“The stranger has not spent the night outside, For I have opened my doors to the traveler.
Parallel translations
- WEB (the foreigner has not camped in the street, but I have opened my doors to the traveler);
- KJV The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.
- 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);
- 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 13:2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.
- Gen 19:2–3and he said, “See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.”
- Judg 19:20–21The old man said, “Peace be to you; how ever let me supply all your needs. Just don’t sleep in the street.”
- Rom 12:13contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
- Isa 58:7Isn’t it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?
- 1 Pet 4:9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
- Matt 25:35for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
- Job 31:17–18or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
- Matt 25:40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
- Judg 19:15They turned aside there, to go in to stay in Gibeah. He went in, and sat down in the street of the city; for there was no one who took them into his house to stay.
- 1 Tim 5:10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
- Matt 25:44–45“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’
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 31:32 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.