The Meaning of Job 31:38 Explained

Job 31:38

KJV: If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

YLT: If against me my land doth cry out, And together its furrows weep,

Darby: If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;

ASV: If my land crieth out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If my land  cry  against me, or that the furrows  likewise  thereof complain; 

What does Job 31:38 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 31:38 mean?

If against me my land cries out and together its furrows weep
אִם־ עָ֭לַי אַדְמָתִ֣י תִזְעָ֑ק וְ֝יַ֗חַד תְּלָמֶ֥יהָ יִבְכָּיֽוּן

עָ֭לַי  against  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אַדְמָתִ֣י  my  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
תִזְעָ֑ק  cries  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: זָעַק  
Sense: to cry, cry out, call, call for help.
וְ֝יַ֗חַד  and  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: יַחַד 
Sense: union, unitedness adv.
תְּלָמֶ֥יהָ  its  furrows 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: תֶּלֶם  
Sense: furrow.
יִבְכָּיֽוּן  weep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: בָּכָה  
Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.

What are the major concepts related to Job 31:38?

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