Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 31:21

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

21. if I have lift up my hand ] i. e. to strike him down. The expression is figurative, meaning to oppress violently.

I saw my help in the gate ] i. e. because he saw that if the cause came before the judges (the gate) he could secure from them, by his inference, a verdict favourable to himself.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless – That is, if I have taken advantage of my rank, influence, and power, to oppress and injure him.

When I saw my help in the gate – The gate of a city was a place of concourse; a place where debates were held, and where justice was administered. Job speaks here of that part of his life when he was clothed with authority as a magistrate, or when he had power and influence as a public man. He says that he had never abused this power to oppress the fatherless. He had never taken advantage of his influence to injure them, because he saw he had a strong party under his control, or because he had power enough to carry his point, or because he had those under him who would sustain him in an oppressive measure. This is spoken with reference to the usually feeble and defenseless condition of the orphan, as one who is deprived of his natural protector and who is, therefore, liable to be wronged by those in power.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless] I have at no time opposed the orphan, nor given, in behalf of the rich and powerful, a decision against the poor, when I saw my help in the gate – when I was sitting chief on the throne of judgment, and could have done it without being called to account.

There are sentiments very like these in the poem of Lebeid, one of the authors of the Moallakhat. I shall quote several verses from the elegant translation of Sir William Jones, in which the character of a charitable and bountiful chief is well described: –

“Oft have I invited a numerous company to the death of a camel bought for slaughter, to be divided with arrows of equal dimensions.”

“I invite them to draw lots for a camel without a foal, and for a camel with her young one, whose flesh I distribute to all the neighbours.”

“The guest and the stranger admitted to my board seem to have alighted in the sweet vale of Tebaala, luxuriant with vernal blossoms.”

“The cords of my tent approaches every needy matron, worn with fatigue, like a camel doomed to die at her master’s tomb, whose venture is both scanty and ragged.”

“There they crown with meat (while the wintry winds contend with fierce blasts) a dish flowing like a rivulet, into which the famished orphans eagerly plunge.”

“He distributes equal shares, he dispenses justice to the tribes, he is indignant when their right is diminished; and, to establish their right, often relinquishes his own.”

“He acts with greatness of mind, and nobleness of heart: he sheds the dew of his liberality on those who need his assistance; he scatters around his own gains and precious spoils, the prizes of his valour.” – Ver. 73-80.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

To smite him with the fist of wickedness, as the phrase is, Isa 58:4; to bring him to the judgment-seat, that under colour of justice I might take away his right, as powerful oppressors use to do, or any ways to threaten, injure, or crush him.

When I saw my help in the gate; when I understood my advantage against him, and that I could influence the judges to do what I pleased.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

21. whenthat is, “because.”

I sawthat I mightcalculate on the “help” of a powerful party in the court ofjustice(“gate”), if I should be summoned by the injuredfatherless.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless,…. Either in a menacing way, threatening what he would do to them; which, from a man of wealth and authority, a civil magistrate, a judge, is very terrible to the poor and fatherless; or in order to strike him, which would be to smite with the fist of wickedness; or give a signal to others, by lifting up the hand to smite, as Ananias gave orders to smite the Apostle Paul; or thereby to give his vote against the fatherless wrongly, suffrages being sometimes made by lifting up the hands; or hereby Job signifies, that he was so far from doing the fatherless any real injury, that he had not so much as lifted up his hand, and even a finger against him:

when I saw my help in the gate; in the court of judicature held in the gate of the city, as was usual; though he knew he had the bench of judges for him, or they would give sentence in his behalf, and against the fatherless, if he did but hold up his hand, or lift up a finger to them, so ready would they be take his part and be on his side; yet he never made use of his power and interest to their detriment, or took such an advantage against them.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

21. Help in the gate Patrons and friends, ready to defend him in case of mal-administration of justice. The gate is the forum in Eastern towns, where all kinds of important business are transacted. See note, Job 29:7.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 31:21. When I saw my help in the gate When I saw myself superior in the gate. Houbigant. That is, superior in authority, sufficient to influence those judges, whose usual place of hearing causes was in the gates of cities, as we have often had occasion to observe.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Job 31:21 If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

Ver. 21. If I have lift up my hand against the fatherless ] That is, against any that are destitute of human helps and defences. Such to ill treat and oppress is easy for great ones. See Gen 50:15-21 , &c. But where the true fear of God is no such thing will be done. The Tigurines render, Si minitatus sum Orphano, &c., If I have lifted up my hand in threatening first, and then let it fall in striking and punishing, the fatherless or friendless.

When I saw my help in the gate ] i.e. When, by my greatness and grace with the people, I might have borne out my worst miscarriages; when I might have had more than enough that would have defended, yea, applauded me, as the Senate of Rome did Nero even for his most malapert misdemeanors and most horrid outrages.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

help. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for those who would he on his side.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

lifted: Job 6:27, Job 22:9, Job 24:9, Job 29:12, Pro 23:10, Pro 23:11, Jer 5:28, Eze 22:7

when: Mic 2:1, Mic 2:2, Mic 7:3

Reciprocal: Exo 23:6 – General Num 5:22 – the woman Deu 16:19 – wrest Rth 4:1 – to the gate Pro 14:16 – feareth Pro 22:22 – oppress Pro 24:7 – openeth Pro 29:7 – considereth Lam 3:3 – General Amo 5:12 – in the Act 25:11 – if I

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

31:21 If I have lifted {o} up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

(o) To oppress him and to do him harm.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes