Christian Standard Bible
Job 31:16
16If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow’s eyes go blind,
Job 31:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- New International Version (NIV)“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
Context of Job 31:16
14what could I do when God stands up to judge? How should I answer him when he calls me to account? 15Did not the one who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same God form us both in the womb? If I have refused the wishes of the poor or let the widow’s eyes go blind, 17if I have eaten my few crumbs alone without letting the fatherless eat any of it — 18for from my youth, I raised him as his father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow —
Read all of Job 31Job 31:16 word by word
אִם־אֶ֭מְנַע מֵחֵ֣פֶץ דַּלִּ֑ים וְעֵינֵ֖י אַלְמָנָ֣ה אֲכַלֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 31:16
- Job 22:7You gave no water to the thirsty and withheld food from the famished,
- Deuteronomy 15:7“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.
- Psalms 112:9He distributes freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted in honor.
- Luke 16:21He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.
- Acts 11:29Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea.
- Galatians 2:10They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do.
- Deuteronomy 28:32Your sons and daughters will be given to another people, while your eyes grow weary looking for them every day. But you will be powerless to do anything.
- Psalms 69:3I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
- Psalms 119:82My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
- Isaiah 38:14I chirp like a swallow or a crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; support me.
- Lamentations 4:17All the while our eyes were failing as we looked in vain for help; we watched from our towers for a nation that would not save us.
Commentaries on Job 31:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16If I have withheld the poor from their desire - Job now turns to another class of virtues, regarded also as of great importance in the patriarchal ages, kindness to the poor and the afflicted; to the fatherless and the widow. He appeals to his former life on this subject; affirms that he had a good conscience in the recollection of his dealings with them, and impliedly declares that it could not have been for any deficiency in the exercise of these…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly interests may restrain a man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-40Job called down wrong against himself (curses) if he was guilty of the accusations against him. Apart from mentioning idolatry (worship of false gods), Job spoke about how loyal he was to God by focusing on the second half of the Ten Commandments (31:26–27). The summary of these is: “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2313-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy. despise the cause--refused to do them justice.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 31:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 31
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries