Job 31:20

Job 31:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
• New International Version (NIV)and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,
• English Standard Version (ESV)if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
• New King James Version (NKJV)If his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

Context of Job 31:20

18(but from my youth I reared him as a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided her), 19if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing or the needy without a covering, if his heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep, 21if I have raised my hand against the orphan, when I saw my support in the gate, 22then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken off at the joint.

Job 31:20 word by word

אִם־לֹ֣א בֵרֲכ֣וּנִי חֲלָצָ֑יו וּמִגֵּ֥ז כְּ֝בָשַׂי יִתְחַמָּֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• If his loinsחָלָץchâlâts · loinH2504
• have not blessedבָּרַךְbârak · to blessH1288
• warmedחָמַםchâmam · to warmH2552
• with the fleeceגֵּזgêz · fleeceH1488
• of my sheepכֶּ֫בֶשׂkebeώ · lambH3532

Cross-references for Job 31:20

• Job 29:11“When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw me, it commended me;
• Deuteronomy 24:13You must certainly restore the pledge to him when the sun sets, so that he may sleep in his coat and bless you—and it is to be righteousness for you before Adonai your God.

Commentaries on Job 31:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20If his loins have not blessed me - This is a very delicate touch: the part that was cold and shivering is now covered with warm woollen. It feels the comfort; and by a fine prosopopoeia, is represented as blessing him who furnished the clothing.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20If his loins have not blessed me - This is a personification by which the part of the body that had been clothed by the benevolence of Job, is supposed to speak and render him thanks.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 31:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Beneficence
• Integrity
• Poor
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Bosom
• Dress
• Fleece
• Instead
• Lift
• Root
• Charm
• Job, Book of
• Loins
• Psalms, Book of

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