Job 31 22

Job 31:22 kjv

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

Job 31:22 nkjv

Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

Job 31:22 niv

then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.

Job 31:22 esv

then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.

Job 31:22 nlt

then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place!
Let my arm be torn from its socket!

Job 31 verses

Job 31 22 Meaning

Job 31:22 is a powerful self-malediction where Job invokes a severe physical consequence upon himself if he were guilty of the misdeeds he denies. Specifically, he pledges that if he has misused his position, strength, or influence, particularly in neglecting or harming the vulnerable as detailed in the preceding verses, then his arm, representing his strength and ability to act, should be completely severed and rendered useless. This stark imagery underscores the depth of his conviction regarding his innocence and his unwavering commitment to ethical conduct.

Job 31 22 Context

Job 31:22 is the culmination of Job's final and most elaborate self-defense before God, occupying the entirety of Job chapter 31. This chapter functions as Job's extensive oath of clearance, where he meticulously denies committing a range of grave sins against God and man, including adultery, lust, lying, oppressing the poor, turning away the orphan or widow, exploiting servants, placing his hope in wealth, celebrating the misfortune of enemies, inhospitable treatment, and idolatry. Each denial is typically accompanied by a self-malediction—a curse invoked upon himself—if his claims prove false. This specific verse (31:22) ties back to his claims in verses 16-21, where he asserts he never denied the poor what was due, neglected widows, allowed orphans to starve, or used his influence (arm) to harm them. The oath system was a common legal and social practice in the ancient Near East, where solemn curses affirmed the truthfulness of one's statements or guaranteed future behavior. Job's curses are severe and graphic, illustrating the depth of his conviction and his willingness to face ultimate consequences if proven wrong. His moral code, as laid out in this chapter, is exceptionally high for his time, prefiguring New Testament ethics in its emphasis on internal purity of motive alongside outward actions.

Job 31 22 Word analysis

• Then (וְ) [wə]: A conjunction "and" or "then," signaling a consequence. It links this severe curse directly to the conditions stated in the preceding verses.
• let my arm (זְרֹעִי) [zᵊrō‘î]: From zeroaʿ, meaning "arm" or "forearm." Here, with the suffix "-i," it means "my arm." In the Bible, the "arm" frequently symbolizes strength, power, influence, and the execution of action. It's often associated with divine power (God's mighty arm). Job chooses this body part to represent the very capacity he claims not to have misused.
• fall (תִּפֹּל) [tippōl]: A verb meaning "to fall," "drop," or "lie prostrate." In this context, it suggests complete disablement and detachment.
• from my shoulder (מִכָּתֵף) [mikkātēp̄]: From kātēp̄, meaning "shoulder" or "shoulder blade." It refers to the joint connecting the arm to the torso. To fall from the shoulder signifies a complete severing, a permanent incapacitation.
• and let my arm (וּקְנָתִי) [ūqᵊnāṯî]: This phrase literally refers to the "shaft" or "bone" (from qanah) or, as commonly understood in this context, the forearm/elbow area. Paired with "my arm," it emphasizes a more specific part for the second form of disablement.
• be broken (תִּשָּׁבֵר) [tisshāvēR]: A verb meaning "to break," "shatter," "be crushed." It denotes utter destruction or incapacitation, not just separation.
• from the elbow (מִקָּנָה) [miqqānāh]: While qānāh can mean "reed" or "branch," in anatomical contexts it refers to the forelimb or specific long bones, thus widely interpreted as "elbow" or "forearm" in parallelism with "shoulder." This specifies another point of debilitating injury to ensure the arm's total uselessness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then let my arm fall from my shoulder": This first part invokes a visual and stark image of complete detachment and loss of an arm. The arm, as a symbol of power, livelihood, and physical capability, falling off denotes utter ruin and disgrace for a person who lives by their strength and labor. It is a graphic self-curse demonstrating the depth of Job's commitment to justice for the vulnerable and his willingness to face total disempowerment if proven to have failed.
• "and let my arm be broken from the elbow": This is a parallel self-malediction that intensifies the curse. "Broken from the elbow" also signifies complete physical incapacitation, complementing "fall from the shoulder." The repetition and specific identification of two critical points of an arm (shoulder and elbow) underscore the severity and finality of the proposed disability. It implies that Job would be utterly incapacitated, unable to wield power, earn a living, or even feed himself—a fitting and poetic justice if he had indeed used his strength to harm the helpless rather than sustain them.

Job 31 22 Bonus section

The intensity of Job's self-curses throughout chapter 31, and specifically in verse 22, showcases a powerful rhetorical strategy. By calling down such vivid and catastrophic consequences upon himself, Job dramatically asserts his profound sense of integrity and righteousness, essentially challenging God (or any accuser) to find fault with him based on the charges for which these curses apply. This form of oath-taking was a common judicial practice in the ancient Near East for a defendant to prove innocence when evidence was lacking. However, Job elevates this practice to a spiritual and personal level, revealing not just a legal defense but an internal moral purity. His willingness to accept extreme physical and social debilitation underscores his conviction that any deviation from justice, especially concerning the weak, warrants severe retribution. It reflects a societal value where physical deformities could also imply divine disfavor, thus making the curse of a "fallen" or "broken" arm a potent symbolic penalty far beyond mere physical inconvenience.

Job 31 22 Commentary

Job 31:22 encapsulates Job's profound declaration of innocence and his uncompromising commitment to justice. As part of a series of self-imprecations, this verse is not a literal wish but a hyperbolic expression designed to attest to his unblemished moral conduct, particularly regarding the marginalized (orphans, widows, and the poor) referenced in the preceding verses. The arm, a biblical metaphor for strength, authority, and capacity to act, is chosen as the organ of judgment. To invoke its complete destruction—detachment from the shoulder or being broken from the elbow—symbolizes a desire for utter incapacitation and shame, a perfectly fitting punishment if he had indeed used his power to oppress rather than uplift. This verse highlights the high ethical standard Job holds himself to, challenging the prevalent belief of his time that outward conformity was sufficient. Instead, he demonstrates a moral compass guided by empathy and internal rectitude, valuing true justice and compassionate care for the vulnerable as paramount virtues before God.