Job 31:6

KJV

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let me be weighed {H8254} in an even {H6664} balance {H3976}, that God {H433} may know {H3045} mine integrity {H8538}.

Complete Jewish Bible

then let me be weighed on an honest scale, so that God will know my integrity.

Berean Standard Bible

let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

American Standard Version

(Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity);

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 31:6 presents Job's profound and audacious appeal to God amidst his intense suffering and the relentless accusations of his friends. It is a heartfelt declaration of his unwavering conviction in his own righteousness and a desperate plea for divine vindication. In this verse, Job challenges the prevailing assumption that his calamities are a direct consequence of hidden sin, asserting that a perfectly just and impartial divine examination of his life will unequivocally reveal his blameless integrity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 31:6 is strategically placed within Job's climactic and extensive final defense, which spans chapters 29-31. Following his poignant recollection of a past life characterized by honor, prosperity, and righteous conduct in [Job 29](/job/29 "Job 29 - Job's Former Prosperity and Honor"), and his lament over his current state of abject suffering and societal scorn in [Job 30](/job/30 "Job 30 - Job's Present Suffering and Humiliation"), Job launches into a detailed series of negative confessions, often termed "oaths of purgation," in [Job 31](/job/31 "Job 31 - Job's Oath of Innocence"). In this chapter, he systematically denies having committed various sins—including lust, injustice, dishonesty, and idolatry—that his friends might have implicitly or explicitly attributed to him as the cause of his suffering. Verse 6 serves as a powerful summation and the ultimate challenge of this defense, a direct appeal to the divine court for a definitive verdict on his integrity, confident that God Himself will find him innocent. It is a bold, almost defiant, yet ultimately trusting plea to the Almighty.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, scales and balances were far more than mere commercial instruments; they were potent symbols of justice, equity, and truth. Legal proceedings frequently employed a metaphorical "weighing" of evidence or character. To be "weighed in an even balance" (or "balances of righteousness") was a common idiom signifying a perfectly fair, precise, and impartial examination, akin to a divine audit or a legal trial before the highest authority. Job's plea reflects the judicial customs of his day, where one might present their case before a judge, seeking a just verdict. The concept of divine judgment was pervasive, with deities often depicted as weighing human deeds or hearts. Job’s society, like many ancient cultures, often linked suffering directly to sin, viewing calamity as divine retribution. Job’s insistence on his integrity despite his suffering directly confronts this prevailing theological framework, making his appeal to God for a just weighing all the more radical and poignant.
* **Key Themes:** Job 31:6 powerfully encapsulates several central themes of the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights Job's unwavering **Assertion of Innocence** and **Righteousness**. Throughout his ordeal, Job consistently maintains his uprightness and blamelessness, a stark contrast to his friends' dogmatic insistence that his suffering must be punishment for hidden sin, echoing the initial divine testimony about Job in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Job's Blameless Character"). Secondly, the verse expresses Job's profound **Desire for Divine Vindication**. Job is not primarily seeking human approval or the cessation of his suffering as much as he longs for God's own acknowledgment and affirmation of his integrity. He believes that only a divine judgment can truly reveal the truth of his character, as articulated in his earlier cry, "Oh that I had one to hear me!" ([Job 31:35](/job/31-35 "Job 31:35 - Job's Final Challenge")). Finally, despite his intense questioning of God's ways and apparent injustice, Job's plea ultimately demonstrates a deep, underlying **Trust in God's Justice**. He is willing to submit to the ultimate divine tribunal, confident that God, who "weighs the spirits" ([Proverbs 16:2](/proverbs/16-2 "Proverbs 16:2 - The Lord Weighs the Spirits")), will find him innocent, even if His current actions seem to contradict His character.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Weighed (Hebrew, _shâqal'_):** This primitive root signifies the act of suspending or poising, particularly in the context of commercial transactions involving precious metals. In a judicial or evaluative sense, it implies a precise, thorough, and accurate assessment of worth, merit, or character. Job desires a meticulous, incontrovertible examination of his life, not a superficial glance, to determine its true spiritual and moral weight.
* **Balance (Hebrew, _môʼzên'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to weigh," this noun (always used in the dual form) refers to a pair of scales. When qualified by `tsedeq` (H6664, "righteousness" or "evenness" as in "even balance"), it denotes scales that are perfectly calibrated, accurate, and incapable of deception or bias. Job's request for an "even balance" emphasizes his demand for a judgment free from any flaw, prejudice, or inaccuracy, ensuring a verdict that is absolutely fair and true.
* **Integrity (Hebrew, _tummâh'_):** This feminine noun, derived from a root meaning "to be complete" or "perfect," denotes completeness, soundness, innocence, or moral uprightness. It speaks to a wholeness of character, a sincerity and blamelessness that is free from hidden fault, deceit, or hypocrisy. It describes a person whose inner disposition and outward actions are consistent with righteousness. Job is asserting that his entire being, not just his external conduct, is pure and without blemish in God's sight.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let me be weighed in an even balance":** This clause represents Job's bold and direct challenge to God, framed as a legal metaphor. It is a plea for a divine audit, a request for God to act as the supreme Judge and subject Job's entire life, character, and actions to a perfectly fair and impartial examination. Job is confident that such an assessment, conducted with divine precision and justice, will reveal no hidden sin or fault that could justify his suffering. He is essentially saying, "Test me, God, with the most accurate scales of justice imaginable, and you will find me innocent."
* **"that God may know mine integrity":** This clause states the profound purpose of Job's audacious request. It is not that Job believes God is ignorant of his integrity in an absolute sense; rather, he desires God to *demonstrate*, *affirm*, or *publicly acknowledge* it through the process of this divine weighing. The phrase "that God may know" implies a decisive, vindicating revelation of Job's blamelessness that would silence his accusers and align God's actions with His own perfect knowledge. Job longs for the truth of his inner moral soundness and blamelessness to be unequivocally revealed and confirmed by the ultimate authority.

#### Literary Devices
Job 31:6 employs several powerful **literary devices** that amplify its meaning and emotional impact. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where the act of "weighing in an even balance" serves as a vivid representation of a perfectly just and impartial divine judgment. This metaphor draws on the familiar ancient Near Eastern practice of using scales for commerce and legal verification, making the abstract concept of divine justice tangible and relatable. The phrase "even balance" itself functions as a **synecdoche**, where the instrument (the balance) stands for the entire process of righteous and equitable judgment. There is also a strong element of **Apostrophe**, as Job directly addresses God, even though God has not yet fully revealed Himself in this part of the narrative. This direct address underscores Job's desperate, personal, and profoundly trusting appeal to the divine. Furthermore, a subtle **Irony** permeates the verse: Job, a man explicitly declared blameless by God Himself at the outset of the book, is now suffering immensely and being accused by his friends, leading him to appeal to the very God who allowed his suffering for vindication. This highlights the central tension of the book concerning divine justice and human suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 31:6 speaks powerfully to the theological truth of God's omniscience and His perfect justice. Job's appeal for a divine weighing underscores the reality that God truly sees and knows the heart of every individual, far beyond outward appearances or human judgment. This divine knowledge is not merely intellectual but involves a comprehensive understanding of one's deepest character and motivations. It provides both comfort and challenge: comfort in knowing that God understands our true intentions when we are misunderstood, and challenge in recognizing that no hidden sin or pretense can escape His gaze. Job's longing for vindication also resonates with the universal human desire for justice, especially when suffering unjustly. It reminds us that while human systems of justice are imperfect, there is an ultimate, divine tribunal where all things will be made right and true integrity will be acknowledged.

* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - God Looks at the Heart")
* [Proverbs 16:2](/proverbs/16-2 "Proverbs 16:2 - The Lord Weighs the Spirits")
* [Psalm 7:8](/psalms/7-8 "Psalm 7:8 - God Judges the Peoples")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's bold declaration in Job 31:6 serves as a profound model for believers navigating trials, misunderstandings, and false accusations. It encourages us to cultivate a life of genuine integrity, lived not for human applause or recognition, but with an unwavering awareness that our ultimate accountability is to God alone. When facing adversity or the unjust judgments of others, we can find solace and strength in the knowledge that God sees beyond superficial appearances and knows the true condition of our hearts. This perspective liberates us from the burden of constantly defending ourselves to others and empowers us to live authentically before our Creator. It also invites us to trust in God's perfect justice, even when His ways seem inscrutable or His timing delayed. Job's willingness to submit to a divine audit, confident in his blamelessness, challenges us to examine our own lives and ask if we are living in such a way that we, too, could stand before God's "even balance" with a clear conscience, relying on His grace and truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's bold appeal to God challenge our own understanding of divine justice and suffering in our lives?**
* **In what areas of your life might you need to ask God to "weigh" your integrity, seeking His truth and guidance?**
* **How does knowing that God sees your heart, not just your outward actions, impact your daily living and your response to criticism?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate greater integrity in your thoughts, words, and deeds, living as if constantly before God's "even balance"?**

### FAQ

**Is Job questioning God's knowledge or justice in Job 31:6?**

Answer: Job is not questioning God's knowledge in the sense that he believes God is ignorant of his integrity. Instead, he is appealing to God's inherent knowledge and perfect justice. His plea is a challenge for God to *demonstrate* or *affirm* what He already knows to be true about Job's character. It's a cry for vindication, for God to act upon His omniscience and reveal Job's blamelessness to the world, thereby settling the dispute with his friends and resolving the theological tension of his suffering. Job trusts that if God truly applies His perfect standard, He will find Job innocent of the hidden sins his friends accuse him of, thus upholding God's own righteous character.

**How does this verse relate to the idea of human righteousness before God?**

Answer: Job 31:6 highlights the Old Testament concept of covenant righteousness, where an individual's uprightness was demonstrated by their adherence to God's commands and moral law, reflecting a sincere heart. Job asserts his own righteousness, not in a boastful or self-sufficient way, but as a defense against the accusations that his suffering is punitive. He believes he has lived a life of integrity according to the light he has been given. This verse underscores the human desire for blamelessness before God and the importance of a pure heart. However, it also subtly foreshadows the ultimate inadequacy of human righteousness to stand perfectly before God's absolute standard, pointing to the need for a greater, divinely provided righteousness, which is fully revealed in the New Testament.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's impassioned plea to be "weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity" finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job, a righteous man, longed for a perfect divine audit, confident in his own blamelessness, yet still wrestling with the mystery of suffering and the limitations of human righteousness. In contrast, Jesus Christ is the only human being who lived a life of absolute, unblemished integrity, fulfilling every jot and tittle of God's law ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). He was truly "weighed in an even balance" throughout His earthly ministry, enduring temptation without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our High Priest")), and ultimately on the cross, where He was weighed with the full burden of humanity's sin, yet found perfectly righteous.

Our own "integrity," as Job sought to demonstrate his, is inherently flawed and insufficient to stand before God's perfect balance ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). However, the good news of the gospel is that through faith in Christ, His perfect integrity and righteousness are imputed to us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Made Sin for Us")). We are declared righteous, not by our own merit, but by His. The "even balance" of God's justice, which would justly condemn us, instead finds us blameless and accepted in Christ, because He bore our condemnation. Thus, Job's yearning for divine vindication is fully realized for believers in the ultimate vindication of Christ's resurrection and our justification in Him, allowing us to stand before God without fear, knowing that our "integrity" is now found in the perfect Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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

Daniel 5:27

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

Psalms 7:8

The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity [that is] in me.

Psalms 7:9

Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

Matthew 7:23

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1 Samuel 2:3

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let [not] arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD [is] a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

Job 6:2

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

Psalms 139:23

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: