Job 31:26
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אֶרְאֶ֣ה
If I beheld
H7200
אֶרְאֶ֣ה
If I beheld
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
2 of 8
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
א֖וֹר
the sun
H216
א֖וֹר
the sun
Strong's:
H216
Word #:
3 of 8
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יָהֵ֑ל
when it shined
H1984
יָהֵ֑ל
when it shined
Strong's:
H1984
Word #:
5 of 8
to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causativ
Cross References
Ezekiel 8:16And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.Deuteronomy 4:19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.Deuteronomy 17:3And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;Jeremiah 44:17But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.Jeremiah 8:2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.2 Kings 23:5And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.2 Kings 23:11And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern religions centrally featured astral worship. Mesopotamian religion included sun god Shamash and moon god Sin. Egyptian religion centered on Ra (sun god). Israel's uniqueness included prohibition of astral worship and destruction of related cultic objects (2 Kings 23:4-5). Job's innocence of such worship demonstrated loyalty to Yahweh in a polytheistic context.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern forms of creation worship tempt Christians to violate the first commandment?
- How does Job's exclusive worship of God challenge our tendency to serve God alongside other allegiances?
- What does <em>soli Deo gloria</em> (glory to God alone) mean in practical terms for 21st-century believers?
Analysis & Commentary
Job continues his oath of innocence: "If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness." The verb ra'ah (רָאָה, "beheld") means to look upon with approval or worship. The verb halak (הָלַךְ, "walking") describes the moon's progress across the sky. Job denies solar or lunar worship—explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 4:19, 17:3). Celestial worship was common in surrounding cultures—Egyptian Ra worship, Mesopotamian Sin (moon god). From a Reformed perspective, Job's denial demonstrates the first commandment's priority: exclusive worship of Yahweh. The temptation to worship creation rather than Creator is universal (Romans 1:25). Job's testimony shows that true knowledge of God requires rejecting all idolatry, however culturally acceptable or sophisticated. The Reformers' emphasis on soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone) continues Job's rejection of divided loyalty.