Job 31:13
in Job 31If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;
KJV
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
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This verse in Job 31
Commentary
7 notes on this verseIf I despised to submit to judgment with my man-servant or with my maid-servant, when they contended with me. For he who did not refuse to be 'judged with menservants and maid-servants,' clearly shews that against no fellow-creature was he at any time swoln with pride in himself. But herein it is interesting to remark with what circumspection the holy man preserved his life in all respects. For not far above he said, The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
This site's exposition
the cause of my manservant
on Job 31:13-15
“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant” turns the oath to Job's servants, whom the ancient world rarely allowed to complain. He asks whether the same One did not form us in the womb, which Henry reads as the ground of the servant's claim.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
So after he has purged himself of injustice because he did not do injury to others, either in stealing things from them, or in abusing persons joined to them, he excuses himself, as a consequence, of the charge he has incurred injustice because of the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He was tender of them, not only when they served and pleased him, but even when they contended with him. Herein he was a great example to masters, to give to their servants that which is just and equal; nay, to do the same things to them that they expect from them ( Col. iv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
If I did despise the cause of my manservant, or of my maidservant,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The cause of my man-servant - In ancient times slaves had no action at law against their owners; they might dispose of them as they did of their cattle, or any other property. The slave might complain; and the owner might hear him if he pleased, but he was not compelled to do so. Job states that he had admitted them to all civil rights; and, far from preventing their case from being heard, he was ready to permit them to complain even against himself, if they had a cause of complaint, and to give them all the benefit of the law.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
If I did despise the cause of my man-servant - Job turns to another subject, on which he claimed that his life had been upright. It was in reference to the treatment of his servants.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
then what will I do etc. I took this to heart, and when He visits, what will I answer Him?
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. 3 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
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| אֶמְאַ֗ס | ʾemas | I rejected | H3988 → | 76 times |
| מִשְׁפַּ֣ט | mishpat | [the] cause of | H4941 → | 422 times |
| עַ֭בְדִּי | ʾavdi | male servant my | H5650 → | 799 times |
| וַאֲמָתִ֑י | vaamati | and female servant my | H519 → | |
| בְּ֝רִבָ֗ם | berivam | in complaint their | H7379 → | 61 times |
| עִמָּדִֽי׃ | ʾimadi | with me | H5978 → | 42 times |
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
אֶמְאַ֗סI rejected
ʾemasH3988 →76 times
מִשְׁפַּ֣ט[the] cause of
mishpatH4941 →422 times
עַ֭בְדִּיmale servant my
ʾavdiH5650 →799 times
וַאֲמָתִ֑יand female servant my
vaamatiH519 →
בְּ֝רִבָ֗םin complaint their
berivamH7379 →61 times
עִמָּדִֽי׃with me
ʾimadiH5978 →42 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
Colossians 4:1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:8–20
because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
- Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
- Deuteronomy 24:14–15
Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
- James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Luke 16:1–13
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
- Ephesians 6:8–20
Through
Ephesians 6:9And masters, do the same for your slaves. Give up your use of threats, because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism…
it leads to
- Acts 10:34
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
- Colossians 3:25
Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
- Romans 2:11
For God does not show favoritism.
- Acts 10:34
Where this verse is studied
About Job
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXI; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.