Job 31:5-23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Job 31:5-8: 31:5-8 If Job had lied to anyone as part of a business deal, it would violate the eighth commandment (Deut 5:19 ); if it occurred in court, it would violate the ninth (Deut 5:20 ). This sin would merit fiery judgment (Rev 21:8 ). • If Job lusted for what his eyes had seen , he would violate the tenth commandment (Deut 5:21 ). • then let someone else eat: This was a self-curse.

Summary for Job 31:5-8: 31:5-8 ^a If Job had lied to anyone as part of a business deal, it would violate the eighth commandment (Deut 5:19 ^b); if it occurred in court, it would violate the ninth (Deut 5:20 ^c). This sin would merit fiery judgment (Rev 21:8 ^d).

• If Job lusted for what his eyes had seen, he would violate the tenth commandment (Deut 5:21 ^e).

• then let someone else eat: This was a self-curse.
Summary for Job 31:9-10: 31:9-10 ^f Whether she seduced him or he waited for her (24:15-16 ^g), if Job lusted for his neighbor’s wife he would break the seventh (Deut 5:18 ^h, Matt 5:27-28 ⁱ) and tenth (Deut 5:21 ^j) commandments.

• serve: Literally grind for. This might refer to servitude (Exod 11:5 ^k) or to sexual intercourse.
31:11 ^l The Hebrew term zimmah (shameful sin) is associated with sexual crimes such as incest (“wicked act,” Lev 18:17 ^m), gang-rape (“terrible ... crime,” Judg 20:6 ⁿ), and prostitution (Ezek 23:49 ^o).
31:12 ^p The association of fire with hell or the grave is rare in the Old Testament (cp. Deut 32:22 ^q).
Summary for Job 31:13-15: 31:13-15 ^r unfair to ... servants: This might refer to violations of the fourth commandment (Deut 5:12-15 ^s).

• God created both me and my servants: Job extended the implications of being created in God’s image to the poor (Prov 14:31 ^t; 22:2 ^u) and even to slaves.
31:21 ^v knowing the judges would take my side: Job was respected and regarded as a member of the elite class (29:7-10 ^w).
Summary for Job 31:22-23: 31:22-23 ^x If an arm was used in sinful action (31:21 ^y), having it torn from its socket would be a fitting punishment and better than facing God’s judgment (cp. Matt 5:28-30 ^z).