Job 31:35

Job 31:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
• New International Version (NIV)(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!
• New Living Translation (NLT)“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

Context of Job 31:35

33if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my heart, 34because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors— Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! 36Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; 37I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

Job 31:35 word by word

מִ֤י יִתֶּן־לִ֨י׀ שֹׁ֘מֵ֤עַֽ לִ֗י הֶן־תָּ֭וִי שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲנֵ֑נִי וְסֵ֥פֶר כָּ֝תַ֗ב אִ֣ישׁ רִיבִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Oh thatנָתַןnâthan · to give: if only!H5414
• one would hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• me! behold, my desireתָּוtâv · markH8420
• the Almightyשַׁדַּיshadday · AlmightyH7706
• would answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• mine adversaryרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• mine adversaryאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• had writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• a bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: documentH5612

Cross-references for Job 31:35

• Job 13:3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.
• Job 17:3"Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?
• Job 23:3Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
• Job 33:6Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
• Job 38:1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
• Job 40:4"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
• Job 13:21withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me.
• Psalms 26:1Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
• Job 13:24Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?
• Job 19:11He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.
• Job 33:10Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy,
• Matthew 5:25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Commentaries on Job 31:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35O that one would hear me! - I wish to have a fair and full hearing: I am grievously accused; and have no proper opportunity of clearing myself, and establishing my own innocence. Behold, my desire is - Or, תוי הן hen tavi, "There is my pledge." I bind myself, on a great penalty, to come into court, and abide the issue. That the Almighty would answer me - That he would call this case immediately before himself; and oblige my adversary to come into court…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35O that one would hear me! - This refers undoubtedly to God. It is, literally, “Who will give to me one hearing me;” and the wish is that which he has so often expressed, that he might get his cause fairly before God. He feels assured that there would be a favorable verdict, if there could be a fair judicial investigation; compare the notes at Job 13:3. Behold, my desire is - Margin, “Or, my sign is that the Almighty will answer me.‘” The word rendered in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-40Verses 33-40 Job clears himself from the charge of hypocrisy. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. But he that thus covers his sins, shall not prosper, Pr 28:13. He speaks of his courage in what is good, as an evidence of his sincerity in it. When men get estates unjustly, they are justly deprived of comfort from them; it was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35Here is my signature: Job wanted to make the events official (19:23–24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3535. Job returns to his wish (Job 13:22; 19:23). Omit "is"; "Behold my sign," that is, my mark of subscription to the statements just given in my defense: the mark of signature was originally a cross; and hence the letter Tau or T. Translate, also "Oh, that the Almighty," &c. He marks "God" as the "One" meant in the first clause. adversary--that is, he who contends with me, refers also to God. The vagueness is designed to express "whoever it be that…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 31:35

• Integrity

In the dictionaries

• Bosom
• Instead
• Lift
• Root
• Adversary
• Charm
• Elihu (2)
• Forehead
• Job, Book of
• Mark

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