New Living Translation
Job 31:16
16“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?
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 King James Version (NKJV)“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
Context of Job 31:16
14how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? 15For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb. “Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? 17Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? 18No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows.
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 must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.
- Deuteronomy 15:7“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.
- Psalms 112:9They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
- Luke 16:21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
- Acts 11:29So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.
- Galatians 2:10Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.
- Deuteronomy 28:32You will watch as your sons and daughters are taken away as slaves. Your heart will break for them, but you won’t be able to help them.
- Psalms 69:3I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.
- Psalms 119:82My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me?
- Isaiah 38:14Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane, and then I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”
- Lamentations 4:17We looked in vain for our allies to come and save us, but we were looking to nations that could not help 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
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