Job 31 9

Job 31:9 kjv

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

Job 31:9 nkjv

"If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,

Job 31:9 niv

"If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,

Job 31:9 esv

"If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

Job 31:9 nlt

"If my heart has been seduced by a woman,
or if I have lusted for my neighbor's wife,

Job 31 verses

Job 31 9 Meaning

Job 31:9 speaks to Job's steadfast commitment to moral purity, particularly regarding sexual integrity. It is part of Job's solemn oath of integrity before God, where he vehemently denies having committed sins of lust or adultery. He asserts that his heart has never been led astray by a woman, nor has he actively plotted or pursued illicit relations with another man's wife, which is an offense against the sacred bond of marriage and a neighbor's household.

Job 31 9 Context

Job 31:9 is a pivotal verse within Job's extended discourse (Job 29-31), serving as the climactic conclusion to his defense against his friends' accusations. Having eloquently detailed his past righteous life and refuted various other common sins, Job here solemnly takes an oath of purgation (often called an "oath of innocence" or "negative confession"). In this chapter, Job invokes a series of curses upon himself if he were indeed guilty of the specific moral failings he enumerates. His denial in verse 9 focuses on sexual sin, particularly adultery and lust. This deep denial emphasizes his conviction that even the internal inclination towards sin is abhorrent, going beyond mere external compliance.

Historically and culturally, adultery was considered an egregious sin with severe societal consequences, including public shaming, economic ruin, and even the death penalty. It violated the covenant of marriage, undermined family lineage, and deeply dishonored a man's household. By denying even the "enticement of his heart" and "lying in wait," Job demonstrates a remarkably high moral standard that anticipated the spiritual demands of later covenant theology and even the teachings of Christ regarding the heart's intent. He posits that true righteousness encompasses both outward action and inward purity.

Job 31 9 Word analysis

• If: A conditional particle, opening a protasis of a solemn, self-imprecatory oath. It sets the stage for Job to pronounce a curse upon himself should the condition be true, underscoring the gravity and truthfulness of his subsequent denial.
• my heart: (Hebrew: levavi, לְבָבִ֛י) The Hebrew concept of "heart" encompasses more than just emotions; it is the seat of intellect, will, reason, moral choice, and conscience. Job is asserting the purity of his innermost thoughts and intentions, not merely his outward actions.
• has been enticed: (Hebrew: yiphteh, יִפְתֶּ֥ה) Derived from the verb pātāh (פָּתָה), meaning to be open, wide, to persuade, to lure, to deceive, to entice, or to seduce. It implies a drawing away from righteousness, a seduction towards evil, suggesting not merely a passive state but an active pull or influence that Job claims he resisted.
• by a woman: This refers to a specific forbidden relationship, implied to be with a woman who is not his wife, particularly another man's wife. It denotes an illicit sexual desire or pursuit.
• or: Indicates an alternative sin, distinct from the heart's enticement but equally grievous, showing Job's thoroughness in denying all aspects of this sin.
• if I have lain in wait: (Hebrew: ārabti, אָרַ֖בְתִּי) From the verb ārav (אָרַב), meaning to lie in ambush, to conspire, to stalk, to wait furtively with malicious intent. This signifies active, deliberate, and predatory plotting or lurking with the aim of engaging in illicit sexual activity. It goes beyond a fleeting thought or passing desire.
• at my neighbor's door: Refers to the entrance to a neighbor's house, symbolizing their dwelling, family, and especially their marital sanctity. To lie in wait at a neighbor's door specifically for their wife is a clear act of premeditated adultery and an invasion of another's personal space and marital covenant.

Words-group analysis

• If my heart has been enticed by a woman: This phrase highlights the internal aspect of sin. Job asserts purity of thought and desire, claiming he has not allowed his inner self to be swayed towards immoral relations. This goes beyond external conformity, pointing to an advanced ethical standard focused on the source of sin in the heart, anticipating New Testament teachings.
• or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door: This complements the first part by addressing the active, premeditated aspect of sexual sin. Job denies not only the internal enticement but also any deliberate planning, scheming, or predatory action to violate another man's household and marriage. The "neighbor's door" emphasizes the violation of community and relational trust.

Job 31 9 Bonus section

Job's ethical confession in chapter 31 reflects a morality often seen as predating the full Mosaic Law. This demonstrates that core ethical principles, like the sanctity of marriage and purity of heart, were understood and valued by devout individuals under God's general revelation, even before Sinai. Job’s self-oath reveals a societal context where marital fidelity was paramount, and breaches were considered profoundly destructive. His rigorous denial not only addresses common accusations of his day but also serves as a polemic against any culture that might view casual or secretive sexual encounters as less severe, presenting them instead as deep violations rooted in the heart. Job's detailed self-vindication emphasizes his covenantal faithfulness not merely to a human institution but to God's inherent moral order, showing a desire to avoid hypocrisy at any cost.

Job 31 9 Commentary

Job 31:9 stands as a powerful testament to Job's profound understanding of true righteousness, demonstrating that his integrity transcended mere outward conformity to societal norms or religious laws. His denial of "heart enticement" reveals an insight into sin's origin that anticipates Jesus' teaching in Matt 5:28—that sin can originate in the heart and thoughts before culminating in action. By also denying that he "lain in wait at my neighbor's door," Job addresses the proactive and malicious intent behind adultery, acknowledging it as a deliberate act of violation against a sacred covenant and community trust. His oath is comprehensive, covering both internal lust and external plotting, showing a highly developed moral conscience deeply committed to fidelity and purity, both in the presence of God and for the benefit of his neighbor. His self-imprecation in the following verses (31:10) underlines the gravity with which he views such offenses.