Job 31:1-4, Job 31:7-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 31:1-8

The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are the two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always careful to stand upon his guard. I. Against the lusts of the flesh. He not only kept himself clear from adultery, from defiling his neighbour's wives (Job 31:9), but from all lewdness with any women whatsoever. He kept no concubine, no mistress, but was inviolably faithful to the marriage bed, though his wife was none of the wisest, best, or kindest.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:1

I made a covenant with mine eyes ,.... Not to look upon a woman, and wantonly gaze at her beauty, lest his heart should be drawn thereby to lust after her; for the eyes are inlets to many sins, and particularly to uncleanness, of which there have been instances, both in bad men and good men, Genesis 34:2 ; so the poet F20 Musaeus de Heron. & Leand. v. 92, &c.; represents the eye as the way through which the beauty of a woman passes swifter than an arrow into the hearts of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:2

For what portion of God is there from above ?.... What good portion, as the Targum paraphrases it, can impure persons expect from God? such who indulge themselves, and live in the sin of uncleanness, cannot hope to have any part in God, or a portion of good things from him; he is above, and in the highest heavens, and every good thing comes from thence, and from him there; and particularly the spiritual blessings, wherewith he blesses his people, are in heavenly places in Christ, and from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:3

Is not destruction to the wicked ?.... It is even to such wicked men, who live in the sin of fornication, and make it their business to ensnare and corrupt virgins; and which is another reason why Job was careful to avoid that sin; wickedness of every sort is the cause of destruction, destruction and misery are in the ways of wicked men, and their wicked ways lead unto it, and issue in it, even destruction of soul and body in hell, which is swift and sudden, and will be everlasting: this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:4

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? That is, God, who is above, and the Almighty that dwells on high; he looks down from heaven, and beholds all the ways and works, the steps and motions, of the children of men; there is no darkness where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves; the fornicator and adulterer choose the night season for the commission of their sin, fancying no eye sees them; but they cannot escape the eye of God, who is omniscient; he observes the ways they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:1

I made a covenant with mine eyes - לעיני כרתי ברית berith carati leeynai : "I have cut" or divided "the covenant sacrifice with my eyes." My conscience and my eyes are the contracting parties; God is the Judge; and I am therefore bound not to look upon any thing with a delighted or covetous eye, by which my conscience may be defiled, or my God dishonored. Why then should I think upon a maid? - בתולה על אתבונן ומה umah ethbonen al bethulah . And why should I set myself to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:2

For what portion of God is there from above? - Though I have not, in this or in any other respect, wickedly departed from God, yet what reward have I received? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:3

Is not destruction to the wicked - If I had been guilty of such secret hypocritical proceedings, professing faith in the true God while in eye and heart an idolater, would not such a worker of iniquity be distinguished by a strange and unheard-of punishment? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:4

Doth not he see my ways - Can I suppose that I could screen myself from the eye of God while guilty of such iniquities? read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:1

I made a covenant with mine eyes ; rather, for mine eyes. The covenant must have been with himself. Job means that be came to a fixed resolution, by which he thenceforth guided his conduct, not even to "look upon a woman to lust after her" ( Matthew 5:28 ). We must suppose this resolution come to in his early youth, when the passions are strongest, and when so many men go astray. How then should I look upon a maid! Having made such a resolution, how could I possibly break it by... read more

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