New King James Version
Job 31:16
16“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
Job 31:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- New International Version (NIV)“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?
Context of Job 31:16
14What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? 15Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? “If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it 18(But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow);
Read all of Job 31Job 31:16 word by word
אִם־אֶ֭מְנַע מֵחֵ֣פֶץ דַּלִּ֑ים וְעֵינֵ֖י אַלְמָנָ֣ה אֲכַלֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 31:16
- Job 22:7You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
- Deuteronomy 15:7“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,
- Psalms 112:9He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.
- Luke 16:21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
- Acts 11:29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
- Galatians 2:10They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
- Deuteronomy 28:32Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all day long; and there shall be no strength in your hand.
- Psalms 69:3I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.
- Psalms 119:82My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
- Isaiah 38:14Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me!
- Lamentations 4:17Still our eyes failed us, Watching vainly for our help; In our watching we watched For a nation that could not save us.
Commentaries on Job 31:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16If I have withheld the poor from their desire - Job now turns to another class of virtues, regarded also as of great importance in the patriarchal ages, kindness to the poor and the afflicted; to the fatherless and the widow. He appeals to his former life on this subject; affirms that he had a good conscience in the recollection of his dealings with them, and impliedly declares that it could not have been for any deficiency in the exercise of these…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-23Verses 16-23 Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly interests may restrain a man…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-40Job called down wrong against himself (curses) if he was guilty of the accusations against him. Apart from mentioning idolatry (worship of false gods), Job spoke about how loyal he was to God by focusing on the second half of the Ten Commandments (31:26–27). The summary of these is: “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9).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 31:16
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries