约伯记 31:16-17 RCUVSS

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 31:16

If 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 virtues that his calamities had come upon him.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 31:17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone - If I have not imparted what I had though ever so small, to others. This was in accordance with the Oriental laws of hospitality. It is regarded as a fixed law among the Arabians, that the guest shall always be helped first, and to that which is best; and no matter how needy the family may be, or how much distressed with hunger, the settled laws of hospitality demand that the stranger-guest shall have the first and best portion. Dr. Robinson, in his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 31:16-17

Job 31:16-17. If I have withheld the poor, &c. If I have denied them what they desired of me, either in justice or from necessity; for he was under no obligation to grant their vain or inordinate desires. Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail With tedious expectation of my justice or charity. I durst neither deny nor delay my help, when they needed or required it. Or have eaten my morsel alone Without communicating part of my provisions or property to the poor, as it follows;... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 31:1-40

Job reaffirms his innocence (31:1-40)Once again Job examines his past life to see if, in fact, he has committed some great sin for which God is now punishing him. He readily acknowledges that God sees everything and that his punishment of sin is just. God knows that he has not been guilty even of unlawful sexual lust (31:1-4). He has not cheated others to enrich himself. If someone can prove that he has, he will gladly surrender all the produce of his fields (5-8). If he has committed adultery,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 31:16

poor. Hebrew. dal = impoverished or reduced in means. See note on Proverbs 6:11 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 31:16

JOB STRESSES OTHER AREAS OF HIS INNOCENCE"If I have withheld the poor from their desire,Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,Or have eaten my morsel alone,And the fatherless have not eaten thereof(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as a father,And her have I guided from my mother's womb);If I have seen any perish for want of clothing,Or that the needy had no covering;If his loins have not blessed me,And if he have not been warned with the fleece of my sheep;If I have lifted up my... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 31:17

Job 31:17. Or have eaten my morsel myself alone— This is agreeable to the early ideas of hospitality, and is as strong an expression of benevolence as can be conceived. The Arabs practise it to this very day in its greatest extent. On a journey, after they have prepared their food, they go to the highest ground in the neighbourhood, and call out thrice with a loud voice to all their brethren, the sons of the faithful, to come and partake of it: Dr. Shaw tells us, that they did so when he... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 31:16

16. fail—in the vain expectation of relief (Job 11:20). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 31:17

17. Arabian rules of hospitality require the stranger to be helped first, and to the best. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 31:1-40

Job’s continuing innocence ch. 31As was common in ancient Near Eastern judicial cases, Job concluded his summary defense with an oath of innocence. He did so in the form of a negative confession complete with self-imprecations. [Note: Parsons, p. 141. Cf. Michael Brennan Dick, "The Legal Metaphor in Job 31," Catholic Biblical Quarterly 41 (1979):42, 47.] He concluded with a challenge to God to present His charges in writing (Job 31:35-37). Job’s idea was that if God remained silent this would... read more