“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
Parallel translations
- WEB “I made a covenant with my eyes, how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
- KJV I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
- NKJV “I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
- NASB “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I look at a virgin?
- NLT “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.
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 declares he made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. It shows his commitment to sexual purity even in the realm of the heart and gaze.
Overview
Beginning his final defense, Job affirms a deliberate, binding resolve to guard his eyes against lust, recognizing that sin begins in the look and the heart. This goes beyond outward conduct to the inner discipline of the imagination. Jesus later affirms the same principle, teaching that lustful looking is adultery of the heart, so Job's covenant anticipates the gospel call to purity that flows from a transformed heart.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Jas 1:14–15But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
- Matt 5:28–29But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- Ps 119:37Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.
- 1 Jn 2:16For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.
- Prov 6:25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
- 2 Sam 11:2–4One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman.
- Prov 4:25Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
- Gen 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
- Prov 23:31–33Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
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 31:1 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.