God’s Word Translation
Job 31:13
13“If I have abused the rights of my servants, male or female, when they have disagreed with me,
Job 31:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
- New International Version (NIV)“If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
Context of Job 31:13
11That would be a scandal, and that would be a criminal offense. 12It would be a fire that burns even in Abaddon. It would uproot my entire harvest. “If I have abused the rights of my servants, male or female, when they have disagreed with me, 14then what could I do if God rises up? If he examines me, how could I answer him? 15Didn’t he who made me in my mother’s belly make them? Didn’t the same God form us in the womb?
Read all of Job 31Job 31:13 word by word
אִם־אֶמְאַ֗ס מִשְׁפַּ֣ט עַ֭בְדִּי וַאֲמָתִ֑י בְּ֝רִבָ֗ם עִמָּדִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 31:13
- Exodus 21:20“Whenever an owner hits his male or female slave with a stick so that the slave dies from the beating, the owner must be punished.
- Leviticus 25:43Do not treat them harshly. Fear your God.
- Deuteronomy 15:12Whenever Hebrew men or women are sold to you as slaves, they will be your slaves for six years. In the seventh year you must let them go free.
- Jeremiah 34:14‘Every seven years each of you must free any Hebrews who sold themselves to you. When they have served you for six years, you must set them free.’ But your ancestors refused to obey me or listen to me.
- Ephesians 6:9Masters, treat your slaves with respect. Don’t threaten a slave. You know that there is one master in heaven who has authority over both of you, and he doesn’t play favorites.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, be just and fair to your slaves because you know that you also have a master in heaven.
Commentaries on Job 31:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13The cause of my man-servant - In ancient times slaves had no action at law against their owners; they might dispose of them as they did of their cattle, or any other property. The slave might complain; and the owner might hear him if he pleased, but he was not compelled to do so. Job states that he had admitted them to all civil rights; and, far from preventing their case from being heard, he was ready to permit them to complain even against himself, if…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13If I did despise the cause of my man-servant - Job turns to another subject, on which he claimed that his life had been upright. It was in reference to the treatment of his servants. The meaning here is, “I never refused to do strict justice to my servants when they brought their cause before me, or when they complained that my dealings with them had been severe.” When they contended with me - That is, when they brought their cause before me, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 All the defilements of the life come from a deceived heart. Lust is a fire in the soul: those that indulge it, are said to burn. It consumes all that is good there, and lays the conscience waste. It kindles the fire of God's wrath, which, if not quenched by the blood of Christ, will consume even to eternal destruction. It consumes the body; it consumes the substance. Burning lusts bring burning judgments. Job had a numerous household, and he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-15Rejected … manservant or maidservant: This might refer to violating the fourth commandment (Deuteronomy 5:12–15). He who made me in the womb also make them: Job applied the idea of being made in God's image to the poor person and even to slaves (Proverbs 14:31; 22:2).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 31:13
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
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