Job 9:31

KJV

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

KJV (with Strong's)

Yet {H227} shalt thou plunge {H2881} me in the ditch {H7845}, and mine own clothes {H8008} shall abhor {H8581} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

you would plunge me into the muddy pit, till my own clothes would detest me.

Berean Standard Bible

then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.

American Standard Version

Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 9:31 encapsulates Job's profound despair and sense of utter defilement in the face of God's overwhelming power and perceived hostility. Despite his insistence on his own innocence regarding the specific accusations of his friends, Job feels that any attempt at self-justification or purification would be futile. He believes that God, in His absolute holiness and might, could effortlessly plunge him into a state of such extreme disgrace and corruption that even his own garments, symbols of his outward honor, would recoil in disgust. This verse powerfully conveys Job's conviction that human righteousness is utterly insufficient before divine perfection, leading to a desperate cry for a mediator.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 9:31 is part of Job's first extensive response to Bildad, following Bildad's rigid assertion that God only punishes the wicked, implying Job's suffering is due to his sin. In this chapter, Job grapples with the paradox of God's undeniable power and justice versus his own inexplicable suffering. He acknowledges God's omnipotence and wisdom (e.g., [Job 9:4-10](/job/9-4 "Job 9:4-10 - God's Wisdom and Might")), but feels utterly unable to contend with Him or prove his innocence. Job expresses a deep sense of futility in seeking vindication from a God who, he believes, would overwhelm him regardless of his righteousness. The verses immediately preceding Job 9:31 (e.g., [Job 9:29-30](/job/9-29 "Job 9:29-30 - Job's Futile Attempts at Cleansing")) emphasize Job's conviction that even if he were to wash himself with the purest soap, God would still find a way to condemn him, leading directly into the imagery of being plunged into a ditch.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery in Job 9:31 draws heavily on ancient Near Eastern concepts of purity, defilement, and honor-shame culture. In Israelite society, ritual purity was paramount, with specific laws governing what made a person unclean (e.g., contact with a corpse, certain skin diseases, bodily discharges) and how one could be cleansed. Being "plunged in the ditch" evokes the deepest possible state of impurity and social degradation, far beyond mere ritual defilement, suggesting a moral and spiritual corruption that is beyond human remedy. Clothes were not merely functional but symbolic of one's status, honor, and identity. For one's "own clothes" to "abhor" them signifies a complete and utter loss of honor, a public disgrace so profound that even the closest personal items would reject the individual, leaving them utterly exposed and shamed.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights the **futility of human self-justification** before an infinitely holy God. Job's despair underscores the biblical truth that human righteousness, even at its best, falls short of divine perfection, a concept echoed in passages like [Isaiah 64:6](/isaiah/64-6 "Isaiah 64:6 - Our Righteousness as Filthy Rags"). Secondly, it emphasizes **God's absolute sovereignty and unchallengeable power**, which Job perceives as being wielded against him without recourse. Thirdly, the verse vividly portrays **profound despair and existential helplessness**, as Job feels trapped in a situation where he cannot escape God's judgment, regardless of his perceived innocence. Finally, it subtly introduces the **longing for a mediator**, as Job's inability to approach God directly foreshadows his later cry for an "umpire" or "arbiter" in [Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a Mediator").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plunge (Hebrew, _tāval'_):** This verb means "to dip, immerse, plunge." It implies a deliberate, forceful act of submerging. In this context, it is God who is doing the plunging, indicating His absolute control over Job's circumstances and His ability to bring about a state of complete defilement. It's not a gentle dip but a forceful submersion into something utterly repugnant.
* **Ditch (Hebrew, _shachath'_):** While literally meaning a "pit" or "ditch," this word often carries connotations of destruction, corruption, or decay. It is not merely a hole in the ground but a place of filth, ruin, or even the grave. Job uses it to signify a state of profound moral and spiritual degradation, a place of utter vileness and disgrace from which there is no escape or cleansing.
* **Abhor (Hebrew, _tāʿav'_):** This strong verb means "to detest, loathe, find abominable, abhor." It expresses extreme disgust and repulsion. The use of this word emphasizes the depth of the defilement Job anticipates; it's not just a mild dislike but an intense, visceral rejection, even from his own clothes, which are typically seen as extensions of oneself and one's honor.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch":** This clause expresses Job's conviction that despite any efforts he might make to purify himself (as mentioned in [Job 9:30](/job/9-30 "Job 9:30 - Washing with Snow and Lye")), God Himself would actively and deliberately cast him into a state of ultimate defilement and ruin. The "ditch" represents not just a physical pit but a condition of utter disgrace, moral corruption, and spiritual uncleanness, from which no human effort can extricate him. It underscores Job's feeling of being utterly helpless and at God's mercy, even if that mercy seems to be withheld.
* **"and mine own clothes shall abhor me":** This powerful imagery conveys the extreme shame and repulsion Job anticipates. Clothes were symbols of one's identity, status, and honor in ancient society. For his own garments to "abhor" him signifies a complete and humiliating rejection, a state so vile that even inanimate objects associated with him would turn away in disgust. It illustrates the depth of his perceived defilement, suggesting that his disgrace would be so profound that it would permeate his very being and outward appearance, rendering him utterly repugnant to himself and to all.

#### Literary Devices
Job 9:31 employs several potent literary devices to convey Job's despair. **Hyperbole** is evident in the extreme nature of the defilement and rejection described; it's an exaggeration to emphasize the depth of his feeling of uncleanness. The phrase "mine own clothes shall abhor me" is a striking example of **Personification**, attributing human emotions and actions (abhorrence) to inanimate objects (clothes). This device vividly communicates the overwhelming shame Job feels, suggesting that his disgrace is so profound it extends even to his personal effects. Furthermore, the verse is rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid picture of being submerged in filth and rejected by one's own attire, appealing strongly to the reader's sense of disgust and shame. The "ditch" itself functions as a **Symbolism** for ultimate degradation, corruption, and inescapable ruin, while "clothes" symbolize one's honor and public standing, making their "abhorrence" a powerful symbol of complete loss of dignity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 9:31 serves as a poignant expression of humanity's inherent inability to achieve righteousness or self-justification before a perfectly holy God. Job's desperate cry highlights the vast chasm between divine perfection and human imperfection, demonstrating that no amount of personal effort, ritual cleansing, or moral striving can bridge this gap. It underscores the biblical truth that true cleansing and reconciliation must come from God Himself, not from human initiative. This verse, therefore, implicitly points to the necessity of a divine provision for sin and defilement, setting the stage for the later revelation of a perfect mediator.

* [Psalm 130:3](/psalm/130-3 "Psalm 130:3 - If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities")
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - By the Works of the Law No One Will Be Justified")
* [Galatians 2:16](/galatians/2-16 "Galatians 2:16 - Justification by Faith in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's agonizing cry in Job 9:31 resonates deeply with the human experience of feeling utterly overwhelmed, misunderstood, or unjustly treated, especially when wrestling with feelings of spiritual inadequacy before God. It confronts us with the sobering reality that our own attempts at self-improvement, moral striving, or even religious rituals are ultimately insufficient to make us truly clean or righteous in the eyes of a holy God. This verse compels us to acknowledge our inherent limitations and the profound need for a divine intervention to address our deepest defilement. It reminds us that true cleansing and acceptance before God are not earned through our efforts but received as a gift through His grace. When we feel "plunged in the ditch" of our own failures or the world's injustices, this verse points us away from futile self-cleansing and towards the only one who can truly purify and restore.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you tend to rely on your own efforts for self-justification or acceptance, rather than God's grace?**
* **How does Job's feeling of utter defilement challenge your understanding of human righteousness versus divine holiness?**
* **What does it mean for you to acknowledge that your "own clothes" (your outward appearance, achievements, or reputation) cannot truly cleanse or justify you before God?**
* **How does this verse lead you to a deeper appreciation for the provision of a divine mediator?**

### FAQ
**Why would Job say his "own clothes shall abhor me"? Isn't that just extreme language?**

Answer: Job's statement, "mine own clothes shall abhor me," is indeed extreme language, but it's a powerful and intentional use of **hyperbole** and **personification** to convey the absolute depth of his despair and perceived defilement. In ancient cultures, clothes were not just garments; they were deeply symbolic of one's identity, honor, and social standing. To be stripped of one's clothes, or for one's clothes to be defiled, was a profound public disgrace. Job is saying that the disgrace and corruption he feels would be so pervasive and profound that even the very fabric closest to his skin, representing his outward appearance and honor, would recoil in utter disgust. It's not merely an exaggeration but a vivid illustration of a state of ultimate shame and spiritual uncleanness that he believes God would impose upon him, leaving him utterly repugnant even to himself.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 9:31, with its stark portrayal of human inability to achieve purity and justification before a holy God, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job's desperate cry for a mediator, for someone to "lay his hand on us both" ([Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for an Umpire")), is answered perfectly in Jesus. While Job feared being plunged into a ditch of defilement by God, Christ Himself was "plunged" into the depths of human sin and suffering, bearing the defilement of the world, so that we might be cleansed. He became sin for us, "who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). The "filthy rags" of our own righteousness, which Job implicitly laments, are exchanged for the spotless robes of Christ's perfect righteousness, freely given to all who believe ([Isaiah 61:10](/isaiah/61-10 "Isaiah 61:10 - Robes of Righteousness")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus washes us clean, not with water or lye, but with His precious blood, making us whiter than snow ([Revelation 1:5](/revelation/1-5 "Revelation 1:5 - Washed by His Blood"); [Psalm 51:7](/psalm/51-7 "Psalm 51:7 - Wash Me, and I Shall Be Whiter Than Snow")). Thus, the ultimate abhorrence Job feared is replaced by divine acceptance and adoption, all because of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([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

Isaiah 64:6

¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Isaiah 59:6

Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands.

Philippians 3:8

Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

Philippians 3:9

¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Job 9:20

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

Job 15:6

Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.