For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
Parallel translations
- WEB For that would be a heinous crime. Yes, it would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges:
- BSB For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
- NKJV For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.
- NASB “For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be wrongdoing punishable by judges.
- NLT For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job calls adultery a heinous crime and an iniquity deserving judicial punishment. He affirms its seriousness in God's moral order.
Overview
Job labels adultery as a shameful, deliberate wickedness worthy of judgment by the judges, recognizing it as a grave offense against God and neighbor. This shows his deep reverence for the sanctity of marriage even before the law was formally given. The verse underscores the holiness God requires, a standard sinners cannot meet on their own, pointing to the need for the forgiveness and cleansing offered in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Lev 20:10And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
- Job 31:28This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
- Deut 22:22–24If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
- Gen 38:24And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
- Gen 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
- Gen 26:10And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
- Prov 6:29–33So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
- Exod 20:14Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Ezek 16:38And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
- Gen 39:9There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 31:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.