Job 31:39
New International Version
if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

New Living Translation
or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners,

English Standard Version
if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,

Berean Standard Bible
if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

King James Bible
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

New King James Version
If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;

New American Standard Bible
If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

NASB 1995
If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

NASB 1977
If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

Legacy Standard Bible
If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

Amplified Bible
If I have eaten its fruits without paying for them, Or have caused its [rightful] owners to lose their lives,

Christian Standard Bible
if I have consumed its produce without payment or shown contempt for its tenants,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
if I have consumed its produce without payment or shown contempt for its tenants,

American Standard Version
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

Contemporary English Version
Nor have I cheated my workers and caused them pain.

English Revised Version
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If I have eaten its produce without paying for it and made its owners breathe their last,

Good News Translation
if I have eaten the food that grew there but let the farmers that grew it starve--

International Standard Version
If I've consumed its produce without paying for it and snuffed out the life of its owners;

Majority Standard Bible
if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

NET Bible
if I have eaten its produce without paying, or caused the death of its owners,

New Heart English Bible
if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,

Webster's Bible Translation
If I have eaten the fruits of it without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life:

World English Bible
if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If I consumed its strength without money, "" And the life of its possessors, I have caused to breathe out,

Young's Literal Translation
If its strength I consumed without money, And the life of its possessors, I have caused to breathe out,

Smith's Literal Translation
If I ate its strength without silver, and caused its possessors to expire:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:

Catholic Public Domain Version
if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,

New American Bible
If I have eaten its strength without payment and grieved the hearts of its tenants;

New Revised Standard Version
if I have eaten its yield without payment, and caused the death of its owners;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If I have eaten its fruits without money; or if I have grieved one whose life is bitter,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If I consumed its power without expense, or if I have made the soul of the bitter drunk
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the tillers thereof to be disappointed--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking aught from him:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Final Appeal
38if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together, 39if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, 40then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.…

Cross References
James 5:4
Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

Leviticus 19:13
You must not defraud your neighbor or rob him. You must not withhold until morning the wages due a hired hand.

Deuteronomy 24:14-15
Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. / You are to pay his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he may cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

Jeremiah 22:13
“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,

Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Proverbs 22:16
Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.

Proverbs 14:31
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

Isaiah 5:8
Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.

Amos 8:4-6
Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!”

Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.

Luke 10:7
Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Colossians 4:1
Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Ephesians 6:9
And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.

Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. / He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. / About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ...

Matthew 23:25
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.


Treasury of Scripture

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

fruits.

Genesis 4:12
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

1 Kings 21:13-16,19
And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died…

Proverbs 1:19
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Isaiah 26:21
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Jump to Previous
Breathe Broken Caused Causing Consumed Death Devoured Disappointed Eaten Fruit Fruits Lose Money Owners Payment Produce Souls Spirit Strength Tenants Thereof Tillers Tormented Yield
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Breathe Broken Caused Causing Consumed Death Devoured Disappointed Eaten Fruit Fruits Lose Money Owners Payment Produce Souls Spirit Strength Tenants Thereof Tillers Tormented Yield
Job 31
1. Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties














if I have devoured its produce without payment
This phrase reflects the ethical and moral standards expected in ancient Israelite society, where fairness and justice in economic transactions were paramount. The concept of devouring produce without payment suggests exploitation or theft, which is condemned throughout Scripture. In Leviticus 19:13, the law explicitly states, "Do not defraud or rob your neighbor." This aligns with the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and acting justly, as seen in Micah 6:8. The imagery of "devouring" also evokes the idea of consuming resources greedily, which is contrary to the stewardship expected of God's people. In a broader theological context, this phrase can be seen as a reflection of the integrity and righteousness that Job claims to uphold, contrasting with the accusations of wrongdoing from his friends.

or broken the spirit of its tenants
The breaking of the spirit of tenants implies a misuse of power and authority, leading to oppression and injustice. In the ancient Near Eastern context, landowners had significant power over their tenants, who were often vulnerable to exploitation. The biblical narrative consistently advocates for the protection of the weak and the fair treatment of workers, as seen in Deuteronomy 24:14-15, which commands prompt payment of wages to hired workers. This phrase also resonates with the prophetic calls for justice, such as in Isaiah 58:6, where God desires the breaking of yokes and the freeing of the oppressed. Job's assertion here is a defense of his character, emphasizing that he has not abused his position or mistreated those under his care. This reflects the broader biblical theme of righteous leadership, which is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who embodies perfect justice and compassion.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith.

2. Land/Tenants
The verse refers to the land and its tenants, highlighting the relationship between landowners and those who work the land. This reflects the agrarian society of ancient times.

3. God
Implicit in the text is the presence of God, to whom Job is making his case, asserting his integrity and righteousness.
Teaching Points
Integrity in Business Practices
Job exemplifies integrity by ensuring fair compensation for labor and produce. Christians are called to uphold honesty and fairness in all business dealings.

Respect for Workers
The verse highlights the importance of treating workers with dignity and respect. Believers should ensure that their actions do not harm or oppress those who work for them.

Stewardship of Resources
Job's statement reflects a responsible stewardship of resources, reminding Christians to manage their resources ethically and justly.

Accountability Before God
Job's appeal to his integrity is ultimately made before God, emphasizing that our actions are accountable to Him. Christians should live with an awareness of divine accountability.

Social Justice and Compassion
The verse encourages believers to advocate for social justice and show compassion to those who are vulnerable or marginalized in society.Verse 39. - If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money; i.e. without acquiring a title to them by purchase. Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life. Either by actual violence or by depriving them of the means of support (see the comment on Job 29:13). Job had been accused of robbery and oppression both by Zophar (Job 20:12-19) and Eliphaz (Job 22:5-9). He had not, however, been accused of actual murder.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I have devoured
אָכַ֣לְתִּי (’ā·ḵal·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 398: To eat

its produce
כֹּ֭חָהּ (kō·ḥāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

without
בְלִי־ (ḇə·lî-)
Adverb
Strong's 1097: Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as

payment
כָ֑סֶף (ḵā·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

or broken the spirit
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ (wə·ne·p̄eš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of its tenants,
בְּעָלֶ֣יהָ (bə·‘ā·le·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner


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OT Poetry: Job 31:39 If I have eaten its fruits without (Jb)
Job 31:38
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