Job 31 31

Job 31:31 kjv

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

Job 31:31 nkjv

If the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?'

Job 31:31 niv

if those of my household have never said, 'Who has not been filled with Job's meat?'?

Job 31:31 esv

if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'

Job 31:31 nlt

"My servants have never said,
'He let others go hungry.'

Job 31 verses

Job 31 31 Meaning

Job 31:31 is part of Job’s solemn oath of innocence, where he meticulously details various sins he has not committed. This particular verse asserts his unwavering commitment to hospitality and generous provision. It declares that his household members or those sheltered in his tent would never have cause to say that anyone who passed through his care, especially a traveler or stranger, left without being fully satisfied and abundantly fed from his resources. It serves as a strong rhetorical question implying that the very idea of someone under Job's care lacking food is unimaginable because he consistently practiced boundless hospitality.

Job 31 31 Context

Job 31 stands as Job's most extensive and passionate self-vindication, an oath of purification or innocence, where he swears an elaborate negative oath against a comprehensive list of potential sins. After the dialogues with his friends, Job presents his final, powerful defense, challenging God to reveal his transgression (Job 31:35). In this chapter, Job articulates a detailed code of ethics and conduct, demonstrating his moral blamelessness. Verse 31 specifically highlights his generous hospitality, especially concerning strangers and those passing by. This was a critical virtue in the ancient Near East, where travel was perilous, and denying shelter or sustenance was a severe social and moral transgression. By stating that his household members themselves would testify to his boundless provision, Job emphatically dismisses any suggestion of selfishness or lack of charity. He posits this as an obvious fact, not merely an ideal, demonstrating how deeply ingrained kindness and hospitality were in his character.

Job 31 31 Word analysis

• If: The opening "If" (אִם, ʾim) introduces a protasis for a conditional oath (Job 31:7, 8, 9, etc.), implying that if the stated condition (in this case, lack of hospitality) were true, Job would accept a corresponding curse. It sets the tone for a solemn declaration of innocence.
• the men of my tent: Hebrew אַנְשֵׁי אָהֳלִי (ʾanšē ʾohǒlî). "Men" (אַנְשֵׁי, ʾanšē) refers to members of his household, servants, guests, or even passers-by who resided temporarily under his protection. "Tent" (אָהֳלִי, ʾohǒlî) signifies Job’s domestic sphere, his immediate community, and a traditional symbol of family, property, and nomadic life, indicating anyone dependent on or sheltered by Job.
• have not said: This negative phrasing makes Job's assertion particularly strong. It is not merely that they would not say it, but they have not ever said it. It presents a rhetorical challenge to find anyone, anywhere, who would deny his generosity.
• 'Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?': This is an idiomatic rhetorical question (מִי יִתֵּן נִמְצָא אִישׁ לֹא־יִשְׂבַּע מִבְּשָׂרוֹ, mî yittēn nimṣāʾ ʾîš lōʾ-yiśbaʿ mibbĕśārô).
  • מִי יִתֵּן (mî yittēn): Literally "Who will give/grant?" but functioning here as an exclamation like "Would that it were so!", "Oh that!", or "Who could possibly say?"—it strongly negates the possibility.
  • נִמְצָא אִישׁ (nimṣāʾ ʾîš): "a man found," or "is a man found," emphasizing the rarity or impossibility of such a person.
  • לֹא־יִשְׂבַּע (lōʾ-yiśbaʿ): "has not been filled" or "not satisfied/satiated." The root שׂבע (śāḇaʿ) means to be full, satisfied, or have plenty, particularly with food. It implies not just getting some food but having enough to be fully content.
  • מִבְּשָׂרוֹ (mibbĕśārô): "from his meat/flesh." בָּשָׂר (bāśār) commonly means flesh or meat but extends to mean sustenance, provision, or food provided from Job’s abundance and wealth. This indicates Job shared directly from his own resources.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "If the men of my tent have not said": This phrase suggests an internal testimony. Job is so confident in his benevolence that he asserts even his closest associates, those who witness his daily life and management, could never level such an accusation against him. This demonstrates the consistency and visible nature of his righteous actions.
  • "Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?": This rhetorical question acts as a hyperbole, emphatically stating that everyone who sought refuge or assistance from Job was not merely fed, but thoroughly satisfied, highlighting his boundless and unwavering generosity. It is a universal denial of ever having refused hospitality or denied adequate food to anyone.

Job 31 31 Bonus section

• Pre-Mosaic Ethic: Job’s extensive list of ethical standards in chapter 31 often mirrors and, in some cases, even surpasses the moral expectations found later in the Mosaic Law (e.g., concern for servants, treating enemies well). This highlights Job's righteousness as flowing from an innate moral conscience and relationship with God rather than codified law.
• The Power of Hospitality: The deep significance of hospitality in the ancient world meant that Job's commitment to "filling" strangers with his "meat" was not just a kindness but a covenantal act, forging bonds and protecting vulnerable lives. Denying it could be a death sentence, as implied in certain historical accounts.
• Job as a Type of Christ-like Service: Job's proactive seeking of the needy, providing for the hungry, and being a father to the poor, serves as a powerful illustration of selfless service that anticipates the teachings of Christ in caring for "the least of these."

Job 31 31 Commentary

Job 31:31 unveils another facet of Job's profound righteousness, emphasizing his expansive hospitality and generosity. In a society where the care of strangers and travelers was a cornerstone of virtue, Job asserts his exemplary conduct not merely as a claim but as an undeniable reality acknowledged by those closest to him. The rhetorical question, "Who can find one who has not been filled with his meat?" transcends mere provision; it signifies Job's commitment to ensuring complete satisfaction and abundance for anyone under his roof. This demonstrates Job's ethics went beyond formal requirements, flowing from a heart of deep compassion that actively sought the welfare of others, paralleling the generous nature of God in providing sustenance. His statement is a potent counter to any unspoken accusation that his wealth might have made him selfish or neglectful of the needy, solidifying God’s initial assessment of him as "blameless and upright."