Job 31:7

Authorized King James Version

PDF

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

Original Language Analysis

אִ֥ם H518
אִ֥ם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 12
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תִּטֶּ֣ה hath turned out H5186
תִּטֶּ֣ה hath turned out
Strong's: H5186
Word #: 2 of 12
to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)
אַשֻּׁרִי֮ If my step H838
אַשֻּׁרִי֮ If my step
Strong's: H838
Word #: 3 of 12
a step
מִנִּ֪י H4480
מִנִּ֪י
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 4 of 12
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הַ֫דָּ֥רֶךְ of the way H1870
הַ֫דָּ֥רֶךְ of the way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 5 of 12
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וְאַחַ֣ר after H310
וְאַחַ֣ר after
Strong's: H310
Word #: 6 of 12
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
עֵ֭ינַי mine eyes H5869
עֵ֭ינַי mine eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 7 of 12
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
הָלַ֣ךְ walked H1980
הָלַ֣ךְ walked
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 8 of 12
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לִבִּ֑י and mine heart H3820
לִבִּ֑י and mine heart
Strong's: H3820
Word #: 9 of 12
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י to mine hands H3709
וּ֝בְכַפַּ֗י to mine hands
Strong's: H3709
Word #: 10 of 12
the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-
דָּ֣בַק hath cleaved H1692
דָּ֣בַק hath cleaved
Strong's: H1692
Word #: 11 of 12
properly, to impinge, i.e., cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit
מֻאֽוּם׃ and if any blot H3971
מֻאֽוּם׃ and if any blot
Strong's: H3971
Word #: 12 of 12
a blemish (physically or morally)

Analysis & Commentary

If my step hath turned out of the way (אִם תִּטֶּה אַשֻּׁרִי מִנִּי הַדָּרֶךְ, im titteh ashuri minni haderech)—Natah (turned aside, declined) with ashur (step, walk) from derech (the way, the path) describes moral deviation from God's prescribed course. Deuteronomy repeatedly warns against turning 'to the right hand or to the left' (Deuteronomy 5:32).

Mine heart walked after mine eyes (וְאַחַר עֵינַי הָלַךְ לִבִּי, ve'achar einai halach libbi)—This phrase reverses proper order: the lev (heart, will) should govern the eyes, but Job asks if his heart followed his eyes lustfully. Numbers 15:39 warns against 'following your own heart and eyes' into adultery. Job claims his eyes didn't lead his heart into coveting (compare Job 31:1, the covenant with his eyes).

If any blot hath cleaved to mine hands (וּבְכַפַּי דָּבַק מוּם, uvechappai davak mum)—Davak (cleaved, clung) describes persistent attachment. Mum (blot, spot, blemish) is used of physical defects disqualifying priests (Leviticus 21:17-23). Job asks if moral contamination has adhered to his hands, the instruments of action.

Historical Context

The 'way' (derech) was a central biblical metaphor for covenant faithfulness—the Torah was the path to life. Clean hands symbolized moral innocence in temple worship (Psalm 24:4). The progression—step, heart, eyes, hands—traces sin from inception (wandering) through desire (heart following eyes) to action (blot on hands). This follows wisdom literature's psychology of temptation.

Questions for Reflection