Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 31:19
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
19. seen any perish ] Rather, perishing, or ready to perish, ch. Job 29:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
If I have seen any perish … – He turns to another virtue of the same general class – that of providing for the poor. The meaning is clear, that he had always assisted the poor and needy.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Job 31:19
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing.
A good mans righteousness
These words do in general set forth the practice of a good man in the acts of mercy and righteousness, which do, above all others, declare him a follower of our blessed Lord. But chiefly they do imply something concerning the nature, manner, and object of those acts. In vulgar practice indeed men care not much for any acquaintance with the needy, and are all for doing kindnesses to them whose fortunes do not require it, or who can return the same again; but the good mans behaviour is like that of Job. If we care not to approve ourselves to God, by doing all the good we can to our brethren, we are so far sunk into the miserable state of hell. To prevent this misery we must be watchful over our minds, that they do not fall into a covetous humour, which is a stain to the soul, that can hardly be got out. Covetousness ever presses upon the sinner, and leaves no room for a sober or a relenting thought. Mankind seem to be distinguished into higher and lower ranks by Divine wisdom and providence, in order to the exercise of an universal charity. Such a charity as sweetens mens spirits, and from being rough and sour, makes them kind and affable to the meanest person, ready to oblige everyone with a gentle and humble compliance. Such a charity as envies no man, but is pleased at the prosperity of others, is made better by their health, and rejoices at seeing them cheerful. Such a charity as never domineers, but scorns that usual insolence which is the spring of many disorders, and of much contempt of the poor. Such a charity as doth never demean itself haughtily or with reproach in words or gestures, but calmly debates all matters, that it may not behave itself unseemly. In fine, such a charity as thinks nothing too great to undertake, or too hard to undergo, for the good of mankind. Now if this kind of charity did but get ground in the world, it would very much better the condition and the manners of it. A thorough reformation must be expected only from them who make others better, by their counsel, and by their example. The best arguments for our giving of alms are, that it is the only course we can take.
1. To be like our blessed Saviour.
2. To do services acceptable to God.
3. To save our souls forever. Wherefore, if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John Hartcliffe, B. D.)
The poor mans plea heeded
Some one expressed surprise to Eveillon, Canon and Archdeacon of Angers, that none of his rooms were carpeted. He answered, When I enter my house in wintertime the floors do not tell me that they are cold; but the poor, who are trembling at my gate, tell me they want clothes.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
When it was in my power to clothe and arm them against cold and nakedness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. perishthat is, ready toperish (Job 29:13).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing,…. A man may be in such poor circumstances as to want proper clothing to cover his naked body with, and preserve it from the inclemencies of the weather, and for want of it be ready to perish or die with cold. Job denies he had seen any such; not that he had never seen persons in such perishing circumstances; but he had not seen them as to “despise” them, as the Vulgate Latin version, as to have them in contempt, or look at them with disdain because of their poverty and rags, or sordid apparel; or so as to “overlook” them, as the Septuagint version, to neglect them, and to take no notice of them, and make no provision for their clothing, a warm and comfortable garment, as in Job 31:20:
or any poor without covering; without clothing sufficient to cover himself with, and keep him warm; Job had seen such objects, but he did not leave them in such a condition; he saw them, and had compassion on them, and clothed them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
19 If I saw one perishing without clothing,
And that the needy had no covering;
20 If his loins blessed me not,
And he did not warm himself from the hide of my lambs;
21 If I have lifted up my hand over the orphan,
Because I saw my help in the gate:
22 Let my shoulder fall out of its shoulder-blade,
And mine arm be broken from its bone;
23 For terror would come upon me, the destruction of God,
And before His majesty I should not be able to stand.
On comp. on Job 4:11; Job 29:13; he who is come down from his right place and is perishing (root , to separate, still perfectly visible through the Arab. bada , baida , to perish), or also he who is already perished, periens and perditus . The clause, Job 31:19, forms the second obj. to , which otherwise signifies si video , but here, in accordance with the connection, signifies si videbam . The blessing of the thankful (Job 29:13) is transferred from the person to the limbs in Job 31:20, which need and are benefited by the warmth imparted. here is not an expression of an affirmative asseveration, but a negative turn to the continuation of the hypothetical antecedents. The shaking, , of the hand, Job 31:21, is intended, like Isa 11:15; Isa 19:16 (comp. the Pilel, Isa 10:32), Zec 2:13, as a preparation for a crushing stroke. Job refrained himself from such designs upon the defenceless orphan, even when he saw his help in the gate, i.e., before the tribunal (Job 29:7), i.e., even when he had a certain prospect or powerful assistance there. If he has acted otherwise, his , i.e., his upper arm together with the shoulder, must fall out from its , i.e., the back which bears it together with the shoulder-blades, and his , upper and lower arm, which is considered here according to its outward flesh, must be broken out of its , tube, i.e., the reed-like hollow bone which gives support to it, i.e., be broken asunder from its basis (Syr. a radice sua ), this sinning arm, which did not compassionate the naked, and mercilessly threatened the defenceless and helpless. The raphatum which follows in both cases, and the express testimony of the Masora, show that and have no Mappik. The He quiescens , however, is in both instances softened from the He mappic . of the suff., Ew. 21,f. in Job 31:23 is taken by most expositors as predicate: for terror is (was) to me evil as God, the righteous judge, decrees it. But is not favourable to this. It establishes the particular thing which he imprecates upon himself, and that consequently which, according to his own conviction and perception, ought justly to overtake him out of the general mass, viz., that terror ought to come upon him, a divine decreed weight of affliction. is a permutative of = , and with Dech equivalent to ( ) , comp. Jer 2:19 (where it is to be interpreted: and that thou lettest no fear before me come over thee). Thus also Job 31:23 is suitably connected with the preceding: and I should not overcome His majesty, i.e., I should succumb to it. The corresponds to the prae in praevalerem ; (lxx falsely, , judgment, decision = , Jer. pondus ) is not intended otherwise than Job 13:11 (parall. as here).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(19) If I have seen any perish for want of.Or, any wanderer without.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Job 31:19 If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
Ver. 19. If I have seen any perish for want of clothing ] Job was ad omnem humanitatem effectus atque assuefactus. This liberal man devised liberal things; and as he dealt his bread to the hungry, so when he saw the naked he covered him; he hid not himself from his own flesh, Isa 58:7 . Giles, of Brussels, and Mr Wiseheart, the Scot, are famous among the martyrs for their charity in this kind. And so is Mr Fox, the martyrologer, of whom it is reported, that as he gave away his horse at one time to a poor man when he had no money to give him; so at another, having bestowed his wife’s money in a petticoat, and meeting by the way home with a poor woman that wanted clothing, he freely gave it to her; telling his wife that he had sent it to heaven before her. The poor man’s belly is surely the best cupboard, and his back the best wardrobe; Ubi non pereunt, sed parturiunt, where they rot not, as those moth eaten ones in St James, Jas 5:2 , but remain for ever. Great Alexander believed this far better than most among us, for when he had given away all almost, and his friends asked him, where it was? he pointed to the poor and said, In scriniis, in my chests. And when he was further asked, what he kept for himself.; he answered, Spem maiorum et meliorum, The hope of greater and better things. And another of his name, viz. Pope Alexander V, was so liberal to the poor, that he left nothing to himself; so that he would merrily say, that he was a rich bishop, a poor cardinal, and a beggarly pope, W . It was wont to be said,
Pauperibus sun dat gratis, nec munera curat
Curia Papalis; quod modo percipimus.
But this distich must be read backwards, saith mine author (Heidfeld.), thus, Percipimus modo quod Papalis, &c.
Or any poor without covering
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
poor = helpless. Hebrew. ‘ebyon. See note on Pro 6:11.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Job 22:6, 2Ch 28:15, Isa 58:7, Mat 25:36, Mat 25:43, Luk 3:11, Act 9:39, Jam 2:16, 1Jo 3:18
Reciprocal: Job 24:7 – the naked Job 29:13 – ready Job 34:28 – they Eze 18:16 – but hath Heb 13:2 – not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 31:19-22. If I have seen any perish When it was in my power to help them. If his loins have not blessed me That is, if my covering his loins hath not given him occasion to bless me, and to pray to God to bless me; the loins being put for the whole body. If he were not warmed, &c. With clothing made of my wool. If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless An expression signifying an act of power and hostility. If I have ever beaten or ill used him; if I have brought him to the judgment- seat, that, under the colour of justice, I might take away his right, or any ways to threaten, injure, or crush him; when I saw my help in the gate When I saw myself superior in the gate, Houbigant. That is, superior in authority. When I understood my advantage against him, and that I could influence the judges to do what I pleased. Then let mine arm fall, &c. I am contented that that arm which hath been so wickedly employed, may either rot off or fall out of joint, and so be useless and burdensome to me.