God’s Word Translation
Job 31:1
1“I have made an agreement with my eyes. Then how can I look with lust at a virgin?
Job 31:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
- New International Version (NIV)“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Context of Job 31:1
“I have made an agreement with my eyes. Then how can I look with lust at a virgin? 2What would God above do ⌞to me⌟? What would be my inheritance from the Almighty on high? 3Aren’t there catastrophes for wicked people and disasters for those who do wrong?
Read all of Job 31Job 31:1 word by word
בְּ֭רִית כָּרַ֣תִּי לְעֵינָ֑י וּמָ֥ה אֶ֝תְבּוֹנֵ֗ן עַל־בְּתוּלָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 31:1
- Genesis 6:2The sons of God saw that the daughters of other humans were beautiful. So they married any woman they chose.
- 2 Samuel 11:2Now, when evening came, David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the royal palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, and she was very pretty.
- Psalms 119:37Turn my eyes away from worthless things. Give me a new life in your ways.
- Proverbs 4:25Let your eyes look straight ahead and your sight be focused in front of you.
- Proverbs 23:31Do not look at wine because it is red, because it sparkles in the cup, because it goes down smoothly.
- Matthew 5:28But I can guarantee that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery in his heart.
- 1 John 2:16Not everything that the world offers—physical gratification, greed, and extravagant lifestyles—comes from the Father. It comes from the world, and
- Proverbs 6:25Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.
- James 1:14Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him.
Commentaries on Job 31:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1I made a covenant with mine eyes - לעיני כרתי ברית berith carati leeynai : "I have cut" or divided "the covenant sacrifice with my eyes." My conscience and my eyes are the contracting parties; God is the Judge; and I am therefore bound not to look upon any thing with a delighted or covetous eye, by which my conscience may be defiled, or my God dishonored. Why then should I think upon a maid? - בתולה על אתבונן ומה umah ethbonen al bethulah . And why should…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1I made a covenant with mine eyes - The first virtue of his private life to which Job refers is chastity. Such was his sense of the importance of this, and of the danger to which man was exposed, that he had solemnly resolved not to think upon a young female. The phrase here, “I made a covenant with mine eyes,” is poetical, meaning that he solemnly resolved. A covenant is of a sacred and binding nature; and the strength of his resolution was as great as if…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Job declares his uprightness. (1-8) His integrity. (9-15) Job merciful. (16-23) Job not guilty of covetousness or idolatry. (24-32) Job not guilty of hypocrisy and violence. (33-40) Verses 1-8 Job did not speak the things here recorded by way of boasting, but in answer to the charge of hypocrisy. He understood the spiritual nature of God's commandments, as reaching to the thoughts and intents of the heart. It is best to let our actions speak for us; but…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Job made a promise with himself about his eyes, including an oath against himself (curse) (see Matthew 5:28–29). Job might have focused on wrong desire because the eyes are often the first to commit sin (Genesis 3:6). Looking with wrong desire at a virgin violates the spirit of the seventh commandment (Deuteronomy 5:18, see Matthew 5:27–28). It could violate the tenth commandment as well (Deuteronomy 5:21).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-40Job 31:1-40. 1. Job proceeds to prove that he deserved a better lot. As in the twenty-ninth chapter, he showed his uprightness as an emir, or magistrate in public life, so in this chapter he vindicates his character in private life. 1-4. He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses. think--rather, "cast a (lustful) look." He not merely did not so, but put it out of the question by covenanting with his eyes against leading him into…Read the comment
Topics related to Job 31:1
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries