Job 31:24-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 31:24-32

Four articles more of Job's protestation we have in these verses, which, as all the rest, not only assure us what he was and did, but teach us what we should be and do:? I. He protests that he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world, nor took the things of it for his portions and happiness. He had gold; he had fine gold. His wealth was great, and he had gotten much. Our wealth is either advantageous or pernicious to us according as we stand affected to it. If we make it our rest and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:24

If I have made gold my hope ,.... Job here purges himself from idolatry in a figurative sense, as he afterwards does from it, taken in a literal sense; for covetousness is idolatry, and a covetous man is an idolater; he worships his gold and silver, placing his affections on them, and putting his trust and confidence in them, Ephesians 5:5 ; for to make gold the object or ground of hope is to place it in the room of God, who is the Hope of Israel, and in whom every good man should trust,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:25

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great ,.... As it was, see Job 1:2 ; yet he did not set his heart upon it, please himself with it, indulge to a carnal joy on account of it, nor suffer it to engross his affections, or alienate them from God his chief joy; not but that a man may lawfully rejoice in the goodness of God unto him, in increasing his wealth, and praise him for it, who has placed him in such easy circumstances, and so comfortably provided for him and his family, and put him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:26

If I beheld the sun when it shined ,.... Some take this to be a reason why Job did not make gold his hope and confidence, because all sublunary and earthly enjoyments must be uncertain, fading, and perish, since the sun and moon are not without their deficiencies and changes, to which sense the Septuagint version inclines; others, as Nachmanides, that they are a denial that Job ascribed his wealth and substance to the influence of the heavenly bodies; and many interpreters are of opinion... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:27

And mine heart hath been secretly enticed ,.... Drawn away by beholding the magnitude of these bodies, the swiftness of their motion, their glorious appearance, and great usefulness to mankind, to entertain a thought of their being deities; and privately to worship them, in secret acts of devotion, as by an honourable esteem of them as such, reverence and affection for them, trust and confidence in them; for, as there is a secret worshipping of the true God, so there is a secret idolatry,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:28

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge ,.... As well as adultery, Job 31:11 ; by the civil magistrates and judges of the earth, who are God's vicegerents, and therefore it behooves them to take cognizance of such an iniquity, and to punish for it, which affects in so peculiar a manner the honour and worship of the true God; this by the law of Moses was punished by stoning to death, Deuteronomy 13:9 ; however this will be taken notice of and punished by God the Judge... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:29

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me ,.... Job, though a good man, had his enemies, as all good men have, and that because of their goodness, and who hated him with an implacable hatred, without a cause, there being a rooted bitter enmity in the seed of the serpent against the godly in all generations; on whom sooner or later, at one time or another, destruction comes, one calamity or another on their families, diseases on their bodies, loss of substance, death of themselves... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 31:30

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin ,.... Which, as it is the instrument of speech, is often the means of much sin; particularly of cursing men, and expressing much bitterness against enemies; but Job laid an embargo upon it, kept it as with a bridle, restrained it from uttering any evil, or wishing any to his worst adversaries; which is difficult to do, when provocations are given, as follows: by wishing a curse to his soul ; not to his soul as distinct from his body, being the... read more

John Gill

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

If the men of my tabernacle ,.... Either his friends, that came to visit him, and take a meal with him, and would sometimes tarry awhile with him in his house, being very free and familiar with him; and who were, as it were, at home in his tabernacle; or rather his domestic servants, that were under his roof, and dwelt in his house, see Job 19:15 ; if these said not, oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied ; of the flesh of Job's enemy; and the sense is that his servants... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 31:24

Gold my hope - For the meaning of זהב zahab , polished gold, and כתם kethem , stamped gold, see on Job 28:15-17 ; (note). read more

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