Keraia
Job 31

Job 31:1

Job’s Final Appeal · Job 31:1–40
Read Job 31

Translations

Modern
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
Traditional
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Literal
“ I have made A covenant with my eyes; and how could I gaze upon a virgin?
Latin
Pepigi fœdus cum oculis meis, ut ne cogitarem quidem de virgine.

Original

Hebrew
English
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

Notes

Job 31:1

  • Job made a promise with himself about his eyes, including an oath against himself (curse) (see Matthew 5:28–29). Job might have focused on wrong desire because the eyes are often the first to commit sin (Genesis 3:6).

  • Looking with wrong desire at a virgin violates the spirit of the seventh commandment (Deuteronomy 5:18, see Matthew 5:27–28). It could violate the tenth commandment as well (Deuteronomy 5:21).

Job 31:1–40

Job called down wrong against himself (curses) if he was guilty of the accusations against him. Apart from mentioning idolatry (worship of false gods), Job spoke about how loyal he was to God by focusing on the second half of the Ten Commandments (31:26–27). The summary of these is: “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9).

Job 29:1–31:40

Job compares his past happiness, honor, and wealth with his current loss of social dignity and divine friendship (chapters 29 and 30). He ends his speech with broad vows of innocence (chapter 31).

Theme notes and profiles

Job’s Innocence

Events

Glossary

Adultery Book of Job Covenant

Topics

Adultery: General Scriptures Concerning Chastity: General Scriptures Concerning Chastity: Required in Look Continence: General Scriptures Concerning Covenant with My Eyes Covenants of Good Resolutions Fear of God: A Motive of Obedience Impure Thoughts Integrity: General Scriptures Concerning Job: A Man Who Lived in Uz: Complaints of, and Replies by his Three Friends To Little Eyes Pornography Temptation: Resistance To The Eye: A Guard to be Set On The Marriage Bed Vows of Job, not to Entertain Thoughts of Fornication