Job 31 · Verse 21

Job 31:21

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
Job 31:21, King James Version

Job 31:21 in other translations

BSBif I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
WEBif I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate;
ASVIf I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate:
YLTIf I have waved at the fatherless my hand, When I see in him the gate of my court,
DARBYIf I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:
BBEIf my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
WebsterIf I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

What does Job 31:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 31:13-23

13-23. Job affirms his freedom from unfairness towards his servants, from harshness and oppression towards the needy. despise the cause--refused to do them justice.

Read the full comment on Job 31:13-23 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless - I have at no time opposed the orphan, nor given, in behalf of the rich and powerful, a decision against the poor, when I saw my help in the gate - when I was sitting chief on the throne of judgment, and could have done it without being called to account. There are sentiments very like these in the poem of Lebeid, one of the authors of the Moallakhat. I shall quote several verses from the elegant translation of Sir William Jones, in which the character of a charitable and bountiful chief is well described: - "Oft have I invited a numerous company to the death of a camel bought for slaughter, to be divided with arrows of equal dimensions." "I invite them to draw lots for a camel without a foal, and for a camel with her young one, whose flesh I distribute to all the neighbors." "The guest and the stranger admitted to my board seem to have alighted in the sweet vale of Tebaala, luxuriant with vernal blossoms." "The cords of my tent approaches every needy matron, worn with fatigue, like a camel doomed to die at her master's tomb, whose venture is both scanty and ragged." "There they crown with meat (while the wintry winds contend with fierce blasts) a dish flowing like a rivulet, into which the famished orphans eagerly plunge." "He distributes equal shares, he dispenses justice to the tribes, he is indignant when their right is diminished; and, to establish their right, often relinquishes his own." "He acts with greatness of mind, and nobleness of heart: he sheds the dew of his liberality on those who need his assistance; he scatters around his own gains and precious spoils, the prizes of his valor." - Ver. 73-80.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 31:16-23

Job's conscience gave testimony concerning his just and charitable behaviour toward the poor. He is most large upon this head, because in this matter he was particularly accused. He was tender of all, and hurtful to none. Notice the principles by which Job was restrained from being uncharitable and unmerciful. He stood in awe of the Lord, as certainly against him, if he should wrong the poor. Regard to worldly…

Read the full comment on Job 31:16-23 →

Job 31:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אִם\־'im-ifH518
הֲנִיפ֣וֹתִיha.ni.Fo.tiI brandishedH5130
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יָת֣וֹםya.Toma fatherless oneH3490
יָדִ֑יya.Dihand myH3027
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
אֶרְאֶ֥ה'er.'EhI sawH7200
בַ֝שַּׁ֗עַרva.Sha.'arin the gateH8179
עֶזְרָתִֽי\׃'ez.ra.Tihelp myH5833

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 31:21

  • Job 22:9

    Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

  • Job 29:12

    Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

  • Ezekiel 22:7

    In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.

  • Micah 7:3

    That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

  • Jeremiah 5:28

    They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

  • Job 6:27

    Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

  • Proverbs 23:10-11

    Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

  • Job 24:9

    They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

  • Micah 2:1-2

    Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
lifted.
6:27; 22:9; 24:9; 29:12; Pr 23:10,11; Jer 5:28; Eze 22:7
when.
Mic 2:1,2; 7:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 31:20

    If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

  • Job 31:21

    If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

  • Job 31:22

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

Read all of Job 31

Job 31:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si alcé contra el huérfano mi mano, aunque viese que me ayudarían en la puerta;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si j’ai secoué ma main contre un orphelin, parce que je voyais mon appui dans la porte:
German
Elberfelder 1871		wenn ich meine Hand geschwungen über eine Waise, weil ich im Tore meinen Beistand sah:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		si levavi super pupillum manum meam, etiam cum viderem me in porta superiorem: