Darby Bible
Job 31:13
13If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,
Job 31:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
- New International Version (NIV)“If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
Context of Job 31:13
11For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges: 12For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me, 14What then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him? 15Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
Read all of Job 31Job 31:13 word by word
אִם־אֶמְאַ֗ס מִשְׁפַּ֣ט עַ֭בְדִּי וַאֲמָתִ֑י בְּ֝רִבָ֗ם עִמָּדִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Job 31:13
- Exodus 21:20And if a man strike his bondman or his handmaid with a staff, and he die under his hand, he shall certainly be avenged.
- Leviticus 25:43Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; and thou shalt fear thy God.
- Deuteronomy 15:12If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, have been sold unto thee, he shall serve thee six years, and in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
- Jeremiah 34:14At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother, a Hebrew, who hath sold himself unto thee; when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee. But your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
- Ephesians 6:9And, masters, do the same things towards them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their and your Master is in heaven, and there is no acceptance of persons with him.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that ye also have a Master in [the] heavens.
Commentaries on Job 31:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13The cause of my man-servant - In ancient times slaves had no action at law against their owners; they might dispose of them as they did of their cattle, or any other property. The slave might complain; and the owner might hear him if he pleased, but he was not compelled to do so. Job states that he had admitted them to all civil rights; and, far from preventing their case from being heard, he was ready to permit them to complain even against himself, if…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13If I did despise the cause of my man-servant - Job turns to another subject, on which he claimed that his life had been upright. It was in reference to the treatment of his servants. The meaning here is, “I never refused to do strict justice to my servants when they brought their cause before me, or when they complained that my dealings with them had been severe.” When they contended with me - That is, when they brought their cause before me, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 All the defilements of the life come from a deceived heart. Lust is a fire in the soul: those that indulge it, are said to burn. It consumes all that is good there, and lays the conscience waste. It kindles the fire of God's wrath, which, if not quenched by the blood of Christ, will consume even to eternal destruction. It consumes the body; it consumes the substance. Burning lusts bring burning judgments. Job had a numerous household, and he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-15Rejected … manservant or maidservant: This might refer to violating the fourth commandment (Deuteronomy 5:12–15). He who made me in the womb also make them: Job applied the idea of being made in God's image to the poor person and even to slaves (Proverbs 14:31; 22:2).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 31:13
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
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