if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
Parallel translations
- WEB or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
- KJV Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
- NKJV Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it
- NASB Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it
- NLT Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans?
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 affirms he never ate his food alone while the fatherless went without. He shared his provision with orphans.
Overview
Job declares that he did not selfishly keep his bread to himself but made sure the fatherless were fed alongside him. This generous hospitality toward orphans demonstrates the practical mercy that flows from a righteous heart. Such care for the fatherless reflects God's own character as the father of the fatherless, fully revealed in Christ, who welcomes the abandoned and adopts the orphan into God's family.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Acts 4:32The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
- Luke 11:41But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.
- Deut 15:11For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land.
- Ezek 18:16He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
- Neh 8:10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
- 1 Jn 3:17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Deut 15:14You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.
- Ezek 18:7He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
- Jas 1:27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
- Job 22:7You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
- John 13:29Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
- Rom 12:13Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Job 29:12–16because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
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 31:17 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.