Job 31:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Complete Jewish Bible:

"If I held back anything needed by the poor or made a widow's eye grow dim [with tears],

Berean Standard Bible:

If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,

American Standard Version:

If I have withheld the poor fromtheirdesire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

If I have withheld^{H4513} the poor^{H1800} from their desire^{H2656}, or have caused the eyes^{H5869} of the widow^{H490} to fail^{H3615};

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Job 31:16

Job 31:16 is part of the Book of Job, which is one of the Wisdom Books in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The book is named after its central character, Job, and is a poetic exploration of the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of divine justice. Job is a righteous man who endures immense suffering, losing his wealth, his children, and his health, as a result of a celestial wager between God and the Adversary (Ha-Satan). The bulk of the book consists of dialogues between Job and his friends, who attempt to explain his suffering as a punishment for sin, a theory that Job vehemently rejects.

In Job 31, Job is in the midst of a series of oaths (known as the "oath of innocence" or "oath of clearance") in which he defends his integrity and moral conduct. In verse 16, Job specifically addresses two social groups that were particularly vulnerable in ancient Near Eastern society: the poor and widows. By stating, "If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail," Job is asserting that he has not oppressed these groups by denying them their basic needs or by exploiting them.

The historical context of this verse reflects the patriarchal and agrarian society of the time, where economic and social systems did not provide a safety net for the disadvantaged. Widows and the poor were dependent on the generosity and fairness of others within their community. Job's declaration underscores the importance of social justice and compassion in the ancient Israelite moral code, as reflected throughout the Hebrew Bible. It also prefigures the prophetic calls for justice and care for the marginalized that become more pronounced in later biblical texts. Job's oath is a testament to his righteousness and a challenge to the accusations of his friends, reinforcing the book's exploration of theodicy—the justice of God in allowing the righteous to suffer.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4513
   There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָנַע
   Transliteration: mânaʻ
   Pronunciation: maw-nah'
   Description: a primitive root; to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury; deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain, withhold.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1800
   There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דַּל
   Transliteration: dal
   Pronunciation: dal
   Description: from דָּלַל; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin; lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2656
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֵפֶץ
   Transliteration: chêphets
   Pronunciation: khay'-fets
   Description: from חָפֵץ; pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind); acceptable, delight(-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant(-ure), purpose, willingly.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5869
   There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַיִן
   Transliteration: ʻayin
   Pronunciation: ah'-yin
   Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).
   
5. Strong's Number: H490
   There are 303 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַלְמָנָה
   Transliteration: ʼalmânâh
   Pronunciation: al-maw-naw'
   Description: feminine of אַלְמָן; a widow; also a desolate place; desolate house (palace), widow.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3615
   There are 200 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּלָה
   Transliteration: kâlâh
   Pronunciation: kaw-law'
   Description: a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume); accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, [idiom] fully, [idiom] have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.