Job 31:22
New International Version
then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.

New Living Translation
then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket!

English Standard Version
then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.

Berean Standard Bible
then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

King James Bible
Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

New King James Version
Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

New American Standard Bible
May my shoulder fall from its socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

NASB 1995
Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

NASB 1977
Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let my shoulder fall from the socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

Amplified Bible
Then let my shoulder fall away from its socket, And my arm be broken off at the elbow.

Christian Standard Bible
then let my shoulder blade fall from my back, and my arm be pulled from its socket.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
then let my shoulder blade fall from my back, and my arm be pulled from its socket.

American Standard Version
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone.

Contemporary English Version
I hope that arm will fall from its socket.

English Revised Version
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[then] let my shoulder fall out of its socket, and let my arm be broken at the elbow.

Good News Translation
then may my arms be broken; may they be torn from my shoulders.

International Standard Version
then let my arm fall from its socket; and may my arm be torn off at the shoulder.

Majority Standard Bible
then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.

NET Bible
then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let my arm be broken off at the socket.

New Heart English Bible
then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then let my arm fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

World English Bible
then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Let my shoulder fall from its blade, "" And the bone from my arm be broken.

Young's Literal Translation
My shoulder from its blade let fall, And mine arm from the bone be broken.

Smith's Literal Translation
My shoulder shall fall from its shoulder-blade, and mine, arm shall be broken from the bone.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.

Catholic Public Domain Version
then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.

New American Bible
Then may my arm fall from the shoulder, my forearm be broken at the elbow!

New Revised Standard Version
then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and let it be broken from the bone.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My shoulder will fall from its socket and my arm will be broken from its shoulder
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
let them my shoulder start from the blade-bone, and my arm be crushed off from the elbow.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Final Appeal
21if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate, 22then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket. 23For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:15-22
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: / You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. / Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed. ...

Proverbs 11:21
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Psalm 7:15-16
He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. / His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

Proverbs 22:8
He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

Matthew 7:2
For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Hosea 8:7
For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.

Romans 2:6-9
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. / But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. ...

Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Proverbs 26:27
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Psalm 109:17-18
The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him. / The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the bone.

let

Job 31:10,40
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her…

Joshua 22:22,23
The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) …

Psalm 7:4,5
If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) …

bone.

Jump to Previous
Arm Base Blade Body Bone Broken Fall Joint Pulled Shoulder Socket
Jump to Next
Arm Base Blade Body Bone Broken Fall Joint Pulled Shoulder Socket
Job 31
1. Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties














then let my arm fall
In this phrase, Job is invoking a self-imposed curse, a common rhetorical device in ancient Near Eastern literature, to assert his innocence. The Hebrew word for "arm" (זְרוֹעַ, "zeroa") often symbolizes strength and power. Job is essentially saying that if he is guilty of wrongdoing, he deserves to lose his strength and ability. This reflects the cultural understanding of the arm as a symbol of one's ability to act and exert influence. Job's willingness to accept such a severe consequence underscores his confidence in his integrity and righteousness.

from my shoulder
The shoulder (כָּתֵף, "katef") in Hebrew culture is often associated with bearing burdens or responsibilities. By referring to his shoulder, Job emphasizes the personal and significant nature of the consequence he is willing to endure. The shoulder is a place of support and connection for the arm, and its mention here highlights the severity of the punishment Job is willing to accept. This reflects Job's deep commitment to truth and justice, as he is willing to sacrifice his ability to bear responsibilities if he is found guilty.

and be torn from its socket
The imagery of being "torn from its socket" conveys a violent and painful separation, indicating the seriousness of the curse Job is willing to bring upon himself. The Hebrew verb used here (נָתַק, "nataq") suggests a forceful dislocation, which would render the arm useless. This vivid imagery serves to illustrate the depth of Job's conviction in his innocence. In the broader scriptural context, such a drastic consequence would be seen as a divine judgment, reinforcing the idea that Job is placing his fate entirely in God's hands. This reflects a profound trust in God's justice and a willingness to be held accountable by divine standards.

Verse 22. - Then let mine arm (rather, my shoulder) fall from my shoulder-blade. Job was, perhaps, led to make this rather strange imprecation by the fact that, in the disease from which he was suffering, portions of bone sometimes detach themselves and come away. And mine arm be broken from the bone. My forearm, i.e, detach itself from the bone of the upper arm, and come away from it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
then may my arm
וְ֝אֶזְרֹעִ֗י (wə·’ez·rō·‘î)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 248: The arm

fall
תִפּ֑וֹל (ṯip·pō·wl)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

from my shoulder
מִשִּׁכְמָ֣ה (miš·šiḵ·māh)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7929: The shoulderbone

and be torn
תִשָּׁבֵֽר׃ (ṯiš·šā·ḇêr)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

from its socket.
מִקָּנָ֥ה (miq·qā·nāh)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7070: A reed, a, rod, shaft, tube, stem, the radius, beam


Links
Job 31:22 NIV
Job 31:22 NLT
Job 31:22 ESV
Job 31:22 NASB
Job 31:22 KJV

Job 31:22 BibleApps.com
Job 31:22 Biblia Paralela
Job 31:22 Chinese Bible
Job 31:22 French Bible
Job 31:22 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 31:22 Then let my shoulder fall (Jb)
Job 31:21
Top of Page
Top of Page