Job 29:14
in Job 29I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
KJV
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
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This verse in Job 29
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I put on righteousness - Or “justice” - as a magistrate, and in all his transactions with his fellow-men. It is common to compare moral conduct or traits of character with various articles of apparel; compare Isa 11:5, note; Isa 61:10, note. And it clothed me - It was my covering; I was adorned with it. So we speak of being “clothed with humility;” and so, also, of the “garments of salvation.” My judgment - Or rather justice - particularly as a magistrate.
This site's exposition
put on righteousness
on Job 29:14-17
Job says “I put on righteousness, and it clothed me”, an image Gill notes Isaiah gives to salvation at Isaiah 61:10. Delitzsch reads “I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth” as a shepherd's language, justice pictured as rescue.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"I put on righteousness," he says. There are people who occupy higher positions than others but who often commit injustice. But this is not the case with Job, because he constantly lived in the greatest righteousness. So, when with regard to God you hear that "he is clothed with righteousness," do not believe that real garments clothe incorporeal beings. Job did not wear that kind of garment either. "And I clothed myself with judgment like a double mantle." That was my elegance. To be sure, others are unhappy with that activity; they find it unpleasant and heavy. But I did not, he says. As one is proud of a double mantle, so I was constantly glorified … in that activity. But who appointed him to be a judge? He became one by himself, thanks to his virtue, like Moses.
The Medieval Church2 voices
With righteousness was I clothed, and arrayed myself as with raiment.
But he did not have mercy in judgment in such wise as to forsake justice, and so he adds, "I have been clothed in justice," i.e. justice was apparent everywhere in my trials: For a piece of clothing surrounds a man on all sides. To …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Darkness - I passed safely through many difficulties, and dangers, and common calamities. Seat - When I caused the seat of justice to be set for me. By this, and several other expressions, it appears that Job was a magistrate.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
(2.) He took pleasure in it, and, as I may say, a holy delight. He looked upon it as his greatest glory to do justice to all and injury to none: My judgment was as a robe and a diadem. Perhaps he did not himself wear a robe and a diadem; he was very indifferent to those ensigns of honour; those were most fond of them who had least intrinsic worth to recommend them.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The grounds on which Job was praised (Job 29:11), his helping the afflicted (Ps 72:12) who cried to him for help, as a judge, or as one possessed of means of charity. Translate: "The fatherless who had none to help him."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
1Ch 12:18). judgment--justice. diadem--tiara. Rather, "turban," "head-dress." It and the full flowing outer mantle or "robe," are the prominent characteristics of an Oriental grandee's or high priest's dress (Zec 3:5). So Job's righteousness especially characterized him.
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How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
I put on righteousness and it clothed me I pursued righteousness and it is present with me as a coat and a turban, which are beautiful ornaments; so was my judgment beautiful and pure.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
The blessing of the lost who died because of his iniquity and was banished.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צֶ֣דֶק | tzedek | righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| לָ֭בַשְׁתִּי | lavashti | I put on | H3847 → | 110 times |
| וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁ֑נִי | vaiyilbasheni | and it clothed me | H3847 → | 110 times |
| כִּֽמְעִ֥יל | kimil | [was] like a robe | H4598 → | 28 times |
| וְ֝צָנִ֗יף | vetzanif | and a turban | H6797 → | |
| מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃ | mishpati | justice my | H4941 → | 422 times |
צֶ֣דֶקrighteousness
tzedekH6664 →119 times
לָ֭בַשְׁתִּיI put on
lavashtiH3847 →110 times
וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁ֑נִיand it clothed me
vaiyilbasheniH3847 →110 times
כִּֽמְעִ֥יל[was] like a robe
kimilH4598 →28 times
וְ֝צָנִ֗יףand a turban
vetzanifH6797 →
מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃justice my
mishpatiH4941 →422 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 6:14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 11:5
Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
- Luke 12:35
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7
in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8
Through
Isaiah 61:10I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom…
it leads to
- Revelation 19:7–8
Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
- Revelation 19:7–8
Through
Isaiah 59:17He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in a cloak of zeal.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Ephesians 6:14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed,
- Ephesians 6:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIX; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 29:13-18; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.