The Meaning of Job 31:8 Explained

Job 31:8

KJV: Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

YLT: Let me sow -- and another eat, And my products let be rooted out.

Darby: Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.

ASV: Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Then] let me sow,  and let another  eat;  yea, let my offspring  be rooted out. 

What does Job 31:8 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 31:8 mean?

[Then] let me sow and another eat and Yes my harvest let be rooted out
אֶ֭זְרְעָה וְאַחֵ֣ר יֹאכֵ֑ל וְֽצֶאֱצָאַ֥י יְשֹׁרָֽשׁוּ

אֶ֭זְרְעָה  [Then]  let  me  sow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: זָרַע  
Sense: to sow, scatter seed.
וְאַחֵ֣ר  and  another 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
יֹאכֵ֑ל  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְֽצֶאֱצָאַ֥י  and  Yes  my  harvest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: צֶאֱצָאִים  
Sense: offspring, produce, issue.
יְשֹׁרָֽשׁוּ  let  be  rooted  out 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁרַשׁ  
Sense: to uproot, take root, deal with the roots.