The Meaning of Job 31:7 Explained

Job 31:7

KJV: If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

YLT: If my step doth turn aside from the way, And after mine eyes hath my heart gone, And to my hands cleaved hath blemish,

Darby: If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;

ASV: If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If my step  hath turned out  of the way,  and mine heart  walked  after  mine eyes,  and if any blot  hath cleaved  to mine hands; 

What does Job 31:7 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 31:7 mean?

If has turned my step from the way Or after my eyes walked my heart Or if to my hands adheres any spot -
אִ֥ם תִּטֶּ֣ה אַשֻּׁרִי֮ מִנִּ֪י הַ֫דָּ֥רֶךְ וְאַחַ֣ר עֵ֭ינַי הָלַ֣ךְ לִבִּ֑י וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י דָּ֣בַק מֻאֽוּם‪‬ פ

תִּטֶּ֣ה  has  turned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
אַשֻּׁרִי֮  my  step 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָשֻׁר 
Sense: step, going.
הַ֫דָּ֥רֶךְ  the  way 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְאַחַ֣ר  Or  after 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
עֵ֭ינַי  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
הָלַ֣ךְ  walked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לִבִּ֑י  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י  Or  if  to  my  hands 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, fdc, first person common singular
Root: כַּף  
Sense: palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand.
דָּ֣בַק  adheres 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַק  
Sense: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.
מֻאֽוּם‪‬  any  spot 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּם 
Sense: blemish, spot, defect.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation