“Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows?
Parallel translations
- WEB “If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- KJV If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- BSB If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
- NKJV “If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- NASB ¶“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
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 swears he never withheld from the poor what they desired or caused the widow's eyes to fail in disappointment. He affirms his generosity to the vulnerable.
Overview
Job denies neglecting the needs of the poor or leaving the widow waiting in vain for help. Care for the poor and the widow is a central concern of God's law and the prophets, marking true godliness. Job's compassion reflects the heart of God, who defends the vulnerable, and points to Christ, who proclaimed good news to the poor and embodies God's care for the helpless.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Deut 15:7–10If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother;
- Isa 38:14I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security.”
- Luke 16:21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
- Ps 69:3I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
- Job 20:19For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
- Gal 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor — which very thing I was also zealous to do.
- Job 22:7–9You haven’t given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
- Job 5:16So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
- Ps 112:9He has dispersed, he has given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. His horn will be exalted with honor.
- Deut 28:32Your sons and your daughters will be given to another people. Your eyes will look, and fail with longing for them all day long. There will be no power in your hand.
- Ps 119:123My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word.
- Acts 11:29As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
- Lam 4:17Our eyes still fail, looking in vain for our help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.
- Ps 119:82My eyes fail for your word. I say, “When will you comfort me?”
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 31:16 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.