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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Job 31:33–40. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We have here Job's protestation against three more sins, together with his general appeal to God's bar and his petition for a hearing there, which, it is likely, was intended to conclude his discourse (and therefore we will consider it last), but that another particular sin occurred, from which he thought it requisite to acquit himself. He clears himself from the charge,
I.Of dissimulation and hypocrisy.
The general crime of which his friends accused him was that, under the cloak of a profession of religion, he had kept up secret haunts of sin, and that really he was as bad as other people, but had the art of concealing it. Zophar insinuated (Job 20:12) that he hid his iniquity under his tongue. "No," says Job, "I never did (Job 31:33), I never covered my transgression as Adam, never palliated a sin with frivolous excuses, nor made fig-leaves the shelter of my shame, nor ever hid my iniquity in my bosom, as a fondling, a darling, that I could by no means part with, or as stolen goods which I dreaded the discovery of." It is natural to us to cover our sins; we have it from our first parents. We are loth to confess our faults, willing to extenuate them and make the best of ourselves, to devolve the blame upon others, as Adam on his wife, not without a tacit reflection upon God himself. But he that thus covers his sins shall not prosper, Pro 28:13. Job, in this protestation, intimates two things, which were certain evidences of his integrity: - 1. That he was not guilty of any great transgression or iniquity, inconsistent with sincerity, which he had now industriously concealed. In this protestation he had dealt fairly, and, while he denies some sins, was not conscious to himself that he allowed himself in any. 2. That what transgression and iniquity he had been guilty of (Who is there that lives and sins not?) he had always been ready to own it, and, as soon as ever he perceived he had said or done amiss, he was ready to unsay it and undo it, as far as he could, by repentance, confessing it both to God and man, and forsaking it: this is doing honestly.
II.From the charge of cowardice and base fear.
His courage in that which is good he produces as an evidence of his sincerity in it (Job 31:34): Did I fear a great multitude, that I kept silence? No, all that knew Job knew him to be a man of undaunted resolution in a good cause, that boldly appeared, spoke, and acted, in defence of religion and justice, and did not fear the face of man nor was ever threatened or brow-beaten out of his duty, but set his face as a flint. Observe,
1.What great conscience Job had made of his duty as a magistrate, or a man of reputation, in the place where he lived. He did not, he durst not, keep silence when he had a call to speak in an honest cause, or keep within doors when he had a call to go abroad to do good. The case may be such that it may be our sin to be silent and retired, as when we are called to reprove sin and bear our testimony against it, to vindicate the truths and ways of God, to do justice to those who are injured or oppressed, or in any way to serve the public or to do honour to our religion.
2.What little account Job made of the discouragements he met with in the way of his duty. He valued not the clamours of the mob, feared not a great multitude, nor did he value the menaces of the mighty: The contempt of families never terrified him. He was not deterred by the number or quality, the scorns or insults, or the injurious from doing justice to the injured; no, he scorned to be swayed and biassed by any such considerations, nor ever suffered a righteous cause to be run down by a high hand. He feared the great God, not the multitude, and his curse, not the contempt of families.
III.From the charge of oppression and violence, and doing wrong to his poor neighbours. And here observe,
1.What his protestation is - that the estate he had he both got and used honestly, so that his land could not cry out against him nor the furrows thereof complain (Job 31:38), as they do against those who get the possession of them by fraud and extortion, Hab 2:9-11. The whole creation is said to groan under the sin of man; but that which is unjustly gained and held cries out against a man, and accuses him, condemns him, and demands justice against him for the injury. Rather than his oppression shall go unpunished the very ground and the furrows of it shall witness against him, and be his prosecutors. Two things he could say safely concerning his estate: - (1.) That he never ate the fruits of it without money, Job 31:39. What he purchased he paid for, as Abraham for the land he bought (Gen 23:16), and David, Sa2 24:24. The labourers that he employed had their wages duly paid them, and, if he made use of the fruits of those lands that he let out, he paid his tenants for them, or allowed it in their rent. (2.) That he never caused the owners thereof to lose their life, never got an estate, as Ahab got Naboth's vineyard, by killing the heir and seizing the inheritance, never starved those that held lands of him nor killed them with hard bargains and hard usage. No tenant, no workman, no servant, he had, could complain of him.
2.How he confirms his protestation. He does it, as often before, with a suitable imprecation (Job 31:40): "If I have got my estate unjustly, let thistles grow instead of wheat, the worst of weeds instead of the best of grains." When men get estates unjustly they are justly deprived of the comfort of them, and disappointed in their expectations from them. They sow their land, but they sow not that body that shall be. God will give it a body. It was sown wheat, but shall come up thistles. What men do not come honestly by will never do them any good. Job, towards the close of his protestation, appeals to the judgment-seat of God concerning the truth of it (Job 31:35-37): O that he would hear me, even that the Almighty would answer me! This was what he desired and often complained that he could not obtain; and, now that he had drawn up his own defence so particularly, he leaves it upon record, in expectation of a hearing, files it, as it were, till his cause be called.
(1.)A trial is moved for, and the motion earnestly pressed: "O that one, any one, would hear me; my cause is so good, and my evidence so clear, that I am willing to refer it to any indifferent person whatsoever; but my desire is that the Almighty himself would determine it." An upright heart does not dread a scrutiny. He that means honestly wishes he had a window in his breast, that all men might see the intents of his heart. But an upright heart does particularly desire to be determined in every thing by the judgment of God, which we are sure is according to the truth. It was holy David's prayer, Search me, O God! and know my heart; and it was blessed Paul's comfort, He that judgeth me is the Lord.
(2.)The prosecutor is called, the plaintiff summoned, and ordered to bring in his information, to say what he has to say against the prisoner, for he stands upon his deliverance: "O that my adversary had written a book - that my friends, who charge me with hypocrisy, would draw up their charge in writing, that it might be reduced to a certainty, and that we might the better join issue upon it." Job would be very glad to see the libel, to have a copy of his indictment. He would not hide it under his arm, but take it upon his shoulder, to be seen and read of all men, nay, he would bind it as a crown to him, would be pleased with it, and look upon it as his ornament; for,
[1.]If it discovered to him any sin he had been guilty of, which he did not yet see, he should be glad to know it, that he might repent of it and get it pardoned. A good man is willing to know the worst of himself and will be thankful to those that will faithfully tell him of his faults.
[2.]If it charged him with what was false, he doubted not but to disprove the allegations, that his innocency would be cleared up as the light, and he should come off with so much the more honour. But,
[3.]He believed that, when his adversaries came to consider the matter so closely as they must do if they put the charge in writing, the accusations would be trivial and minute, and every one that saw them would say, "If this was all they had to say against him, it was a shame they gave him so much trouble."
(3.)The defendant is ready to make his appearance and to give his accusers all the fair play they can desire. He will declare unto them the number of his steps, Job 31:37. He will let them into the history of his own life, will show them all the stages and scenes of it. He will give them a narrative of his conversation, what would make against him as well as what would make for him, and let them make what use they pleased of it; and so confident he is of his integrity that as a prince to be crowned, rather than a prisoner to be tried, he would go near to him, both to his accuser to hear his charge and to his judge to hear his doom. Thus the testimony of his conscience was his rejoicing.
Hic murus aheneus esto, nil conscire sibi -
Be this thy brazen bulwark of defence,
Still to preserve thy conscience innocence.
Those that have kept their hands without spot from the world, as Job did, may lift up their faces without spot unto God, and may comfort themselves with the prospect of his judgment when they lie under the unjust censures of men. If our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence towards God.
Thus the words of Job are ended; that is, he has now said all he would say in answer to his friends: he afterwards said something in a way of self-reproach and condemnation (Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Job 42:2, etc.), but here ends what he had to say in a way of self-defence and vindication. If this suffice not he will say no more; he knows when he has said enough and will submit to the judgment of the bench. Some think the manner of expression intimates that he concluded with an air of assurance and triumph. He now keeps the field and doubts not but to win the field. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
“I have torn all that was received unjustly.” Without boasting, I have torn what I had received. And the expression “on my shoulders” suggests that some [of his friends] gloried in the afflictions of the others; and I did not content myself with giving it back simply, but I nullified it by tearing it. “I have torn all that was received unjustly.”
45. To ‘bear the book upon the shoulder,’ is by practising to carry out Holy Scripture. And observe how orderly it is described both first as being ‘carried on the shoulder,’ and afterwards ‘put round’ him ‘as a crown;’ because, that is to say, the precepts of Sacred Revelation, if they be now borne in practice, afterwards set forth for us the crown of victory in the recompensing. But why does blessed Job beg for ‘the book to be written by the Judge,’ who was not able to attain to the times of the New Testament? But, as has been often said already, he uses the accents of the Elect, and in the personifying of them begs that, which he foresaw would benefit them in all respects. For he himself by the Spirit had for long had that book with him, which by the grace of Inspiration he had obtained, that both by living he should be made acquainted with, and by foreseeing he should announce.
But herein it requires to be known that when we take thought of the precepts of Sacred Revelation, and when we draw off the mind from love of the life of corruption, we as it were hasten on by a kind of footsteps of the heart, to the interior scene of things. Now no man, in abandoning things below, is directly made at the top; because for earning the title to perfection, whilst the soul is day by day being led forward on high, doubtless there is an attaining thereto as it were by a kind of steps of ascending
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Summary
Job 31:36 stands as a powerful testament to Job's unyielding confidence in his own integrity and his fervent desire for divine vindication. In the culmination of his extensive defense, Job boldly declares his readiness to embrace any formal indictment or written charge from his accuser, not as a source of shame or a burden of guilt, but rather as a profound symbol of honor and a badge of triumph. He anticipates that such an accusation, far from exposing wrongdoing, would ultimately serve to prove his blamelessness and lead to his public restoration and affirmation before God and humanity.
Context
Literary Context
Job 31 serves as the climactic and most comprehensive segment of Job's final defense, often characterized as his "oath of innocence" or "challenge to God." This chapter is meticulously structured as a legal plea, wherein Job systematically enumerates a comprehensive list of potential transgressions—ranging from personal moral failings such as lust and covetousness to social injustices like oppressing the poor or denying hospitality—and invokes severe self-imprecations if he has committed any of them. The verse immediately preceding, Job 31:35, articulates Job's desperate yearning for an audience with the Almighty and for his adversary to present a written charge against him. Job 31:36 is a direct and audacious response to this plea, powerfully demonstrating his utter conviction that any such accusation would only serve to highlight his righteousness, thereby transforming a potential burden into an undeniable mark of honor. This defiant declaration sets the stage for God's eventual, dramatic response from the whirlwind in Job 38.
Historical & Cultural Context
The narrative of Job is set in the land of Uz, likely during the patriarchal period, reflecting a tribal, agrarian society where one's reputation and honor were of paramount importance, and public vindication was absolutely crucial. Legal proceedings in this era frequently involved formal accusations and defenses, sometimes necessitating written documents. The imagery employed by Job—bearing something on the "shoulder" or wearing it as a "crown"—draws deeply from ancient Near Eastern customs. Bearing a burden on the shoulder was a common method for carrying heavy loads or signifying responsibility, as seen in various ancient reliefs. Conversely, a crown (or diadem/turban) was a universal symbol of royalty, authority, and honor, frequently worn by kings, priests, or those in positions of high esteem. Job's language thus reflects a profound understanding of the legal and social norms of his time, where a public challenge and subsequent vindication were essential for restoring one's standing within the community. His audacious stance is particularly striking given the cultural emphasis on humility and deference before the divine.
Key Themes
Job 31:36 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Job. Foremost is the theme of Integrity and Righteousness, as Job's unwavering confidence in his blamelessness before God is on full display. Despite his immense suffering and the persistent accusations of his friends, he steadfastly maintains his moral uprightness, echoing the divine assessment of him in Job 1:1. This verse also vividly highlights Job's profound Desire for Vindication, a recurring motif throughout his impassioned speeches. He longs for a direct encounter with God to present his case and clear his name, as passionately expressed in Job 23:3-4. Furthermore, the striking imagery of transforming an indictment into a crown speaks directly to the theme of Suffering and Glory, suggesting that even the deepest trials, when endured with unwavering integrity, can ultimately lead to honor and divine affirmation, thereby foreshadowing the remarkable restoration described in Job 42:10.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root signifies to lift, bear, carry, or accept. It encompasses a wide range of applications, from physically carrying a load to figuratively bearing responsibility or accepting a challenge. In this context, Job's declaration to "take it upon my shoulder" signifies his complete willingness and readiness to receive, accept, and bear the full weight of any formal accusation or indictment. It demonstrates an active posture of embracing the challenge rather than shrinking from it, underscoring his profound confidence in his ability to withstand and overcome the charges.
This term specifically refers to the neck or the area between the shoulders, often understood as the part of the body designed for bearing burdens or responsibilities. It can also figuratively represent the place of authority or strength. For instance, in Isaiah 9:6, the government is said to rest upon the Messiah's shoulder. Here, Job's willingness to "take it upon my shoulder" profoundly signifies his readiness to fully accept and carry the entire weight of any formal accusation or indictment, demonstrating his complete accountability and unwavering resolve to face the charges head-on. It is an act of embracing the challenge with full personal responsibility.
Derived from a root meaning "to encircle," this noun specifically denotes a crown, diadem, or garland. It is a powerful symbol of royalty, authority, honor, triumph, and special distinction. It is often associated with kingship, priesthood, or a mark of glory. By stating he would "bind it as a crown to me," Job elevates the potential indictment from a mark of shame to a symbol of dignity and triumph. He believes that the formal charges, once presented and examined, would not expose his guilt but rather irrefutably confirm his innocence, thereby becoming a badge of honor that affirms his blameless character and vindicates his suffering.
This primitive root means to lace fast, bind, or tie. It implies a deliberate and secure attachment. Job's intention to "bind it as a crown to me" suggests a purposeful act of affixing the indictment to himself, not loosely or reluctantly, but firmly and prominently. This emphasizes his conviction that the accusation will not merely be acknowledged but will become an integral and celebrated part of his identity, transforming from a potential source of disgrace into an undeniable emblem of his vindicated honor.
Verse Breakdown
"Surely I would take it upon my shoulder"
This clause expresses Job's absolute readiness, eagerness, and profound confidence to receive and bear any formal accusation or "book" of charges mentioned in the preceding verse (Job 31:35). The "it" refers directly to the written indictment from his adversary. His willingness to "take it upon my shoulder" signifies not only his acceptance of the challenge but also his capacity and resolute determination to carry the full weight of the legal process and its implications. It powerfully underscores his profound confidence in his own integrity, suggesting that he views the accusation not as a crushing burden but as something he can confidently manage, endure, and ultimately overcome.
"and bind it as a crown to me"
This profoundly metaphorical statement reveals Job's ultimate expectation of glorious vindication. Far from being disgraced or shamed by an indictment, Job anticipates that the very charges leveled against him will, upon examination and divine judgment, serve to irrefutably prove his innocence and elevate his status. To "bind it as a crown" dramatically transforms the symbol of accusation into a symbol of honor, royalty, and triumph. It implies that the arduous process of being accused and then proven innocent will ultimately bring him greater glory and public affirmation of his blameless character, rather than shame or condemnation.
Literary Devices
The verse is exceptionally rich in Metaphor and Symbolism. Job employs the metaphor of taking an indictment "upon my shoulder" to symbolize his readiness to bear the full weight and responsibility of the charges against him, indicating a posture of acceptance and strength rather than avoidance. This metaphor is powerfully extended by the profound symbolism of binding it "as a crown to me." The "crown" here is a potent symbol of honor, royalty, and vindication, dramatically transforming a potential mark of shame into an undeniable badge of glory. This striking contrast between a burden (shoulder) and a mark of honor (crown) creates a strong sense of Irony, as Job envisions an accusation, typically a source of disgrace, becoming the very instrument of his honor and public affirmation. The entire statement is an example of Hyperbole, an exaggeration used for emphatic effect, underscoring Job's extreme confidence, defiance, and unwavering conviction in the face of his immense suffering and his friends' persistent accusations. Furthermore, the Parallelism between "take it upon my shoulder" and "bind it as a crown" reinforces the central idea of embracing and transforming the accusation into something profoundly positive and honorable.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Job's audacious declaration in Job 31:36 speaks profoundly to the innate human desire for justice and vindication, particularly when one is falsely accused or grievously misunderstood. Theologically, it illuminates the concept of divine justice, asserting that God is ultimately the righteous Judge who perceives all truth and will bring it to light. Job's confidence, while rooted in his own perceived righteousness, ultimately reflects a deep, albeit sometimes struggling, trust in God's character as one who rewards integrity and will not abandon the blameless. His willingness to embrace scrutiny as a path to honor foreshadows the New Testament concept that suffering for righteousness' sake can indeed lead to glory and divine commendation. It also underscores the enduring importance of living a life of such profound integrity and transparency that one does not fear examination, trusting that God will ultimately set things right, even if that vindication comes in unexpected ways or after prolonged and arduous trials.
Reflection and Application
Job 31:36 presents a profound challenge to believers, urging us to cultivate a life of such deep integrity, transparency, and blamelessness before God that we would not shrink from scrutiny, but rather welcome it, trusting implicitly in God's ultimate justice and perfect vindication. In a world where reputations are easily tarnished, false accusations proliferate, and public opinion often sways erratically, Job's example encourages us to prioritize an unblemished character before God above fleeting public approval. It invites us to deeply consider how we respond to adversity, criticism, and even unjust accusations: do we cower in fear, retreat in shame, or do we, like Job, possess a spiritual boldness and unwavering conviction that enables us to transform potential burdens into profound opportunities for God's glory to be revealed through our steadfastness? This verse powerfully reminds us that true honor and lasting vindication come not from skillfully avoiding challenges or criticism, but from facing them with a clear conscience and an unwavering faith that God, in His perfect timing, will ultimately set all things right, even if the "crown" of vindication feels like an incredibly heavy burden in the interim.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does Job mean by taking an indictment "upon my shoulder"?
By stating he would "take it upon my shoulder," Job means he would willingly, confidently, and publicly accept any formal accusation or written charge brought against him. In ancient cultures, bearing something on the shoulder often symbolized carrying a significant burden, responsibility, or even authority. Job's use of this imagery here emphasizes his readiness to face the full weight of the legal process and its implications, demonstrating his profound conviction that he is innocent and can successfully defend himself against any charges. He is not avoiding the confrontation but embracing it, trusting that the truth will ultimately prevail. This statement follows his fervent desire in Job 31:35 for his adversary to write a book of charges, which he would then proudly bear.
How can an indictment, typically a source of shame, be "bound as a crown"?
This is a powerful and deeply metaphorical statement that reveals Job's ultimate expectation of glorious vindication. An indictment is typically a source of shame, disgrace, and public humiliation. However, Job is so profoundly confident in his blamelessness that he believes the very act of being accused and then definitively proven innocent would bring him honor and glory, rather than shame. A "crown" is a universal symbol of royalty, dignity, triumph, and high distinction. By saying he would "bind it as a crown," Job means that the formal charges, once meticulously examined and judged, would not expose guilt but would instead irrefutably affirm his integrity, thereby becoming a badge of honor that publicly validates his righteous character and ultimately leads to his restoration and glory. It dramatically transforms a potential burden into an undeniable mark of distinction, demonstrating his unwavering trust in divine justice and his own unblemished conscience.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Job's profound confidence in Job 31:36 was rooted in his own perceived righteousness and integrity, the Christian finds an even greater, perfect, and ultimate fulfillment of this desire for vindication in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job longed for an advocate and a formal hearing, confident in his personal blamelessness; yet, even Job, righteous as he was, remained a fallen human being in need of a redeemer. Christ, however, is the one truly blameless and perfectly upright Man, the only one who could perfectly "take upon His shoulder" the ultimate indictment—not merely a human accusation, but the crushing burden of the sin of the entire world—not as a badge of His own integrity (which was already perfect), but as a substitutionary burden for humanity. The prophet Isaiah foretold that He would "surely bear our griefs and carry our sorrows." Jesus bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment on the cross, becoming sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). His suffering and death, the ultimate indictment against humanity's sin, became the very means by which He was crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9). Through His glorious resurrection, Christ was definitively vindicated by God, and all who are united with Him by faith are likewise declared righteous, receiving not their own earned crown, but the "crown of righteousness" (2 Timothy 4:8) and eternal life through His perfect atoning work. Thus, what Job aspired to in his own limited righteousness, Christ perfectly achieved as our substitute and triumphant King.