Job 31:39
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
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
כֹּ֭חָהּ
the fruits
H3581
כֹּ֭חָהּ
the fruits
Strong's:
H3581
Word #:
2 of 8
vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means, produce)
בְלִי
H1097
בְלִי
Strong's:
H1097
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, failure, i.e., nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc
כָ֑סֶף
thereof without money
H3701
כָ֑סֶף
thereof without money
Strong's:
H3701
Word #:
5 of 8
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ
their life
H5315
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ
their life
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
6 of 8
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
Cross References
1 Kings 21:19And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.James 5:4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Historical Context
The ancient world frequently saw powerful individuals seize land from the vulnerable (see 1 Kings 21, Ahab and Naboth's vineyard; Isaiah 5:8, Micah 2:2). Job's wealth could have been built through such oppression, but he swears otherwise. This oath addresses systemic economic injustice, not merely personal morality. The patriarchal period lacked formal labor laws, making personal integrity the only protection for workers and small landholders.
Questions for Reflection
- How do modern economic systems allow consumption of resources 'without money'—without just compensation to laborers or creation?
- In what ways might business practices 'cause owners to lose their life'—destroying livelihoods through exploitation?
- What does Job's standard of economic justice require of Christian employers, consumers, and investors today?
Analysis & Commentary
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money (אִם־כֹּחָהּ אָכַלְתִּי בְלִי־כָסֶף, 'im-kochah 'akhalti veli-khasef)—koach literally means strength or produce; eating the land's strength without kesef (silver, payment) means consuming resources without just compensation. This addresses theft or exploitation of land and labor. Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life (וְנֶפֶשׁ בְּעָלֶיהָ הִפָּחְתִּי, venefesh be'aleha hipachti)—nefesh means soul, life, or person; pachach means to breathe out, expire, or cause to lose life. Ba'al is owner or possessor.
Job denies two forms of land-related injustice:
This echoes laws protecting laborers (Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:14-15) and prohibiting coveting neighbors' property (Exodus 20:17). James 5:4 condemns withholding workers' wages. Job's oath demonstrates that economic justice is central to biblical righteousness—faith without fair labor practices is dead.