EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Job 31:21
21I have not turned against children who have no family, even when the city judges agreed with me.
Job 31:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
- New International Version (NIV)if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court,
- English Standard Version (ESV)if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,
- New King James Version (NKJV)If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;
Context of Job 31:21
19I have seen people without enough clothes to keep them warm, or without a coat to wear. 20Then I would give them clothes. The wool from my sheep would keep them warm. And they all thanked me. I have not turned against children who have no family, even when the city judges agreed with me. 22God should punish me if these things are not true. I would accept the punishment that I deserve. 23I was afraid of the trouble that God might bring to me. So I could not do these bad things, because God is so great and powerful.
Read all of Job 31Job 31:21 word by word
אִם־הֲנִיפ֣וֹתִי עַל־יָת֣וֹם יָדִ֑י כִּֽי־אֶרְאֶ֥ה בַ֝שַּׁ֗עַר עֶזְרָתִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 31:21
- Job 6:27You would play a game to win a child who has no family. You would even sell your friends to become rich yourselves.
- Job 22:9But you refused to help widows. You were cruel to children who have no family.
- Job 24:9When wicked people lend money to poor people, they even take a child whose father has died away from his mother.
- Job 29:12When poor people cried for help, I rescued them. I helped children who had no family that could help them.
- Proverbs 23:1010. Never move a stone that has always shown the border of someone's land. Do not take for yourself the fields of people who have no family to help them.
- Jeremiah 5:28They are very fat and healthy. They will never stop doing evil things. They do not help poor people or children who have no family. They do not try to get justice for them.’
- Ezekiel 22:7The people in the city do not respect their parents. They have been cruel to the foreigners who live among you. They have cheated widows and children who have no family.
- Micah 2:1Micah continues: People who prepare to do bad things should be afraid. God will do bad things to them! While they lie in bed, they think about bad things to do. Then, when the morning comes, they do those bad things. They have the authority to do whatever they want to do.
- Micah 7:3They know very well how to work together to do bad things. Rulers demand gifts and judges ask for money. Powerful bad people always get what they want. All these people work together to do what is bad.
Commentaries on Job 31:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless - I have at no time opposed the orphan, nor given, in behalf of the rich and powerful, a decision against the poor, when I saw my help in the gate - when I was sitting chief on the throne of judgment, and could have done it without being called to account. There are sentiments very like these in the poem of Lebeid, one of the authors of the Moallakhat. I shall quote several verses from the elegant…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless - That is, if I have taken advantage of my rank, influence, and power, to oppress and injure him. When I saw my help in the gate - The gate of a city was a place of concourse; a place where debates were held, and where justice was administered. Job speaks here of that part of his life when he was clothed with authority as a magistrate, or when he had power and influence as a public man. He says that he…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. 21I had support in the gate: Job had respect and they regarded him as part of the high class (29:7–10).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 31:21
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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