If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money ; i.e . without acquiring a title to them by purchase . Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life. Either by actual violence or by depriving them of the means of support (see the comment on Job 29:13 ). Job had been accused of robbery and oppression both by Zophar ( Job 20:12-19 ) and Eliphaz ( Job 22:5-9 ). He had not, however, been accused of actual murder. read more
If my land cry against me - This is a new specification of an offence, and an imprecation of an appropriate punishment if he had been guilty of it. Many have supposed that these closing verses have been transferred from their appropriate place by an error of transcribers, and that they should have been inserted between Job 31:23-24 - or in some previous part of the chapter. It is certain that Job 31:35-37 would make an appropriate and impressive close of the chapter, being a solemn appeal to... read more
If I have eaten the fruits thereof - Margin, strength. The strength of the earth is that which the earth produces or which is the result of its strength. We speak now of a “strong soil “ - meaning that it is capable of bearing much.Without money - Hebrew “without silver “ - silver being the principal circulating medium in early times. The meaning here is, “without paying for it;” either without having paid for the land, or for the labor. “Or have caused the owners thereof.” Margin, the soul of... read more
Job 31:38-40. If my land cry against me To wit, to God, for revenge, (as the like phrase signifies, Genesis 4:10; Habakkuk 2:11,) because I have gotten it from the right owners by fraud or violence, as my friends accuse me. If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money Either without paying the price required by the right owner of the land, or by defrauding the workmen of the wages of their labours. Or have caused the owners to lose their life Killing them, that I might have... read more
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
land cry . . . complain. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 . read more
have caused, &c. = made the souls of the owners groan. life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . read more
38. Personification. The complaints of the unjustly ousted proprietors are transferred to the lands themselves (Job 31:20; Genesis 4:10; Habakkuk 2:11). If I have unjustly acquired lands (Job 24:2; Isaiah 5:8). furrows—The specification of these makes it likely, he implies in this, "If I paid not the laborer for tillage"; as Isaiah 5:8- :, "If I paid him not for gathering in the fruits." Thus of the four clauses in Job 31:38; Job 31:39, the first refers to the same subject as the fourth, the... read more
39. lose . . . life—not literally, but "harassed to death"; until he gave me up his land gratis [MAURER]; as in Judges 16:16; "suffered him to languish" by taking away his means of living [UMBREIT] (1 Kings 21:19). read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:38-40
It is generally supposed that these verses, with the exception of the last clause of Job 31:40 , are misplaced. As a termination, they form an anti-climax, and greatly weaken the peroration. Their proper place would seem to be between Job 31:32 and Job 31:33 . read more