Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 31:37
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
37. the number of my steps ] i. e. every act of my life.
as a prince ] In the consciousness and pride of true nobility; with the confident step and erect bearing of one who knows that nothing dishonouring can be laid to his charge.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I would declare unto him the number of my steps – That is, I would disclose to him the whole course of my life. This is language also appropriate to a judicial trial, and the meaning is, that Job was so confident of his integrity that he would approach God and make his whole course of life known to him.
As a prince would I go near unto him – With the firm and upright step with which a prince commonly walks. I would not go in a base, cringing manner, but in a manner that evinced a consciousness of integrity. I would not go bowed down under the consciousness of guilt, as a self-condemned malefactor, but with the firm and elastic foot-tread of one conscious of innocence. It must be remembered that all this is said with reference to the charges which had been brought against him by his friends, and not as claiming absolute perfection. He was accused of gross hypocrisy, and it was maintained that he was suffering the judicial infliction of heaven on account of that. So far as those charges were concerned, he now says that he could go before God with the firm and elastic tread of a prince – with entire cheerfulness and boldness. We are not, however, to suppose that he did not regard himself as having the common infirmities and sinfulness of our fallen nature. The discussion does not turn at all on that point.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps] I would show this adversary the different stations I had been in, and the offices which I had filled in life, that he might trace me through the whole of my civil, military, and domestic life, in order to get evidence against me.
As a prince would I go near] Though carrying my own accusation, I would go into the presence of my judge as the nagid, chief, or sovereign commander and judge, of the people and country, and would not shrink from having my conduct investigated by even the meanest of my subjects.
In these three verses we may observe the following particulars: –
1. Job wishes to be brought to trial, that he might have the opportunity of vindicating himself: O that I might have a hearing!
2. That his adversary, Eliphaz and his companions, whom he considers as one party, and joined together in one, would reduce their vague charges to writing, that they might come before the court in a legal form: O that my adversary would write down the charge!
3. That the Almighty, Shaddai, the all-sufficient GOD, and not man, should be the judge, who would not permit his adversaries to attempt, by false evidence, to establish what was false, nor suffer himself to cloak with a hypocritical covering what was iniquitous in his conduct: O that the Almighty might answer for me – take notice of or be judge in the cause!
4. To him he purposes cheerfully to confess all his ways, who could at once judge if he prevaricated, or concealed the truth.
5. This would give him the strongest encouragement: he would go boldly before him, with the highest persuasion of an honourable acquittal.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Unto him, i.e. to my judge, or adversary.
The number of my steps, i.e. the whole course of my life and actions, which I would exactly number to him, step by step, so far as I can remember. I would not answer his allegations against me, but furnish him with further matter of the same kind, and then answer all together.
As a prince, i.e. with undaunted courage, and confidence, and assurance of success, as being clearly conscious of my own sincerity; not like a self-condemned malefactor, as my friends suppose me to be.
Would I go near unto him, and not run away, or hide myself from my judge, as guilty persons desire to do.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
37. A good conscience imparts aprincely dignity before man and free assurance in approaching God.This can be realized, not in Job’s way (Job 42:5;Job 42:6); but only through JesusChrist (Heb 10:22).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I would declare to him the number of my steps,…. To his judge, or to him that contended with him, and drew up the bill against him; he would forward it, assist in it, furnish materials for it, give an account of all the transactions of his life that he could remember; this he says not as though he thought that God stood in need of any such declaration, since he better knows the actions of men than they themselves, compasses their paths, and is acquainted with all their ways; but to show how confident he was of his innocence, and how little he feared the strictest and closest examination of his ways and works, knowing that he had lived with all good conscience unto that day:
and as a prince would I go near unto him; either he should consider such an hearer and judge of his cause he desired as a prince, and reverence and respect him as such; he should be as dear unto him, though his adversary that contended with him, as a prince; and he should be as ambitious of an acquaintance with him as with a prince: or rather he means that he himself as a prince, in a princely manner, and with a princely spirit, should draw nigh to his judge, to answer to the bill in writing against him; that he should not come up to the bar like a malefactor, that shows guilt in his countenance, and by his trembling limbs, and shrinking back, not caring to come nigh, but choosing rather to stand at a distance, or get off and escape if he could; but on the other hand, Job would go up to his judge, and to the judgment seat, with all the stateliness of a prince, with an heroic, intrepid, and undaunted spirit; like a “bold prince”, as Mr. Broughton renders the word; see Job 23:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(37) I would declarei.e., I would readily give an account of all my actions, and meet him with alacrity and perfect confidence. Others suppose the meaning to be, I would meet him as I would meet a prince, with the utmost deference and respect, not at all as an enemy, but as one worthy of all honour and regard. The actual meaning is uncertain. On the other hand, he has been spoken of by his friends: as a fool (Job. 5:2), by Eliphaz; as a man full of words, a liar, and a mocker (Job. 11:2-3), by Zophar; as perverse, wicked, and iniquitous (Job. 11:12; Job. 11:14); a blasphemer and a hypocrite, by Eliphaz (Job. 15:4-5; Job. 15:13; Job. 15:16; Job. 15:34, &c.); as wicked, a robber, and ignorant of God, by Bildad (Job. 18:5; Job. 18:14); as wicked and a hypocrite, by Zophar (Job. 20:5); as extortionate and oppressive (Job. 31:15; Job. 31:19, &c.); as a tyrant and an impious man, by Eliphaz (Job. 22:5; Job. 22:9; Job. 22:13; Job. 22:17, &c.).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
37. Near unto him In the hour of fancied triumph he regards as his highest honour that of drawing near unto God.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 31:37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
Ver. 37. I would declare unto him the number of my steps ] I would tell him all that ever I know by myself, and turn him the inside outward, deal ingeniously with him, and make him my confessor; and so help him make up his book. Elice igitur hine, Therefore entice this, saith Lavater. Hence we may learn so to demean ourselves in all companies and conditions of life, that we may neither be ashamed to live nor afraid to die; and that we need not care though our greatest enemies knew of our worst practices, though our faults were written in our foreheads, as they say. Of Socrates Pliny saith, that his name was not the name of a man, but of integrity itself (Nat. Hist. 1. 7, c. 31). Of Cato Major Paterculus saith, that he was free from all human vices, and as like to virtue itself as might be. Cicero saith, that he was one of those few that lived and died with glory. How much more truly and boldly may we affirm the like of Joseph, Moses, Samuel, Daniel, Nehemiah, Paul, who knew nothing by himself, Melancthon, George, prince of Anhalt, John Bradford, and many others famous in their generations, whom, for their piety and patience, as their enemies could not but admire, so their friends could never sufficiently extol them. This is no small help to the cause, said Erasmus concerning Luther, that his enemies could find no fault or flaw in his life.
As a prince would I go near unto him
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
declare: Job 9:3, Job 13:15, Job 14:16, Job 42:3-6, Psa 19:12
as a: Gen 32:28, Eph 3:12, Heb 4:15, Heb 4:16, 1Jo 3:19-21
Reciprocal: Job 40:4 – what Isa 41:21 – Produce Hab 2:1 – when I am reproved
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 31:37. I would declare to him To the Almighty, my judge; the number of my steps The whole course of my life and actions, step by step, as far as I could remember: as a prince would I go near him That is, with courage and confidence of success: I would stand before him with a look as upright and assured as that of a prince. Nothing can be plainer than that the book, or libel, here supposed to be written by Jobs adversary, cannot be meant of one drawn up by God. For how was it possible for him to triumph in this? If it were a bill of accusation, coming from the God of truth, he had more reason to tremble, certainly, than to triumph. We must therefore conclude that by the adversary must be meant one or all of Jobs friends, who were his only accusers that we know of: and God is here appealed to as a hearer or judge between them. In this it is that Job, with reason, rejoices and triumphs as being conscious of his integrity before God, and his sincere desire and endeavour to know and do his will in all things. See Peters and Dodd.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
31:37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a {c} prince would I go near unto him.
(c) I will make him account of all my life, without fear.