Job 31 20

Job 31:20 kjv

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

Job 31:20 nkjv

If his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

Job 31:20 niv

and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,

Job 31:20 esv

if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,

Job 31:20 nlt

did they not praise me
for providing wool clothing to keep them warm?

Job 31 verses

Job 31 20 Meaning

Job 31:20 is part of Job’s solemn oath of innocence and self-defense against the implied accusations of his friends and the injustice he perceives from God. In this verse, Job asserts that he provided tangible, practical comfort to the needy. He implies that the "loins" (the very core being, feeling body) of the recipient of his aid expressed genuine gratitude because they were literally warmed by clothing made from his own sheep. This demonstrates his deep, compassionate concern for the physical well-being of the poor, moving beyond mere pity to concrete action and relief.

Job 31 20 Context

Job 31 is a significant chapter in the Book of Job, serving as Job's final, elaborate defense and protestation of his innocence before God and his accusers. It's an extended "negative confession," where Job enumerates various sins and ethical failures that he explicitly claims he has not committed, often invoking a curse upon himself if he were found guilty of them. This chapter functions as his most profound and detailed vindication of his righteousness.

Within this broader context, verses 16-23 specifically focus on Job's treatment of the vulnerable: the poor, the widow, the orphan. Job declares that he did not disregard their needs, stating that he ensured they were fed, clothed, and warmed. Verse 20 highlights his personal and active compassion by providing clothing and warmth directly from his own resources, illustrating a righteousness that extends beyond legalistic adherence to true, practical care. Historically, providing warmth and clothing to the poor was a critical act of charity in societies where material poverty and harsh climatic conditions were common, especially for the exposed and vulnerable. Job’s declaration challenges the prevailing idea that his suffering must be due to some secret sin, presenting his consistent ethical conduct, even concerning the most vulnerable, as evidence to the contrary.

Job 31 20 Word analysis

• loins (חֲלָצַי, chalatsai):

  • Meaning: From the Hebrew root for loins, which refers to the part of the body around the hips and lower back. This area was often seen as the seat of strength, physical being, and sometimes the place where descendants spring from.
  • Significance: In this context, "his loins" metaphorically represent the entire person of the impoverished individual, particularly their physical body. The blessing comes from a place of deep, embodied relief and gratitude, not merely from the mouth but from the core being that experienced comfort. It emphasizes the profound, personal impact of Job’s charitable act.

• blessed (בֵּרְכוּנִי, birkhuni):

  • Meaning: From the Hebrew root ברך (barakh), meaning to bless, to praise, to kneel (in submission or reverence).
  • Significance: This is a direct expression of gratitude and well-being from the recipient. It suggests that Job’s act of giving warmth was not perfunctory but truly met a vital need, leading to deep thankfulness rather than mere polite acknowledgment. It implies the recipients' newfound physical comfort brought forth internal praise towards Job.

• warmed (יִתְחַמָּם, yithchammam):

  • Meaning: From the Hebrew root חמם (chāmam), meaning to be warm, grow warm, heat oneself.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the immediate, physical benefit provided. It speaks to practical relief from a pressing human need – the cold. This concrete outcome highlights the effectiveness and direct impact of Job's generosity, as opposed to mere sympathy.

• fleece (גֵּז, gez):

  • Meaning: Hebrew for "fleece" or "shearing." Refers to the wool shorn from sheep, a primary material for making warm clothing in the ancient world.
  • Significance: It specifies the direct resource used for clothing. "Fleece" indicates raw material, underscoring Job's ownership of large flocks and his willingness to use his tangible wealth directly for the welfare of others. It's a fundamental necessity for survival in colder seasons.

• my sheep (כְּבָשִׂי, kᵉvashay):

  • Meaning: My sheep (plural).
  • Significance: This possessive pronoun highlights that the provision came directly from Job’s own livestock and resources, demonstrating personal commitment and sacrifice rather than a distanced or institutional form of charity. It connects his prosperity to his philanthropy.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "If his loins have not blessed me": This phrase captures the essence of deep, personal, and physically felt gratitude. It suggests that Job’s actions were so impactful that the recipients' very bodies, freed from the torment of cold, internally "blessed" him, demonstrating authentic and profound appreciation. It implies a true benefit experienced at the deepest physical level.
  • "And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep": This clause completes the practical action. It specifies the tangible nature of the care given (warm clothing) and its source (Job's own abundant flock). It paints a picture of practical charity where Job utilized his personal wealth directly to meet the basic, critical need for warmth among the poor.

Job 31 20 Bonus section

This verse is a prime example of "negative confession" (or protestation of innocence) prevalent in ancient Near Eastern legal and religious contexts, where one would list acts they did not commit as evidence of their righteousness, often accompanied by a self-imprecation if found false. Job 31 moves beyond this simple negative format to include positive affirmations of good deeds. Job's actions, such as clothing the naked, directly align with Yahweh's covenant expectations for His people (Deut 15) and are echoed by prophets (Isa 58) and in New Testament teachings on true faith and compassion (Jas 2, Matt 25). His proactive kindness reveals a profound understanding of social justice, emphasizing direct physical relief, a stark contrast to any self-righteous pity that offers no practical help. Job uses his material prosperity not for opulence alone but as a means to alleviate suffering, demonstrating an ethical standard far beyond his cultural contemporaries who often accumulated wealth without such extensive charitable responsibility.

Job 31 20 Commentary

Job 31:20 vividly portrays Job’s compassionate and active righteousness. His statement isn't a mere claim of not harming the poor but an affirmative declaration of proactively meeting their most basic needs. The "loins blessing" him implies a deep, internal, physically felt gratitude from those relieved of cold, transcending a superficial 'thank you.' Job’s provision of "fleece from my sheep" shows that his wealth was not for his sole comfort but was shared tangibly and personally to ensure others' well-being. This demonstrates a righteousness rooted in genuine empathy and practical care, challenging the notion that suffering could only be a result of secret sin and highlighting an ideal of leadership marked by deep humanitarian concern.

• Example: Providing a homeless individual with a thick coat on a cold day, seeing their physical relief and heartfelt thanks.
• Example: A person using surplus from their garden to provide food to a soup kitchen, rather than letting it go to waste, actively providing sustenance.