The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
Parallel translations
- WEB (the foreigner has not camped in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);
- BSB but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
- NKJV (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler);
- NASB “The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
- NLT I have never turned away a stranger but have opened my doors to everyone.
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 that no traveler had to sleep in the street because he opened his doors to the stranger. He practiced ready hospitality to outsiders.
Overview
Job declares that the foreigner never lacked lodging because his home was always open to the traveler. Hospitality to strangers was a sacred duty in the ancient Near East and is commended throughout Scripture. The New Testament urges believers to practice such hospitality, for in welcoming strangers some have entertained angels, and it reflects the welcome God extends to outsiders through Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Heb 13:2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
- Gen 19:2–3And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
- Judg 19:20–21And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.
- Rom 12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
- Isa 58:7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
- 1 Pet 4:9Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
- Matt 25:35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
- Job 31:17–18Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
- Matt 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
- Judg 19:15And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.
- 1 Tim 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
- Matt 25:44–45Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 31:32 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.