Job 31:35

Job 31:35 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.
• New International Version (NIV)(“Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

Context of Job 31:35

33“Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do, concealing my guilt in my heart? 34Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors? “If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. 36I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. 37For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.

Job 31:35 word by word

מִ֤י יִתֶּן־לִ֨י׀ שֹׁ֘מֵ֤עַֽ לִ֗י הֶן־תָּ֭וִי שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲנֵ֑נִי וְסֵ֥פֶר כָּ֝תַ֗ב אִ֣ישׁ רִיבִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Oh thatנָתַןnâthan · to give: if only!H5414
• one would hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• me! behold, my desireתָּוtâv · markH8420
• the Almightyשַׁדַּיshadday · AlmightyH7706
• would answerעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• mine adversaryרִיבrîyb rib · strifeH7379
• mine adversaryאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• had writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• a bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: documentH5612

Cross-references for Job 31:35

• Job 13:3As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God himself.
• Job 17:3“You must defend my innocence, O God, since no one else will stand up for me.
• Job 23:3If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court.
• Job 33:6Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.
• Job 38:1Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
• Job 40:4“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand.
• Job 13:21Remove your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.
• Psalms 26:1Declare me innocent, O Lord, for I have acted with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
• Job 13:24Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?
• Job 19:11His fury burns against me; he counts me as an enemy.
• Job 33:10God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.
• Matthew 5:25“When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

Commentaries on Job 31:35

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 35O that one would hear me! - I wish to have a fair and full hearing: I am grievously accused; and have no proper opportunity of clearing myself, and establishing my own innocence. Behold, my desire is - Or, תוי הן hen tavi, "There is my pledge." I bind myself, on a great penalty, to come into court, and abide the issue. That the Almighty would answer me - That he would call this case immediately before himself; and oblige my adversary to come into court…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 35O that one would hear me! - This refers undoubtedly to God. It is, literally, “Who will give to me one hearing me;” and the wish is that which he has so often expressed, that he might get his cause fairly before God. He feels assured that there would be a favorable verdict, if there could be a fair judicial investigation; compare the notes at Job 13:3. Behold, my desire is - Margin, “Or, my sign is that the Almighty will answer me.‘” The word rendered in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 33-40Verses 33-40 Job clears himself from the charge of hypocrisy. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. But he that thus covers his sins, shall not prosper, Pr 28:13. He speaks of his courage in what is good, as an evidence of his sincerity in it. When men get estates unjustly, they are justly deprived of comfort from them; it was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35Here is my signature: Job wanted to make the events official (19:23–24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3535. Job returns to his wish (Job 13:22; 19:23). Omit "is"; "Behold my sign," that is, my mark of subscription to the statements just given in my defense: the mark of signature was originally a cross; and hence the letter Tau or T. Translate, also "Oh, that the Almighty," &c. He marks "God" as the "One" meant in the first clause. adversary--that is, he who contends with me, refers also to God. The vagueness is designed to express "whoever it be that…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 31:35

• Integrity

In the dictionaries

• Bosom
• Instead
• Lift
• Root
• Adversary
• Charm
• Elihu (2)
• Forehead
• Job, Book of
• Mark

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