Job 31:40

KJV

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let thistles {H2336} grow {H3318} instead of wheat {H2406}, and cockle {H890} instead of barley {H8184}. The words {H1697} of Job {H347} are ended {H8552}.

Complete Jewish Bible

then let thistles grow instead of wheat and noxious weeds instead of barley! "The words of Iyov are finished."

Berean Standard Bible

then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.

American Standard Version

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 31:40 concludes Job's extensive and impassioned final defense, where he meticulously asserts his integrity and innocence before God and his accusers. This verse serves as the climactic statement of his self-imprecation, a solemn oath in which Job invokes a severe agricultural curse upon his own land should he be found guilty of the transgressions he has vehemently denied. The subsequent narrative interjection, "The words of Job are ended," marks a pivotal transition, signaling the close of Job's direct speeches and setting the stage for the divine intervention that will follow.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 31:40 stands as the powerful culmination of Job's final monologue, which spans chapters 29-31. Throughout this extended discourse, Job reflects on his past prosperity and righteousness (chapter 29), laments his current suffering and the scorn he endured (chapter 30), and most significantly, presents a comprehensive oath of innocence (chapter 31). In chapter 31, Job systematically denies a wide array of potential sins, from coveting and adultery to injustice towards the poor and idolatry, concluding each denial with a self-curse, inviting divine judgment if he has indeed transgressed. Verse 40 is the final, sweeping imprecation, summarizing his absolute conviction in his blamelessness. This verse directly follows Job's challenge to God in [Job 31:35](/job/31-35 "Job 31:35 - Job's Demand for a Divine Response"), where he expresses a desire for God to answer him and to have his "indictment written." The concluding phrase, "The words of Job are ended," is a crucial editorial note by the narrator, signaling the end of the long dialogue phase between Job and his three friends, and preparing the reader for the subsequent speeches of Elihu and, ultimately, God's direct address from the whirlwind in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Answers Job from the Whirlwind").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of self-imprecatory oaths was deeply ingrained in ancient Near Eastern legal and social systems. Such oaths were not mere figures of speech but solemn, binding declarations made before deities, invoking specific curses upon oneself or one's property if the oath was violated or if one was found to be lying. In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, the well-being of the land and its productivity were directly linked to divine favor and human righteousness. A curse involving agricultural desolation, such as "thistles instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley," was therefore one of the most severe and tangible forms of judgment imaginable. This concept resonates with the broader biblical understanding that human sin can defile the land, leading to barrenness or expulsion, as seen in the curse on the ground after Adam's sin in [Genesis 3:17-19](/genesis/3-17 "Genesis 3:17-19 - The Curse on the Ground") or the covenant curses described in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Job's willingness to stake his very livelihood on his integrity underscores the profound seriousness with which such oaths were regarded and his absolute conviction in his own moral uprightness.

* **Key Themes:** Job 31:40 powerfully encapsulates several major themes woven throughout the Book of Job. Primarily, it highlights **Job's unwavering confidence in his innocence and integrity**. Despite immense suffering and the accusations of his friends, Job maintains his blamelessness before God, to the point of inviting a devastating agricultural curse upon himself if he were proven false. This commitment to truth and righteousness in the face of adversity is a central tenet of the book. Secondly, the verse underscores the **gravity and binding nature of ancient oaths and covenants**, particularly those involving self-imprecation, demonstrating how deeply personal conduct was believed to affect the natural world and divine judgment. Finally, the concluding phrase, "The words of Job are ended," serves as a critical **narrative transition**, marking the end of the human dialogue and setting the stage for God's ultimate revelation. This transition emphasizes the limitations of human wisdom and argument in fully comprehending divine justice and suffering, preparing the reader for the shift from human discourse to divine discourse.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Thistles (Hebrew, _choach_):** This term refers to various thorny, prickly, and useless weeds that infest cultivated land. In biblical imagery, thistles often symbolize the futility of human effort, the curse on the ground, or the unproductive nature of a life apart from God's blessing. Here, it represents a complete reversal of agricultural prosperity, yielding only pain and uselessness instead of sustenance.
* **Cockle (Hebrew, _bo'shah_):** Literally meaning "stinkweed" or "foul-smelling plant," this weed is known for its noxious odor and its ability to choke out valuable crops. It is a potent symbol of corruption, worthlessness, and a repulsive outcome. The pairing with "thistles" intensifies the imagery of utter desolation and the production of only harmful, undesirable growth.
* **Ended (Hebrew, _tammu_):** This verb signifies completion, cessation, or being brought to an end. In the context of "The words of Job are ended," it functions as a definitive narrative marker. It indicates that Job has said all he intends to say in his defense and challenge, closing his part of the extended dialogue and moving the narrative forward to a new phase.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.":** This is Job's final self-imprecation, a conditional curse he places upon his own land. It is a declaration of his absolute confidence in his innocence. If he has committed any of the sins he has just disavowed (Job 31:1-39), then his fields, which should produce life-sustaining wheat and barley, should instead yield only worthless and harmful weeds. This vividly portrays a land cursed by God due to the owner's sin, a direct inversion of the blessings promised for obedience and a powerful testament to the severity of the oath.
* **"The words of Job are ended.":** This is an editorial comment by the author of the Book of Job, not part of Job's speech. It functions as a narrative bridge, signaling to the reader that Job's extensive monologue, which has dominated the preceding chapters, has now concluded. This phrase marks a significant turning point in the book, indicating that the stage is now set for a new character (Elihu) and ultimately, for God Himself to speak. It underscores the finality of Job's human arguments and his readiness for a divine response.

#### Literary Devices
Job 31:40 employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Imprecation**, where Job invokes a curse upon himself and his land as a testament to his innocence. This is a common feature in ancient Near Eastern legal oaths, emphasizing the gravity of his declaration. The specific imagery used, "thistles instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley," is a powerful form of **Antithesis** and **Agricultural Imagery**. It creates a stark contrast between desired productivity and utter desolation, vividly illustrating the severity of the proposed curse. This imagery is also a form of **Symbolism**, where the barren, weed-infested land symbolizes a life or character deemed worthless or cursed by God. Finally, the concluding phrase, "The words of Job are ended," functions as a **Narrative Interjection** or **Authorial Comment**. It breaks the flow of direct speech to provide a meta-narrative observation, guiding the reader through the structural progression of the book and marking a significant narrative transition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 31:40 stands as a profound theological statement on human integrity, divine justice, and the nature of covenants. Job's willingness to invoke such a severe land-curse underscores the deep-seated belief in the ancient world that human moral conduct had direct implications for the natural order and divine blessing. His self-imprecation is not merely a legal formality but a spiritual act, expressing his conviction that God is just and would indeed bring judgment upon him if he were guilty. This resonates with the biblical principle that the land itself can be defiled by human sin and respond with barrenness, as seen in the consequences of the Fall and the curses outlined in the Mosaic Covenant. Job's desperate plea for vindication, culminating in this oath, highlights the tension between his perceived righteousness and his inexplicable suffering, setting the stage for God's ultimate revelation, which transcends human understanding of justice.

* [Genesis 3:17-18](/genesis/3-17 "The Curse on the Ground")
* [Deuteronomy 28:15-20](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Curses for Disobedience")
* [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 31:40, while rooted in an ancient cultural context of self-imprecatory oaths, offers timeless insights into integrity, the weight of our words, and the posture of waiting before God. Job's willingness to stake his entire well-being on his blamelessness challenges us to examine the depth of our own convictions and the sincerity of our walk before God. Do we live with such integrity that we could, metaphorically, invite the consequences of our actions upon ourselves if we were found to be deceitful? While we are not called to make such oaths, Job's example calls us to a radical transparency and honesty in our lives, particularly in the face of adversity or accusation. Furthermore, the concluding phrase "The words of Job are ended" serves as a powerful reminder of the limits of human argument and the necessity of patient waiting for God's divine revelation. After all our pleas, defenses, and questions, there often comes a period of silence before God speaks, teaching us to trust in His timing and His sovereign wisdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's radical commitment to integrity challenge your own understanding of living a blameless life before God?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be tempted to compromise integrity, and how can Job's example encourage you to stand firm?**
* **What does "The words of Job are ended" teach us about the importance of patience and waiting for God's voice after we have exhausted our own arguments?**

### FAQ

**What is a "self-imprecatory oath" and why was it so significant in Job's time?**

Answer: A self-imprecatory oath is a solemn declaration where an individual calls down a curse upon themselves or their property if their statement is found to be false. In ancient Near Eastern societies, such oaths were extremely serious and legally binding. They were invoked to prove innocence, establish truth, or confirm a covenant. The significance lay in the belief that the gods (or God, in Israel's case) would enforce the curse if the oath-taker was lying. For Job, a wealthy landowner, invoking a curse of agricultural desolation ("thistles instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley") was the ultimate demonstration of his absolute conviction in his own integrity, as it threatened his very livelihood and status. It was a public challenge to divine justice to expose any falsehood in his claims.

**Why does the text say, "The words of Job are ended"? Does he never speak again?**

Answer: The phrase "The words of Job are ended" is an important narrative interjection by the author of the Book of Job. It signals the conclusion of Job's extensive and climactic monologue (chapters 29-31), which has been the primary focus of the narrative since the dialogue with his friends began. It marks a structural turning point in the book, indicating that the long period of human argument and lament has come to a close. While Job does speak again later in the book (e.g., in [Job 40:3-5](/job/40-3 "Job 40:3-5 - Job's Humble Response") and [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Confession") after God's direct addresses), this specific phrase signifies the end of his *defense* and *challenge* to God and his friends, paving the way for new voices (Elihu) and ultimately, God's direct revelation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 31:40, with its imagery of a land cursed with thistles and cockle, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Job's self-imprecation, though a testament to his human integrity, highlights the reality of a world under a curse due to sin, a curse first pronounced in [Genesis 3:17-18](/genesis/3-17 "Genesis 3:17-18 - The Curse on the Ground") where the ground yields "thorns and thistles" because of Adam's disobedience. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, perfectly embodies the integrity Job desperately sought to prove. He did not need to invoke a self-curse, for He was truly blameless, "who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth" ([1 Peter 2:22](/1_peter/2-22 "1 Peter 2:22 - Christ's Sinlessness")). Yet, in an astonishing act of divine love, Christ became a curse for us, taking upon Himself the very curse of sin and death that humanity deserved ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). He wore a crown of thorns, symbolizing the very thistles and curses of the fallen world, as He bore the weight of humanity's sin on the cross ([Matthew 27:29](/matthew/27-29 "Matthew 27:29 - The Crown of Thorns")). Through His sacrifice, Jesus redeems us from the curse, transforming the barrenness of sin into the fruitfulness of righteousness, ultimately ushering in a new creation where the curse is no more ([Revelation 22:3](/revelation/22-3 "Revelation 22:3 - No More Curse")). Job's words ended, but Christ's finished work on the cross speaks an eternal word of redemption and restoration.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 72:20

The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.

Genesis 3:17

¶ And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life;

Genesis 3:18

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Malachi 1:3

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Zephaniah 2:9

Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

Isaiah 7:23

And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall [even] be for briers and thorns.