The Meaning of Job 31:16 Explained

Job 31:16

KJV: If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

YLT: If I withhold from pleasure the poor, And the eyes of the widow do consume,

Darby: If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

ASV: If I have withheld the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

Discover Job 31:16

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Job 31:16?

MEANING: What does Job 31:16 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Job 31:16 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Job 31:16?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If I have withheld  the poor  from [their] desire,  or have caused the eyes  of the widow  to fail; 

What does Job 31:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 31:1-40 - The Clean Life
Job had specially guarded against impurity, for its heritage is one of calamity and disaster. He is sure that even if he were weighed by God Himself there would be no iniquity discovered in him. He even goes so far as to invoke the most awful results if he has sinned against the seventh commandment. It is well for us if we are able with similar sincerity to appeal to the verdict of God and of our own heart. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to beget in us purity and separateness from sin, that we may walk with unsullied garments.
Job also protests the even-handedness of his dealings with his servants, alleging the principle which underlies the whole Christian teaching on the point, that we all have been made by the same Creator. He insists on his benevolence to the widow and the fatherless. He is careful to show that he had not failed in doing all the good that was within his reach. Alas, how few of us can say as much! How many such occasions cross our path every day, which we heedlessly let pass!
With this appeal Job goes into the presence of God, and asks for a reply. In the strong gospel light we are too deeply convicted of sin to dare to do this, and must rely upon the merits of Christ. In these alone can we approach the uncreated light. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 31

1  Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties

What do the individual words in Job 31:16 mean?

if I have kept from [their] desire the poor Or the eyes of the widow caused to fail
אִם־ אֶ֭מְנַע מֵחֵ֣פֶץ דַּלִּ֑ים וְעֵינֵ֖י אַלְמָנָ֣ה אֲכַלֶּֽה

אֶ֭מְנַע  I  have  kept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מָנַע  
Sense: to withhold, hold back, keep back, refrain, deny, keep restrain, hinder.
מֵחֵ֣פֶץ  from  [their]  desire 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֵפֶץ  
Sense: delight, pleasure.
דַּלִּ֑ים  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.
וְעֵינֵ֖י  Or  the  eyes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
אַלְמָנָ֣ה  of  the  widow 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַלְמָנָה  
Sense: widow.
אֲכַלֶּֽה  caused  to  fail 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּלָה  
Sense: to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent.

What are the major concepts related to Job 31:16?

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