Job 31 10

Job 31:10 kjv

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

Job 31:10 nkjv

Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her.

Job 31:10 niv

then may my wife grind another man's grain, and may other men sleep with her.

Job 31:10 esv

then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.

Job 31:10 nlt

then let my wife serve another man;
let other men sleep with her.

Job 31 verses

Job 31 10 Meaning

Job 31:10 is part of Job's extensive oath of integrity, where he defends himself against the unspoken accusations of his friends. In this specific verse, Job invokes an extremely severe and humiliating self-curse: if he has been guilty of lust or adultery (as he describes in the preceding verse, Job 31:9, by being enticed by another's wife or lurking at his neighbor's door), then he desires his own wife to experience extreme public degradation. This degradation is expressed through two forms: forced labor akin to a servant (grinding for another man) and sexual defilement by other men. It is a powerful rhetorical device emphasizing the depth of his conviction regarding his own purity and innocence concerning these specific sins.

Job 31 10 Context

Job 31:10 is found within Job's final and most extensive self-defense, spanning the entire chapter of Job 31. This chapter serves as Job's solemn oath of purgation, a detailed assertion of his integrity before God and his accusers. He systematically denies various categories of sins commonly believed to lead to divine judgment, including covetousness (v. 1-8), lust and adultery (v. 9-12), oppression of servants (v. 13-15), neglect of the poor and helpless (v. 16-23), trust in wealth (v. 24-28), and rejoicing at an enemy's misfortune (v. 29-30). In this legal and moral defense, Job often invokes severe self-curses as he pledges his innocence. The specific lines in Job 31:9-12 address the purity of heart and conduct regarding sexual morality, where Job strongly affirms that he has not harbored lust or committed adultery. Verse 10 stands as the graphic and potent self-imposed curse if he were indeed guilty of the sin described in verse 9. In the ancient Near East, adultery was a severe offense, threatening the very fabric of family and society, often punishable by death. Job, living in a patriarchal society, binds his own honor and the potential disgrace of his family to his sexual purity. His willingness to imagine such a fate for his wife, a person of deep personal connection, powerfully demonstrates the sincerity of his claim to innocence.

Job 31 10 Word Analysis

• Then (Heb. אָז 'az): Functions as a temporal or consequential connector, meaning "at that time" or "then indeed." It introduces the direct consequence of the conditional statement made in the preceding verse ("If my heart has been enticed...").

• let my wife (Heb. תִּטְחַן אִשְׁתִּי titḥan 'ishtî):

  • 'ishtî: "my wife" or "my woman." The possessive suffix emphasizes the direct personal connection and the severity of the imagined outcome affecting his most intimate relationship.
  • titḥan: "let her grind," from the verb טָחַן (taḥan), "to grind," "to mill." This term specifically refers to the act of crushing grain using a hand mill, which was traditionally laborious work performed by women (Ex 11:5, Mt 24:41). It was a common task, but "grinding for another" here takes on symbolic meaning. In ancient contexts, being made to grind for a master or in a prison (Jdg 16:21 for Samson) symbolized servitude, forced labor, or utter degradation, often for captives or slaves. Combined with the broader context, some interpretations suggest it can imply sexual exploitation or humiliation linked to forced service.

• for another (Heb. לְאַחֵר lə'aḥer): Literally "for another (man/person)." This unequivocally signifies an illicit transfer of loyalty or possession. Her labor or her body would be serving someone other than her lawful husband. It implies a change of ownership or fidelity that would bring great dishonor.

• and let others (Heb. וְעָלֶיהָ יִכְרְעוּ אַחֵרִים və'ālêhā yikhre'û 'aḥerîm):

  • 'aḥerîm: "others," (plural form of "another"). This amplifies the sense of public disgrace involving multiple individuals.
  • yikhre'û: "let them bow down," or "let them kneel." From the verb כָּרַע (kara') meaning to bend the knee, bow, crouch down. It describes a posture of humility, reverence, or submission (Gen 24:11).
  • və'ālêhā: "and over her" or "upon her." The preposition עַל ('al) "over" or "upon" combined with the verb "to bow down/kneel" in this context is widely interpreted as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, implying the act of a man lying or bending over a woman. It signifies sexual domination and defilement.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Then let my wife grind for another: This phrase represents extreme degradation. "Grinding" indicates forced, laborious servitude, particularly a demeaning task often assigned to slaves or captives. The addition of "for another" explicitly states the transfer of allegiance and personal use, signifying an ultimate public disgrace where the man's wife serves someone else, perhaps even implicitly implying sexual service.
• and let others bow down over her: This parallel phrase explicitly and graphically refers to sexual humiliation and defilement. The multi-person nature ("others") deepens the shame and points to a scenario of widespread dishonor, likely referring to sexual assault or prostitution. It is the ultimate expression of the social and personal ruin Job anticipates for himself and his household if his innocence in the matters of lust and adultery is unfounded.

Job 31 10 Bonus Section

The intensity of Job's oath in verse 10 is magnified by the cultural significance of a man's wife in ancient patriarchal societies. A man's honor was inextricably linked to the chastity and reputation of his female household members. For Job to call upon such a curse on his own wife demonstrates an astonishing level of conviction in his innocence. It's a rhetorical masterpiece intended to silence his accusers and impress upon God the depth of his clean conscience. This specific curse also operates within a common ancient Near Eastern literary motif where dire consequences are invoked in treaties or legal oaths. While Job's friends focused on external misfortunes, Job, through this verse, shows that his personal and familial integrity far surpasses mere material blessings or outward prosperity, anchoring his defense in true moral uprightness even at a profound personal cost. The curses Job lays out throughout chapter 31 are so extreme and precise that they effectively dare God Himself to contradict them.

Job 31 10 Commentary

Job 31:10 encapsulates Job's radical self-defense against the implicit charge of sexual immorality. The verse's meaning hinges on two powerful, hyperbolic curses he calls upon himself: his wife grinding for another and others sexually defiling her. "Grinding for another" denotes severe public humiliation and forced servitude, perhaps even subtly hinting at sexual exploitation prevalent for captive women in the ancient world. The second curse, "others bowing down over her," leaves little doubt as a stark euphemism for repeated sexual abuse or prostitution. This intense imagery serves as a contrapasso – a poetic justice where the punishment fits the crime. If Job had "enticed his neighbor's wife" (v. 9), then his own wife would suffer similar public defilement. Job's willingness to invoke such a dreadful and socially unacceptable fate upon his family highlights his absolute certainty of innocence and underscores his righteous character, contrasting sharply with the often-superficial righteousness attributed by his friends to divine blessings. It reveals a man deeply committed to inner purity, extending his integrity even to the thoughts of his heart, and willing to put his reputation, family honor, and the well-being of his closest kin on the line as testimony to his truthfulness before God.