than for this, Jude 1:14, 15. The sinner is here supposed to live in a great deal of power. The sinner shall have a splendid funeral: a poor thing for any man…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. That is, who dares to charge him openly with his bad ways? namely, in this present life. He shall, I grant (Job 21:30), be "repaid" hereafter.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 21:31

• Pride
• Wicked (People)

Commentaries on Job 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings