Job 31 23

Job 31:23 kjv

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

Job 31:23 nkjv

For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

Job 31:23 niv

For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

Job 31:23 esv

For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.

Job 31:23 nlt

That would be better than facing God's judgment.
For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there?

Job 31 verses

Job 31 23 Meaning

Job 31:23 articulates Job's foundational reason for his ethical uprightness: a profound dread of divine judgment. He states that if he had engaged in the various sins he has just denied, the "disaster from God" would have been an overwhelming terror to him. This fear of God's active intervention and the inability to endure His majestic presence acted as a powerful deterrent, compelling him to live with integrity.

Job 31 23 Context

Job 31 stands as the magnificent culmination of Job’s extended self-defense. After his friends have exhausted their arguments, and before God speaks, Job delivers a final, solemn oath of clearance. He surveys nearly every imaginable type of sin, from personal indulgence to social injustice, to hidden sins of the heart, swearing before God that he is innocent of them. Verse 23 provides the theological underpinning for his claimed blamelessness: he did not commit these wrongs because of an active, compelling fear of God's direct judgment and overwhelming majesty. He posits that this deep reverence for God’s power and justice motivated his steadfast moral conduct, serving as a powerful deterrent against sin. This discourse aligns with ancient Near Eastern judicial practice, where oaths, especially by calling divine witness, were binding and highly serious, exposing the oath-taker to divine wrath if false. Job, in essence, invites God's scrutiny, confident in his integrity.

Job 31 23 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): A conjunction that introduces a reason or explanation, directly linking Job's virtuous conduct (his non-engagement in the specified sins) to the consequence detailed in this verse. It presents the verse as the logical basis for his previous statements.

• disaster (אֵיד, eyd): Refers to calamity, ruin, or sudden destruction, often with an implication of being divinely appointed. It suggests not just any misfortune, but a specific, direct outpouring of divine displeasure. The word connotes a sudden and overwhelming judgment.

• from God (מֵאֵל, me'el): Emphatically states the source of the disaster. El (God) signifies the powerful, mighty God, emphasizing His singular authority and ability to execute such a calamity. The disaster is explicitly God's doing, not chance.

• was a terror (הָיָה אֵימָה, hayah eymah): "Was" (הָיָה, hayah) suggests a contingent reality—it would have been this way if he had sinned. "Terror" (אֵימָה, eymah) signifies a deep, inward dread, fright, or horror. It's the psychological impact of the potential disaster, the feeling that compels avoidance. This distinguishes it from eyd (the event itself).

• to me (לִי, li): Personalizes the terror. It wasn't an abstract concept, but Job's intimate and profound experience of it.

• and because of his (וּמִשְּׂאֵת, u-mis-s'eht): This phrase connects to the following word. S'eht (שְׂאֵת) denotes elevation, lifting up, dignity, or majesty. In this context, it implies the immense burden or weight of God’s exalted being, or the profound impression made by His greatness. It speaks of the unendurable quality of God’s presence when confronting sin.

• eminence (גָּאוֹן, ga'on): Meaning majesty, glory, grandeur, or overwhelming pride/loftiness. When combined with s'eht, it powerfully portrays the exalted and overwhelming nature of God's being, His sovereign and majestic power. It evokes the crushing and unbearable weight of His divine grandeur upon a sinful being.

• I could do nothing (לֹא־יָכֹ֥לְתִּי, lo' yakolti): Literally, "I would not be able," or "I would not have the strength/power." This expresses complete inability, helplessness, and collapse in the face of God's majestic wrath or judging presence. It signifies absolute defeat and surrender to His power.

• For disaster from God was a terror to me: This clause highlights Job's deep conviction that specific, negative consequences for sin are direct divine visitations. This understanding creates a powerful internal deterrent: the thought of God's calamity instilled profound psychological terror within him, keeping him from specific transgressions.

• and because of his eminence I could do nothing: This goes beyond the mere consequence (disaster) to the cause—God Himself. It emphasizes the sheer, overwhelming majesty and inherent power of God's character. Job understands that God's very "eminence" is such that if He were to act in judgment against Job's sin, Job would be utterly paralyzed and incapacitated, incapable of standing, resisting, or enduring in His presence. It speaks to a deep, reverential awe, coupled with a healthy fear of the Lord's righteous power.

Job 31 23 Bonus section

Job's "fear" here encompasses both a healthy, reverential awe for God's incomparable greatness and a deeply personal dread of the punitive consequences of violating divine order. It is a motivating factor that connects Job's inward disposition directly to his outward righteous conduct, portraying his blamelessness not as a superficial achievement but as rooted in his theology. This profound conviction highlights Job's perception of a God who is intimately involved in human affairs, discerning secrets, and justly administering retribution. In the cultural landscape where gods might be seen as capricious or distant, Job's assertion speaks against the idea of divine indifference. His God is a God who actively observes and, when necessary, judges. This intense fear of "disaster from God" also indirectly argues against the common notion that divine punishment only manifests in collective misfortune; Job views it as a personal, inescapable terror tied directly to individual sin, a deterrent so potent that it governs his entire ethical framework. This also underscores a "wisdom literature" principle where understanding and revering God are foundational to proper living.

Job 31 23 Commentary

Job 31:23 provides the ultimate reason for Job's adherence to integrity: a profound and vivid apprehension of God's active judgment. His moral choices were not arbitrary, nor were they merely social compliance; they stemmed from a clear-eyed recognition that sin incurs a "disaster from God." This "disaster" is no vague misfortune but a divinely ordained, terrifying calamity. Furthermore, the sheer, crushing "eminence" or "majesty" of God means that any encounter with His holy, judging presence would leave Job utterly powerless, unable to withstand or escape. This reveals a "fear of the Lord" that is both a reverential awe of His glory and a realistic dread of His righteous wrath. This profound fear acts as a highly effective ethical governor for Job, showing that for him, godliness was not merely a ceremonial observance but a deep-seated inner conviction motivated by a tangible sense of divine accountability. It demonstrates how a correct understanding of God’s nature – His power, majesty, and justice – can profoundly shape one's moral compass.

• Example 1: Like someone refraining from breaking the law not just because it's wrong, but because they have an acute awareness and respect for the authority and power of the justice system and its consequences.
• Example 2: A person living a righteous life not simply out of desire for reward, but because they grasp the fearful reality of confronting a holy God if they live wickedly.