Job 31 · Verse 28

Job 31:28

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
Job 31:28, King James Version

Job 31:28 in other translations

BSBthis would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
WEBthis also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have denied the God who is above.
ASVThis also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
YLTIt also is a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to God above.
DARBYThis also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
BBEThat would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
WebsterThis also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

What does Job 31:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. The Mosaic law embodied subsequently the feeling of the godly from the earliest times against idolatry, as deserving judicial penalties: being treason against the Supreme King (De 13:9; 17:2-7; Eze 8:14-18). This passage therefore does not prove Job to have been subsequent to Moses.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 For I should have denied the God that is above - Had I paid Divine adoration to them, I should have thereby denied the God that made them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 31:24-32

Job protests, 1. That he never set his heart upon the wealth of this world. How few prosperous professors can appeal to the Lord, that they have not rejoiced because their gains were great! Through the determination to be rich, numbers ruin their souls, or pierce themselves with many sorrows. 2. He never was guilty of idolatry. The source of idolatry is in the heart, and it corrupts men, and provokes God to send…

Read the full comment on Job 31:24-32 →

Job 31:28 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.

גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
ה֭וּאhu'thatH1931
עָוֹ֣ן'a.Von[is] iniquityH5771
פְּלִילִ֑יpe.li.Licalling for judgmentH6416
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
כִחַ֖שְׁתִּיkhi.Chash.tiI deniedH3584
לָאֵ֣לla.'El<to> <the> GodH410
מִמָּֽעַל\׃mi.Ma.'al<from> aboveH4605

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

Cross references for Job 31:28

  • Deuteronomy 17:2-7

    If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. …

  • Job 31:11

    For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

  • Psalms 50:6

    And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

  • Job 9:15

    Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

  • Joshua 24:27

    And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.

  • Joshua 24:23

    Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel.

  • Genesis 18:25

    That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

  • Judges 11:27

    Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the Lord the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

  • Job 23:7

    There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

  • Deuteronomy 17:9

    And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:

  • Hebrews 12:23

    To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

  • Titus 1:16

    They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
an.
11; 9:15; 23:7; Ge 18:25; De 17:2-7,9; Jud 11:27; Ps 50:6; Heb 12:23
for.
Jos 24:23,27; Pr 30:9; Tit 1:16; 2Pe 2:1; 1Jo 2:23; Jude 1:4

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

Context

  • Job 31:27

    And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

  • Job 31:28

    This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

  • Job 31:29

    If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

Read all of Job 31

Job 31:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Esto también fuera maldad juzgada; porque habría negado al Dios soberano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Cela aussi serait une iniquité punissable par le juge, car j’aurais renié le ✶Dieu qui est en haut;…
German
Elberfelder 1871
auch das wäre eine gerichtlich zu strafende Missetat; denn Gott droben würde ich verleugnet haben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
quæ est iniquitas maxima, et negatio contra Deum altissimum.