Job 31 39

Job 31:39 kjv

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

Job 31:39 nkjv

If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;

Job 31:39 niv

if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

Job 31:39 esv

if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,

Job 31:39 nlt

or if I have stolen its crops
or murdered its owners,

Job 31 verses

Job 31 39 Meaning

Job 31:39 is a part of Job's profound declaration of integrity and an oath of innocence before God. In this verse, Job swears he has not committed injustice regarding land and its produce. Specifically, he denies taking the fruits of the earth without fair compensation or, even more gravely, causing harm or death to the land's rightful cultivators or owners through his actions of unjust acquisition or exploitation. This verse underscores the deep ancient Near Eastern understanding of land ownership and labor rights, where the earth itself could be seen as bearing witness to injustice.

Job 31 39 Context

Job 31 concludes Job's extended self-defense before his friends and God, where he vehemently protests his innocence against all the accusations implied by his suffering. This chapter is structured as a series of solemn "if...then..." oaths (often called a "negative confession"), where Job meticulously denies various categories of sin—lust, falsehood, oppression of the poor, unrighteous judgment, idolatry, and even personal resentment—affirming his ethical purity. Verses 38-40 form a specific section addressing his relationship with the earth itself. Job argues that if his land cried out against him, if he had harvested its yield unjustly without payment, or if he had caused the death of its lawful tillers, then the land should refuse to yield, and thistles should grow instead of barley. This shows Job's awareness of ethical responsibilities even towards the earth and those who work it, reflecting a common Near Eastern understanding of justice extending to land and livelihood. Historically, control over land was fundamental to wealth, status, and survival in agrarian societies. Accusations of land appropriation or unjust dealings with the land were severe, often leading to social unrest and divine judgment in Israelite thought.

Job 31 39 Word analysis

• If (אִם - 'im): A common Hebrew particle introducing a condition, establishing a hypothetical scenario as part of a rhetorical oath. Job presents these conditions, implying their falsehood by challenging God to examine him.
• I have eaten (אָכַלְתִּי - 'āḵaltî): From the verb אָכַל ('ākal), "to eat, consume." Here, it signifies deriving benefit from, enjoying the produce or fruit of the land. In this context, it implies illicit gain, consuming what one has not legitimately earned or acquired.
• its produce (יְבוּלָהּ - yĕḇûlāh): From יְבוּל (yĕbûl), referring to the natural yield or produce of the land (crops, fruits, etc.). This highlights Job's direct engagement with agricultural life and potential for exploitation within it.
• without payment (בְּלִי כָסֶף - bĕlî kāsĕf): Literally "without silver/money." This emphasizes the absence of just compensation for the land or its harvest. It speaks to forms of theft, unjust appropriation, or forced labor where wages are withheld, which was strictly forbidden in Mosaic law. This directly links to economic injustice.
• or (אוֹ - 'ô): Conjunction introducing an alternative condition, intensifying the oath's scope from illicit gain to more grievous harm.
• caused the death (וְנַפְשֶׁהָ...מָוֶת - wĕnapšehā...māweṯ): This is a challenging phrase, often translated variously.
  • נַפְשֶׁהָ (napšehā): Refers to "its life," or "its soul," specifically of the land (h'a-retz implicit from v. 38 or referring to the produce). When combined with מָוֶת (māweṯ), "death," it suggests an action causing lifelessness or utter devastation.
  • בְעָלֶיהָ (bĕ'āleyhā): "Its owners" or "its masters," referring to the people who rightfully own or work the land.
  The entire phrase וְנַפְשֶׁהָ בְעָלֶיהָ הַמָּוֶת can be interpreted in several nuanced ways, all pointing to severe injustice:
  • "And its owner's soul/life (brought to) death": Implying Job directly or indirectly caused the death of the legitimate landowners or laborers, perhaps by depriving them of their livelihood, forcing them into destitution leading to death, or even direct violence for their land (as in Naboth's case, 1 Ki 21). This is a strong accusation of oppression unto death.
  • "And its very life (yielded to) death for its owners": The land itself becoming barren or desolate, leading to the starvation and death of those who depended on it, as a consequence of Job's exploitative actions.
  • "Or caused its owners to breathe their last": Highlighting the fatal consequences of his potential actions on the human beings associated with the land.
  This phrase elevates the injustice from mere financial gain to the destruction of life and livelihood, signifying an extreme level of culpability. The land, often personified in scripture (Gen 4:10, Num 35:33), is portrayed here as having a "life" and possibly suffering alongside its owners.
• words-group: "eaten its produce without payment": This phrase captures the sin of economic exploitation and theft, where the fruit of labor or ownership is unjustly taken or withheld. It implies an abuse of power or privilege to enrich oneself at the expense of another's legitimate rights or toil.
• words-group: "caused the death of its owners": This group of words portrays the gravest possible consequence of such exploitation – not just financial loss, but the complete destruction of human life, dignity, and survival that is intrinsically tied to the land. This extends the scope of injustice from property rights to human life itself, a serious charge.

Job 31 39 Bonus section

The concept of the "earth crying out" or the land being defiled by human sin is a recurring theme in biblical thought. Job 31:38, immediately preceding this verse, sets up this idea directly: "If my land cries out against me." This personification of the land signifies its role as a silent witness and underscores the depth of injustice when it occurs, as the land itself suffers under the weight of human sin. The parallel found in Gen 4:10 where "Abel's blood cries out from the ground" illustrates this spiritual connection, where the ground is a witness to spilled blood and can be seen as demanding justice. This elevates economic injustice to a spiritual offense against God and His created order. For Job to affirm innocence in this regard indicates his recognition of a profound ethical principle that encompasses not just human relationships but also humanity's stewardship of creation. His oath reflects a deep understanding of Mosaic law, which fiercely protected land tenure and fair labor practices (e.g., prohibition against removing boundary markers, commands for gleaning for the poor), indicating a long-standing tradition of valuing communal justice over personal gain.

Job 31 39 Commentary

Job 31:39 stands as a powerful testament to Job's scrupulous ethical code concerning economic justice, particularly regarding land and its cultivation. By denying that he ever consumed the land's yield without due payment or, more severely, caused the death of its owners, Job asserts a righteousness that extends beyond personal piety to profound social responsibility. This claim counters potential hidden sins of oppression or exploitation, which were common abuses of power by the wealthy in the ancient world. Job highlights the intrinsic link between a person's life and their connection to the land and its produce. For the land to "cry out" and its "owners" to perish as a result of one's actions indicates a sin so profound it reverberates through the very fabric of existence, violating both divine and societal laws. This verse therefore reveals Job's awareness that true integrity necessitates justice in economic dealings and compassion for the most vulnerable, whose lives depend on equitable access to resources. It emphasizes that exploiting the poor or wrongfully acquiring property leads to dire human consequences, and the earth itself becomes a witness against such wickedness.