Job 31 12

Job 31:12 kjv

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Job 31:12 nkjv

For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.

Job 31:12 niv

It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest.

Job 31:12 esv

for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.

Job 31:12 nlt

It is a fire that burns all the way to hell.
It would wipe out everything I own.

Job 31 verses

Job 31 12 Meaning

Job 31:12 states the profound and destructive consequences of certain sins, specifically the sin of lust or adultery addressed in the preceding verses. Job declares that such a sin would ignite a metaphorical "fire" that would utterly consume and destroy everything he possesses, leading to complete ruin and the eradication of all his "increase"—his material wealth, livelihood, and potentially his legacy and offspring. It underscores the severity of sin and the comprehensive nature of its judgment, hinting at divine retribution that affects every aspect of one's life.

Job 31 12 Context

Job 31 stands as Job's final and most elaborate self-defense, an extended oath of integrity where he meticulously lists various sins he claims he has not committed. He calls upon God to testify against him if he is guilty of any of these transgressions, inviting curses upon himself if his conscience is not clear. The specific sin implied in verse 12—lust and adultery—is detailed in verses 9-11, where Job swears he has not allowed his heart to be enticed by another woman nor laid in wait at his neighbor's door. This entire chapter serves as Job's solemn assertion that his suffering is not a consequence of any hidden sin, thereby challenging the conventional retribution theology of his friends and the prevalent wisdom of his time that linked prosperity solely to righteousness and adversity solely to sin. Verse 12 is a powerful self-malediction, demonstrating Job's understanding of the dire and far-reaching consequences of such a grave moral failing.

Job 31 12 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֥י - kî): A conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. It serves as an emphatic "because" or "for surely," connecting the preceding hypothetical sin (lust/adultery in Job 31:9-11) to its severe, inescapable consequence.

• that (הִ֣יא - hîʾ): A feminine singular pronoun, referring back to the "iniquity" (עָוֹן - ʿāwōn) or the "wickedness" implied by Job's hypothetical heart being enticed or his waiting at a neighbor's door (Job 31:9-11). It directly links the specific moral failing to the ensuing destruction.

• would be (הִ֗יא - hîʾ - used again for emphasis, or translated "it is"): Emphasizes the certainty and inherent nature of the consequence. It implies an inevitable and foundational truth, not a possibility or a chance event.

• a fire (אֵ֭שׁ - ʾēš): Literal and profoundly metaphorical. This "fire" signifies an all-consuming force, divine judgment, destructive wrath, or irresistible retribution. It is a symbol of total, purifying, and annihilating power, leaving no vestige. This imagery resonates with God's holy and jealous nature.

• that consumes (תֹּאכֵ֥ל - tōʾḵēl): From the verb אָכַל (ʾāḵal), meaning "to eat, devour, consume." Used here as an active participle, it depicts a continuous or active process of devouring. This suggests a relentless, thorough, and complete consumption, ensuring nothing remains or survives its onslaught.

• to Destruction (עַד־אֲבַדּ֑וֹן - ʿaḏ-ʾăbaddôn):

  • to (עַד - ʿaḏ): Means "until" or "unto," denoting the ultimate extreme end, destination, or purpose.
  • Destruction (אֲבַדּ֑וֹן - ʾăbaddôn): From אָבַד (ʾāḇaḏ), "to perish, destroy." This specific term signifies utter ruin, perdition, or annihilation, often associated with the deepest realms of death or the underworld (Sheol/Abyss). It implies an absolute and irreversible end.

• And it would uproot (וּֽתְשָׁרֵ֗שׁ - ū-ṯešāreš): From the verb שָׁרַשׁ (šāraš), meaning "to root out, pluck up, eradicate." The conjunctive "waw" (וּ-) functions as "and" or "then," linking this consequence to the "fire." The imagery is of violently tearing something out of the ground by its roots, symbolizing complete, brutal removal and eradication of foundation, stability, and future growth. No trace or potential for resurgence would remain.

• all my increase (כָּל־תְּבוּאָתִֽי׃ - kōl-təḇûʾātî):

  • all (כָּל - kōl): Signifies totality or universality, emphasizing that no part whatsoever would be exempt.
  • my increase (תְּבוּאָתִֽי - təḇûʾātî): From the verb בּוֹא (bōʾ), "to come in, yield." This noun refers to produce, harvest, gain, profit, or income. It encapsulates all of Job's material wealth, his livelihood, prosperity, the fruit of his labor, his reputation, and even potentially his descendants and future legacy.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "For that would be a fire that consumes to Destruction": This potent phrase directly links the specific sin (lust/adultery) to a terrifying, total, and ultimate judgment. It depicts the sin not as an isolated act but as a catalyst unleashing an unquenchable, annihilating fire. This fire represents a divine reckoning that ensures complete obliteration, targeting the very essence and existence of the one who commits such an iniquity. It speaks to a consequence far beyond temporal or material loss, hinting at an eternal impact of irreversible doom.
  • "And it would uproot all my increase": This parallel declaration underscores the comprehensive and permanent ruin caused by the previously mentioned "fire." The imagery of "uprooting" symbolizes the violent eradication of the very foundation and source of life, prosperity, and potential. "All my increase" highlights that every single aspect of Job's prosperity—from his crops and livestock to his children and overall well-being—would be utterly annihilated. This illustrates the devastating and pervasive impact such a sin would have on every dimension of a person's life, leaving nothing to rebuild or restore. It reveals Job's deep understanding of the intrinsic connection between moral integrity, divine justice, and one's holistic welfare.

Job 31 12 Bonus section

Job 31:12 offers significant insight into Job's theological depth, indicating a understanding of justice beyond the simplistic cause-and-effect offered by his friends. While the friends reduced suffering to specific sin, Job understood a righteous God who does justly punish sin but whose ways and judgments were ultimately unfathomable to human reason. The rare and strong term אֲבַדּוֹן (ʾăbaddôn - destruction/perdition) which parallels Sheol in wisdom literature, suggests that Job envisioned a consequence for sin that extended beyond mere temporal misfortune to a comprehensive and possibly eternal spiritual or existential ruin. His detailed review of potential sins in chapter 31, each with their dreadful consequences, reveals Job's thorough moral self-examination and his ultimate appeal for a divine verdict based on his proven integrity, not on external appearances of suffering.

Job 31 12 Commentary

Job 31:12 provides a stark articulation of the profound and comprehensive consequences that Job associates with certain grave sins, specifically the sexual sin he references. He views such a transgression not as a minor failing, but as a severe affront leading to a self-invoked divine judgment. The imagery of "fire that consumes to Destruction" speaks to an intense, swift, and total eradication. This "fire" represents more than mere worldly misfortune; it embodies divine wrath and a force that annihilates every aspect of a person's existence, culminating in "perdition" or "annihilation," often connected to the ultimate fate in the underworld.

Furthermore, the metaphor "uproot all my increase" conveys a sense of irreversible devastation. Just as a plant violently pulled from the earth, including its roots, cannot grow again, so too would Job's livelihood, prosperity, legacy, and perhaps even his very being be utterly eradicated. This reflects an understanding of sin's far-reaching implications, not merely for the individual but for all they possess and hope to achieve. Job's assertion here underlines his deep moral conviction and his belief that a righteous God would justly bring ultimate ruin upon such profound iniquity. He offers this self-imprecation to powerfully attest to his own innocence regarding such deeds.