Job 31:16-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 31:16-23

Eliphaz had particularly charged Job with unmercifulness to the poor (Job 22:6-9): Thou hast withholden bread from the hungry, stripped the naked of their clothing, and sent widows away empty. One would think he could not have been so very positive and express in his charge unless there had been some truth in it, some ground, for it; and yet it appears, by Job's protestation, that it was utterly false and groundless; he was never guilty of any such thing. See here, I. The testimony which Job's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:16

If I have withheld the poor from their desire ,.... Their reasonable desires, and which it was in his power to grant; as when they desired a piece of bread, being hungry, or clothes to cover them, being naked; but not unreasonable desires, seeking and asking great things for themselves, or unlimited and unbounded ones, such as the two sons of Zebedee desired of Christ, Mark 10:35 ; or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail ; through long waiting for, and expecting help and succour... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone ,.... Though he had kept no doubt a plentiful table in the time of his prosperity suitable to his circumstances, yet had been no luxurious person, and therefore calls provisions a "morsel"; however, be it what it would, more or less, he did not eat it alone; what he had for himself the poor had a share of it with him, and the same he ate himself he gave to them: and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof : meaning the poor fatherless: for as to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:18

For from my youth he was brought up with me as with a father ,.... That is, the poor or the fatherless, one or both; as soon as he was at years of discretion, and was capable of observing the distressed circumstances of others, he had a tender and compassionate regard to the poor and fatherless, and acted the part of a father to them; was as affectionately concerned for them as if he had been their father, and took such care of them as if they were his children; see Job 29:16 ; and I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:19

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing ,.... A man may be in such poor circumstances as to want proper clothing to cover his naked body with, and preserve it from the inclemencies of the weather, and for want of it be ready to perish or die with cold. Job denies he had seen any such; not that he had never seen persons in such perishing circumstances; but he had not seen them as to "despise" them, as the Vulgate Latin version, as to have them in contempt, or look at them with disdain... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:20

If his loins have not blessed me ,.... Which were girded and covered with garments he gave him; which, as often as he put on and girded his loins with, put him in mind of his generous benefactor, and this put him upon sending up an ejaculatory wish to heaven, that all happiness and blessedness might attend him, who had so comfortably clothed him; see Job 29:13 ; and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep ; not with a fleece of wool as taken off the back of the sheep, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone - Hospitality was a very prominent virtue among the ancients in almost all nations: friends and strangers were equally welcome to the board of the affluent. The supper was their grand meal: it was then that they saw their friends; the business and fatigues of the day being over, they could then enjoy themselves comfortably together. The supper was called coena on this account; or, as Plutarch says, Το μεν γαρ δειπνον φασι κοινα δια την κοινωνιαν... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:18

This is a very difficult verse, and is variously translated. Take the following instances: - For from his youth he (the male orphan) was brought up with me as a father. Yea, I have guided her (the female orphan) from her mother's womb - Heath. Nam a pueris educavit me commiseratio; jam inde ab utero matris meae illa me deduxit - Houbigant. "For commiseration educated me from my childhood; And she brought me up even from my mother's womb." This is agreeable to the Vulgate. "Behold,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:20

If 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 more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 31:16-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 31:1-40

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