Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 31:2
For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
2 4. The considerations that restrained him from such a sin. These are recited as they then influenced his mind.
2. And what is the portion from God above?
And what the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3. Is it not destruction to the wicked,
And calamity to the workers of iniquity?
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For what portion of God is there from above? – Or, rather, What portion should I then have from God who reigns above? Job asks with emphasis, what portion or reward he should expect from God who reigns on high, if he had not made such a covenant with his eyes, and if he had given the reins to loose and wanton thoughts? This question he himself answers in the following verse, and says, that he could have expected only destruction from the Almighty.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. For what portion of God is there from above?] Though I have not, in this or in any other respect, wickedly departed from God, yet what reward have I received?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The reason of my continency and chastity was, the consideration of Gods presence, and providence, and judgments.
What portion of God; what fruit or recompence might be expected from God for those who do such things? Nothing but destruction, as it follows, Job 31:3. I considered, that though these practices might at first please me, yet they would be bitterness in the latter end. From above; an emphatical phrase, to note, that how secretly and slily soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so as men cannot reprove or reproach them; yet there is one who stands upon a higher place, whence he hath the better prospect, who seeth both when, and in what manner, and with what design they do these things.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. Had I let my senses tempt meto sin, “what portion (would there have been to me, that is,must I have expected) from (literally, of) God above, and whatinheritance from (literally, of) the Almighty,” c. [MAURER](Job 20:29 Job 27:13).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For what portion of God [is there] from above?…. What good portion, as the Targum paraphrases it, can impure persons expect from God? such who indulge themselves, and live in the sin of uncleanness, cannot hope to have any part in God, or a portion of good things from him; he is above, and in the highest heavens, and every good thing comes from thence, and from him there; and particularly the spiritual blessings, wherewith he blesses his people, are in heavenly places in Christ, and from thence come to them; and here a special respect may be had to God himself, who is the portion of his people, both in life and at death, and to all eternity; but men that live a vicious course of life cannot conclude they have any part in God and Christ, nor in the grace of God, and the blessings of it, nor enjoy communion with him:
and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high? heaven is an inheritance which belongs to the children of God, and he, as their heavenly Father, has bequeathed it unto then; this is from the almighty God, God all sufficient; he has chosen this inheritance for them, and appointed them unto it; this is laid up by him and reserved in heaven for them; and he gives both a right unto it, and a meetness for it, and will put them into the possession of it: but then impure persons, as fornicators and adulterers, have no inheritance in the kingdom of God and of Christ, Eph 5:5; and this was a reason with Job, and what had an influence on him, to be careful to avoid the sin of uncleanness. Some understand the words as a question concerning what would be the portion and heritage of a wicked man, a corrupter of virgins; the answer to which is given in the next verse, destruction and a strange punishment; this is their portion from God, and the heritage appointed to them by him; see Job 20:29.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) What portion of God is there from above?Comp. the remonstrance of Joseph (Gen. 39:9).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. What portion of God In the sense of retribution. These questions are answered by the questions of verses three and four.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(2) For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? (3) Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? (4) Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? (5) If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; (6) Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. (7) If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; (8) Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
In these verses, Job points out the cause which operated upon his mind, to preserve from the lust of the flesh, as before mentioned. It was from an eye to GOD, whose eye was upon him. He lived, as always under the divine inspection. It was GOD that prohibited the sin of uncleanness, injustice, and the like; and, therefore, here was the grand motive that swayed with Job’s mind, not what man thought, but what GOD would think. Similar to the precept of the law, Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but shalt fear thy GOD. I am the LORD. Lev 19:14 . What if a man did curse the deaf, they could not hear it: neither the blind see who put the stumbling-block in his way. But what of that? the LORD would hear the one, and see the other: and the offence is levelled against GOD.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 31:2 For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Ver. 2. For what portion of God is there from above? ] What but a portion with the devil and hypocrites? The unjust are reserved unto the day of judgment to be punished, saith Peter; but chiefly, they that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, 2Pe 2:9-10 . Such shall have a specialty of punishment, even the hottest fire in hell; and hereby Job frighted his conscience from this foul sin; and well he might: did men but consider what sin would cost them, they durst not but be innocent; but the hope of impunity hardeneth them, and so hasteneth their destruction. Hac, tanquam lena, semper usus est antiquus ille serpens, this hope, as a bawd, that old manslayer hath ever made use of to allure men into wickedness (Merlin). But set the threats of God’s word (such as are 1Co 6:9 Heb 13:3 Eph 5:3 ) against this sin, and the sin is laid. Satan can no more abide by it than an owl by the shining of the sun. A man will be loth to fetch gold out of a fiery crucible.
Or, What inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Job 20:29, Job 27:13, Heb 13:4
Reciprocal: Job 35:3 – what advantage
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 31:2. For what portion of God is there, &c. What recompense may be expected from God for those who do otherwise? From above How secretly soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so that men cannot reprove them, yet there is one who stands upon a higher place, whence he seeth in what manner they act.