Job 31 5

Job 31:5 kjv

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

Job 31:5 nkjv

"If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

Job 31:5 niv

"If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit?

Job 31:5 esv

"If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;

Job 31:5 nlt

"Have I lied to anyone
or deceived anyone?

Job 31 verses

Job 31 5 Meaning

Job 31:5 is part of Job's extensive oath of purgation, where he powerfully declares his innocence and integrity before God and man. This specific verse asserts that Job has not embraced a lifestyle rooted in emptiness or dishonesty, nor has he actively or eagerly pursued deceptive actions. It speaks to both the general character of his life ("walked with falsehood") and the specific intentions behind his deeds ("foot has hurried to deceit"), emphasizing purity of both inner motive and outward conduct. He appeals to God as the ultimate judge of his sincerity.

Job 31 5 Context

Job 31 is Job's final, lengthy, and most elaborate speech of self-vindication, marking the climax of his argument before Elihu and ultimately God. It is an "oath of purgation," a formal legal defense where he solemnly invokes God's judgment upon himself if any of the accusations (implied or direct) against him are true. Before God, Job enumerates a long list of specific sins and moral failings that he emphatically claims not to have committed. Verse 5 opens this detailed list by establishing a general claim of integrity: he has not lived a life characterized by falsity or quick deceit. This general statement lays the foundation for his subsequent denials of specific ethical breaches related to sexual purity, justice, wealth, idolatry, and compassion for the needy, underscoring his deep-seated conviction of blamelessness in God's eyes according to the ethical standards of his time. Historically, such oaths were legally binding and socially critical in the ancient Near East, often culminating in a divine test.

Job 31 5 Word analysis

• If (אִם - 'im): Introduces a protasis (the "if" clause) in a conditional oath. This is not merely hypothetical but sets up a serious self-curse or imprecation: "If what I say is false, then may such-and-such befall me" (often implied in Job's oath structure later in the chapter, e.g., v. 8, 10, 22, 40). It signifies a solemn challenge and an appeal to divine scrutiny.
• I have walked (הָלַכְתִּי - hālaḵtî): Derived from the verb "to walk," a ubiquitous biblical metaphor for one's way of life, conduct, or course of action. It signifies a consistent, ongoing lifestyle, not just an isolated act. The perfect tense indicates completed action with lasting results—Job asserts that this has been his pattern of life up to this point.
• with falsehood (שָׁוְא - shāvə’): This potent Hebrew word encompasses various meanings: emptiness, vanity, futility, worthlessness, falsehood, lies, deceit, and even idolatry (e.g., in "graven images" as "empty things" - Exod 20:7). Here, it implies a life directed by, founded upon, or characterized by unreality, worthlessness, or an absence of moral substance. It can refer to living a life of insincerity or, broadly, one built on a lie or an idol rather than on truth. It speaks to a fundamental orientation.
• or if (וְאִם - wə’im): Continues the conditional oath, linking the second clause as an alternative or complementary aspect of his innocence. It reiterates the solemnity and extends the scope of his denial.
• my foot (רַגְלִי - rağlî): Refers to physical steps, but metonymically signifies one's specific actions, choices, or trajectory. "The foot" represents the physical instrument of movement and by extension, the execution of intent.
• has hurried (תָּחוּשׁ - tāḥûš): From the verb "to hasten" or "to make speed." This implies an eager, ready, or even impulsive movement towards something. It's not a reluctant or accidental stumbling, but a deliberate and quick advance, revealing intent or eagerness for the wrong. Job denies having such an internal disposition or readiness for deceit.
• to deceit (מִרְמָה - mirmāh): Means treachery, fraud, deception, guile, or cunning. It is a more active and specific term for dishonesty than shāvə’, implying calculated, injurious trickery against another person. It points to malicious intent and premeditated action to mislead or cheat.

• "I have walked with falsehood": This phrase describes Job's fundamental ethical character. It denies that his very existence or habitual conduct has been predicated on unreality, moral emptiness, or deception. It addresses his overarching way of life. This includes both personal insincerity and potentially living in opposition to the true God by following false values or idols, as "falsehood" can bear connotations of idolatry. Job maintains that his "walk" has been one of substance and truth.
• "my foot has hurried to deceit": This second phrase narrows the focus from a general "walk" to specific "steps" and actions. It denies not only the act of deceit but the swiftness and eagerness to engage in it. This speaks to a ready inclination towards fraud or trickery. Job insists his steps have never been readily disposed to cunning and malicious deception, underscoring purity of action and intent. This two-part denial covers both the settled disposition of the heart and the eager readiness to act unjustly.

Job 31 5 Bonus section

The concept of "walking" in the Old Testament, particularly in wisdom literature and the Pentateuch, carries significant theological weight, representing not just physical movement but the whole tenor and direction of one's life in relationship to God and His commandments. To "walk with falsehood" (or, in contrast, "walk in truth") implies that the very trajectory and pattern of one's existence is either aligned with deception or rooted in truth. Job's denial here, therefore, is an assertion that the fundamental path of his life has been characterized by integrity and reality, not by vanity, emptiness, or dishonesty in any form. The "hurrying" of the foot to deceit further highlights his active resistance to even the inclination or opportunity for wrongdoing. Job’s declaration aligns with a high ethical standard that values not only avoiding outward acts of sin but cultivating an inward aversion to evil.

Job 31 5 Commentary

Job 31:5 functions as a powerful ethical preamble to Job's detailed self-defense. It articulates his deep-seated conviction of an upright character, denying both a lifestyle based on emptiness and deliberate, eager acts of deception. Job is asserting a foundational integrity that extends beyond mere outward appearance, encompassing the true orientation of his life and the promptings of his will. He understands that genuine righteousness requires more than avoiding sin; it demands an active pursuit of truth and a disinclination towards all forms of guile. This verse sets the stage for his subsequent assertions of moral probity in specific areas, showcasing a man whose ethical code was remarkably comprehensive and consistent for his era, viewing God as the witness and judge of even the innermost intents. Job's words stand as a testament to the pursuit of an authentic and righteous life before God, in stark contrast to a world often riddled with artifice and cunning.