God’s Word Translation
Job 16:17
17although my hands have done nothing violent, and my prayer is sincere.
Job 16:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
- New International Version (NIV)yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.
- English Standard Version (ESV)although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Although no violence is in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
Context of Job 16:17
15“I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and I have thrown my strength in the dust. 16My face is red from crying, and dark shadows encircle my eyes, although my hands have done nothing violent, and my prayer is sincere. 18“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Don’t ever let my cry ⌞for justice⌟ be stopped. 19Even now, look! My witness is in heaven, and the one who testifies for me is above,
Read all of Job 16Job 16:17 word by word
עַ֭ל לֹא־חָמָ֣ס בְּכַפָּ֑י וּֽתְפִלָּתִ֥י זַכָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 16:17
- Job 11:14If you’re holding on to sin, put it far away, and don’t let injustice live in your tent.
- Job 15:20“The wicked person is tortured all his days. Only a few years are reserved for the ruthless person.
- Job 21:27“You see, I know your thoughts and the schemes you plot against me
- Job 22:5“Aren’t you really very wicked? Is there no end to your wrongdoing?
- Job 27:6I cling to my righteousness and won’t let go. My conscience won’t accuse me as long as I live.
- Job 29:12because I rescued the poor who called ⌞for help⌟ and the orphans who had no one to help them.
- Job 31:1“I have made an agreement with my eyes. Then how can I look with lust at a virgin?
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this— if my hands are stained with injustice,
- Psalms 44:17Although all of this happened to us, we never forgot you. We never ignored your promise.
- Job 8:5If you search for God and plead for mercy from the Almighty,
- Psalms 66:18If I had thought about doing anything sinful, the Lord would not have listened ⌞to me⌟.
- Proverbs 15:8A sacrifice brought by wicked people is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayers of decent people please him.
- 1 Timothy 2:8I want men to offer prayers everywhere. They should raise their hands in prayer after putting aside their anger and any quarrels they have with anyone.
Commentaries on Job 16:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Not for any injustice - I must assert, even with my last breath, that the charges of my friends against me are groundless. I am afflicted unto death, but not on account of my iniquities. Also my prayer is pure - I am no hypocrite, God knoweth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Not for any injustice - Still claiming that he does not deserve his sorrows, and that these calamities had not come upon him on account of any enormous sins, as his friends believed. My prayer is pure - My devotion; my worship of God is not hypocritical - as my friends maintain.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 Job's condition was very deplorable; but he had the testimony of his conscience for him, that he never allowed himself in any gross sin. No one was ever more ready to acknowledge sins of infirmity. Eliphaz had charged him with hypocrisy in religion, but he specifies prayer, the great act of religion, and professes that in this he was pure, though not from all infirmity. He had a God to go to, who he doubted not took full notice of all his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Free of violence (Hebrew lo’-khamas): If violence is the meaning, Job might have been denying that he was a dangerous warrior who God should attack (16:12–14; see also Isaiah 59:6; Jonah 3:8). Contrary to Eliphaz’s accusation and Bildad’s assumption, Job’s prayer was sincere because he was innocent (Job 15:4–5; 8:6; Genesis 20:5; Isaiah 59:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22SECOND SERIES. 2. (Job 13:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 16:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 16
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries