Job 31:39

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

If I have eaten {H398} the fruits {H3581} thereof without money {H3701}, or have caused the owners {H1167} thereof to lose {H5301} their life {H5315}:

if I ate its produce without paying or made its owners despair;

if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

Commentary

Context

Job 31 is a powerful and climactic chapter in the Book of Job, representing Job's final and most extensive declaration of his innocence before God and his accusers. In this chapter, Job systematically reviews various categories of sin, taking an oath of purgation – essentially calling down curses upon himself if he has committed any of the transgressions he lists. This particular verse, Job 31:39, is part of a series of verses (Job 31:38-40) where Job addresses his conduct regarding his land and its produce, specifically denying any acts of economic injustice or violence connected to his property.

Key Themes

  • Economic Justice and Integrity: Job explicitly denies taking produce from land without payment, which would be a form of theft or exploitation. This demonstrates his commitment to fair dealings and respect for property rights, reflecting the importance of ethical conduct in ancient societies.
  • Sanctity of Life and Property: The second part of the verse, "or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life," speaks to an even graver offense: causing the death of landowners, likely for the purpose of illicit gain or seizing their property. This highlights the severe consequences of covetousness and the profound value placed on human life and legitimate ownership, aligning with divine law found elsewhere in Scripture, such as the prohibition against murder.
  • Personal Accountability: Job's comprehensive self-examination underscores his deep conviction that God is a righteous judge who sees all actions. His willingness to invite divine retribution if found guilty emphasizes his confidence in his own integrity and his understanding of God's justice.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "eaten the fruits thereof without money" uses the Hebrew term yebul for "fruits" or "produce," emphasizing the yield of the land. "Without money" (beli kaseph) clearly indicates non-payment, implying theft or unjust acquisition. The latter part, "caused the owners thereof to lose their life" (literally "made the soul of its owners go out"), is a strong and direct accusation of causing death, whether through direct violence to seize land or through such severe exploitation that it led to their demise. Job denies both the lesser sin of theft and the greater sin of murder for gain, showcasing the breadth of his moral uprightness.

Practical Application

Job's unwavering commitment to justice and integrity, even in his personal dealings with land and resources, offers timeless lessons:

  • Ethical Conduct: We are called to conduct our business and personal affairs with honesty, fairness, and respect for others' property and livelihood. This applies to all forms of transactions, labor, and resource management.
  • Respect for Life: The verse reminds us of the sanctity of human life and the profound evil of actions that lead to another's suffering or death, especially for selfish gain.
  • Self-Examination: Job's thorough self-assessment encourages believers to regularly examine their own hearts and actions, striving for a life that honors God in both public and private spheres. This reflects the call to live righteously, knowing that God sees all, as expressed in passages like Proverbs 15:3: "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good."
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Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 21:19 (5 votes)

    And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

  • James 5:4 (3 votes)

    Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

  • Isaiah 26:21 (2 votes)

    For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

  • Proverbs 1:19 (2 votes)

    So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

  • 1 Kings 21:13 (2 votes)

    And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, [even] against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.

  • 1 Kings 21:16 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

  • Ezekiel 22:12 (2 votes)

    In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.