Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 31:4
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
4. Here “ways” and “steps” are said of things so slight as the glance of the eye. These are “seen” and “counted” by God. The thought of God in these verses is as lofty as the conception of morality is close and inward.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Doth he not see my ways? – This either means that God was a witness of all that he did – his thoughts, words, and deeds, and would punish him if he had given indulgence to improper feelings and thoughts; or that since God saw all his thoughts, he could boldly appeal to him as a witness of his innocence in this matter, and in proof that his life and heart were pure. Rosenmuller adopts the latter interpretation; Herder seems to incline to the former. Umbreit renders it, God himself must be a witness that I speak the truth. It is not easy to determine which is the true meaning. Either of them will accord well with the scope of the passage.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Doth not he see my ways] Can I suppose that I could screen myself from the eye of God while guilty of such iniquities?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. All my counsels and courses. This is another reason why he was so circumspect and exact in restraining his thoughts, and senses, and whole man from sinful practices, because he knew that God would discern them, and therefore punish them, as he said, Job 31:3.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. Doth not he see? &c.Knowingthis, I could only have expected “destruction” (Job31:3), had I committed this sin (Pr5:21).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?] That is, God, who is above, and the Almighty that dwells on high; he looks down from heaven, and beholds all the ways and works, the steps and motions, of the children of men; there is no darkness where the workers of iniquity can hide themselves; the fornicator and adulterer choose the night season for the commission of their sin, fancying no eye sees them; but they cannot escape the eye of God, who is omniscient; he observes the ways they walk in, the methods they take to compass their designs; he marks and counts every step taken by them, as he does indeed take notice of and reckons up every action of men, good and bad; and the consideration of this was another argument with Job to avoid the sin of uncleanness; for however privately he might commit it, so as not to be seen by men, it could not be hidden from the all seeing eye of God. Some take these words to be an obtestation, or appeal to God for the truth of what he had said; that he made a covenant with his eyes, and took every precaution to prevent his failing into the sin of uncleanness; and he whose eyes were upon his ways, knew how holily and unblamably he had walked; or else, as if the sense was, that had he given in to such an impure course of life, he might expect the omniscient God, that is above, and dwells on high, would bring upon him destruction, and a strange punishment, since he is the avenger of all such; others connect the words with the following, doth he not see my ways and steps, whether I have walked with vanity, &c. or not?
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) Doth not he.The He is emphatic, obviously meaning God. His appeal is to the All-seeing knowledge of God, whom nothing escapes, and who is judge of the hearts and reins (Psa. 7:9; Psa. 44:21; Jer. 17:10; Jer. 20:12). (Comp. Act. 25:11.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Job 31:4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
Ver. 4. Doth he not see my ways, and count, &c. ] Yea, sure he doth so; and the conscience of God’s omniscience, who would soon take him tripping, kept him from this great wickedness. So it did Joseph, but so it did not David; who is, therefore, said to despise God and his commandment, 2Sa 12:9-10 to do evil in his sight; and this was no small aggravation of his offence. Ne pecces, Deus ipse videt. “I have seen the lewdness of thy whoredom,” Jer 13:27 . “Even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord,” Jer 29:23 . That should be a powerful retentive from vice, Pro 5:21 .
And count all my steps?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Doth not He . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Job 14:16, Job 34:21, Gen 16:13, 2Ch 16:9, Psa 44:21, Psa 139:1-3, Pro 5:21, Pro 15:3, Jer 16:17, Jer 32:19, Joh 1:48, Heb 4:13
Reciprocal: 1Sa 20:12 – O Lord Job 33:11 – marketh Psa 26:2 – General Psa 56:6 – mark Psa 139:3 – compassest Dan 5:23 – and whose Joh 21:17 – thou knowest that