Job 31:36
in Job 31Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown:
KJV
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
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This verse in Job 31
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThat I might bear it upon my shoulder, and put it round me like a crown. To 'bear the book upon the shoulder,' is by practising to carry out Holy Scripture. And observe how orderly it is described both first as being 'carried on the shoulder,' and afterwards 'put round' him 'as a crown;' because, that is to say, the precepts of Sacred Revelation, if they be now borne in practice, afterwards set forth for us the crown of victory in the recompensing.
This site's exposition
Oh, that I had one to hear me
on Job 31:35-37
“Oh, that I had one to hear me” renews the plea for an arbiter in chapter 9 and a witness in heaven in chapter 16. He would “give account of all my steps” and “approach Him like a prince”, which Delitzsch reads as confident rather than defiant.
This site's exposition
wear it like a crown
Clarke pictures an accused man carrying on his shoulder a board with the charge fixed to it. Barnes takes it as the indictment of Job 31:35. Job is so sure of its verdict that he would wear it like a crown.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"I have torn all that was received unjustly." Without boasting, I have torn what I had received. And the expression "on my shoulders" suggests that some [of his friends] gloried in the afflictions of the others; and I did not content myself with giving it back simply, but I nullified it by tearing it. "I have torn all that was received unjustly."
The Medieval Church1 voice
If in the testimony of this book, by the certain manifestation of the truth I am also shown to be guilty, I want to endure the punishment, and so he says, "Let me carry it on my shoulders." If, however, after the truth has been …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But an upright heart does particularly desire to be determined in every thing by the judgment of God, which we are sure is according to the truth. It was holy David's prayer, Search me, O God! and know my heart; and it was blessed Paul's comfort, He that judgeth me is the Lord.
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder,....
In all this we may see, 1. The sense of the patriarchal age concerning good and evil and what was so long ago condemned as sinful, that is, both hateful and hurtful. A noble pattern of piety and virtue proposed to us for our imitation, which, if our consciences can witness for us that we conform to it, will be our rejoicing, as it was Job's in the day of evil.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder - I would be contented to stand before the bar as a criminal, bearing upon my shoulder the board to which the accusation is affixed. In a book of Chinese punishments now before me, containing drawings representing various criminals brought to trial, in trial, and after trial, charged with different offenses; in almost all of them a board appears, on which the accusation or crime of which they are accused, or for which they suffer, is fairly written.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Surely, I would take it upon my shoulder - That is, the book or bill which the Almighty would write in the case. Job says that he has such confidence that what God would record in his case would be in his favor, such confidence that he had no charge of hypocrisy against him, and that he who knew him altogether would not bring such an accusation against him, that he would bear it off triumphantly on his shoulders. It would be all that he could desire. This does not refer to what a judge would decide if the cause were submitted to him, but to a case where an opponent or adversary in court should bring all that he could say against him. He says that he would bear even such a bill on his shoulders in triumph, and that it would be a full vindication of his innocence. It would afford him the best vindication of his character, and would be that which he had long desired. And bind it as a crown to me - I would regard it as an ornament - a diadem. I would bind it on my head as a crown is worn by princes, and would march forth exultingly with it. Instead of covering me with shame, it would be the source of rejoicing, and I would exhibit it every where in the most triumphant manner. It is impossible for anyone to express a more entire consciousness of innocence from charges alleged against him than Job does by this language.
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 |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| עַל־ | ʾaloshi- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| שִׁ֭כְמִי | shikhmi | shoulder my | H7926 → | |
| אֶשָּׂאֶ֑נּוּ | ʾessaenu | I will carry it | H5375 → | 656 times |
| אֶֽעֶנְדֶ֖נּוּ | ʾeendenu | I will tie on it | H6029 → | |
| עֲטָר֣וֹת | atarot | a crown<s> | H5850 → | |
| לִֽי׃ | li | to myself |
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
עַל־on
ʾaloshi-H5921 →5755 times
שִׁ֭כְמִיshoulder my
shikhmiH7926 →
אֶשָּׂאֶ֑נּוּI will carry it
ʾessaenuH5375 →656 times
אֶֽעֶנְדֶ֖נּוּI will tie on it
ʾeendenuH6029 →
עֲטָר֣וֹתa crown<s>
atarotH5850 →
לִֽי׃to myself
li
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
Isaiah 22:22I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
it leads to
- Revelation 3:7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut,…
- Matthew 16:18–19
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
- Job 12:14
What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
- Matthew 18:18–19
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
- Revelation 3:7
Through
Philippians 4:1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
it leads to
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- Philippians 1:27
Through
Isaiah 62:3You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the palm of your God.
it leads to
- Isaiah 28:5
On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,
- Isaiah 28:5
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); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXII; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 31:35-40; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.