Job 31:29
in Job 31If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him
KJV
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
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This verse in Job 31
Commentary
7 notes on this verseIf I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found me. That we are disciples of Almighty God, the keeping of charity is the only proof. For it is hence that Truth saith by Itself, By this shall all men know that ye are My Disciples, if ye have love one toward another. Which same love, if it really fills our heart, is wont to be exhibited in two ways; viz. if we at once love our friends in God, and our enemies for God.
This site's exposition
If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin
on Job 31:29-30
“If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him” denies an enemy's downfall as any occasion for Job's own joy. Henry notes that this standard exceeds even the law's own toleration of satisfaction at a wrongdoer's fall.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
After these things which pertain to justice in general, he continues with certain things which pertain to the perfection of virtue. Among these he first excludes the hatred of enemies. This is especially shown when someone rejoices either in his complete ruin, and he excludes …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me,....
Many who would not wilfully hurt those who stand in their light, or have done them a diskindness, yet are secretly pleased and laugh in their sleeve (as we say) when hurt is done them. But Job was not of that spirit.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me - Job here introduces another class of offences, of which he says he was innocent. The subject referred to is the proper treatment of those who injure us. In respect to this, he says that he was entirely conscious of freedom from exultation when calamity came upon a foe, and that he had never even wished him evil in his heart. The word “destruction” here, means calamity, disappointment, or affliction of any kind. It had never been pleasant to him to see one who hated him suffer.
If I rejoiced - I did not avenge myself on my enemy; and I neither bore malice nor hatred to him.
The words behind it
8 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 |
| אֶ֭שְׂמַח | ʾesmach | I rejoiced | H8055 → | 155 times |
| בְּפִ֣יד | befid | in [the] disaster of | H6365 → | 4 times |
| מְשַׂנְאִ֑י | mesani | [one who] hated me | H8130 → | 146 times |
| וְ֝הִתְעֹרַ֗רְתִּי | vehitorarti | and I excited myself | H5782 → | 80 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | if | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מְצָ֥אוֹ | metzaov | it had found him | H4672 → | 455 times |
| רָֽע׃ | ra' | calamity | H7451 → | 662 times |
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
אֶ֭שְׂמַחI rejoiced
ʾesmachH8055 →155 times
בְּפִ֣ידin [the] disaster of
befidH6365 →4 times
מְשַׂנְאִ֑י[one who] hated me
mesaniH8130 →146 times
וְ֝הִתְעֹרַ֗רְתִּיand I excited myself
vehitorartiH5782 →80 times
כִּֽי־if
ki-H3588 →4482 times
מְצָ֥אוֹit had found him
metzaovH4672 →455 times
רָֽע׃calamity
ra'H7451 →662 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
Proverbs 17:5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
it leads to
- Proverbs 14:31
Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.
- 1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Obadiah 1:11–13
On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them.
- Proverbs 14:21
He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
- Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
- Proverbs 14:31
Through
Obadiah 1:12But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their…
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:5
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
- Ezekiel 35:15
As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then…
- Micah 4:11
But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
- Proverbs 17:5
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 XXII; 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.