God’s Word Translation
Job 21:31
31Who will tell him to his face how he lived? Who will pay him back for what he did?
Job 21:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
- New International Version (NIV)Who denounces their conduct to their face? Who repays them for what they have done?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?
Context of Job 21:31
29Haven’t you asked travelers? But you didn’t pay attention to their directions. 30On the day of disaster the wicked person is spared. On the day of ⌞God’s⌟ anger he is rescued. Who will tell him to his face how he lived? Who will pay him back for what he did? 32He is carried to the cemetery, and his grave is guarded. 33The soil in the creekbed is sweet to him. Everyone follows him. Countless others went before him.
Read all of Job 21Job 21:31 word by word
מִֽי־יַגִּ֣יד עַל־פָּנָ֣יו דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְהֽוּא־עָ֝שָׂ֗ה מִ֣י יְשַׁלֶּם־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 21:31
- 2 Samuel 12:7“You are the man!” Nathan told David. “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: I anointed you king over Israel and rescued you from Saul.
- 1 Kings 21:19Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord asks: Have you murdered someone just to confiscate ⌞a vineyard⌟?’ Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: At the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will lick up your blood.’ ”
- Psalms 50:21When you did these things, I remained silent. ⌞That⌟ made you think I was like you. I will argue my point with you and lay it all out for you to see.
- Jeremiah 2:33You carefully planned ways to look for love. You taught your ways to wicked women.
- Mark 6:18John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.”
- Acts 24:25As Paul discussed the subjects of God’s approval, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became afraid and said, “That’s enough for now. You can go. When I find time, I’ll send for you again.”
- Galatians 2:11When Cephas came to Antioch, I had to openly oppose him because he was completely wrong.
- Job 21:19“⌞You say,⌟ ‘God saves a person’s punishment for his children.’ God should pay back that person so that he would know that it is a punishment.
- Job 41:11Who can confront me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven belongs to me!
- Deuteronomy 7:10But he sends destruction to pay back everyone who hates him. He never takes long to pay back anyone who hates him.
- Isaiah 59:13We have rebelled and denied the Lord. We have turned away from our God. We have spoken about oppression and revolt. We have conceived and uttered lies in our hearts.
- Romans 12:19Don’t take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God’s anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord.”
- James 2:13No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Commentaries on Job 21:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? - But while the wicked is in power, who shall dare to tell him to his face what his true character is? or, who shall dare to repay him the evil he has done? As such a person cannot have his punishment in this life, he must have it in another; and for this the day of wrath - the day of judgment, is prepared.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31Who shall declare his way to his face? - That is, the face of the wicked. Who shall dare to rise up and openly charge him with his guilt? The idea is, that none would dare to do it, and that, therefore, the wicked man was not punished according to his character here, and was reserved to a day of future wrath. And who shall repay him what he hath done? - The meaning is, that many wicked people lived without being punished for their sins. No one was able to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-34Verses 27-34 Job opposes the opinion of his friends, That the wicked are sure to fall into visible and remarkable ruin, and none but the wicked; upon which principle they condemned Job as wicked. Turn to whom you will, you will find that the punishment of sinners is designed more for the other world than for this, Jude 1:14, 15. The sinner is here supposed to live in a great deal of power. The sinner shall have a splendid funeral: a poor thing for any man…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. That is, who dares to charge him openly with his bad ways? namely, in this present life. He shall, I grant (Job 21:30), be "repaid" hereafter.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 21:31
Commentaries on Job 21
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries