Job 31:15
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Job 31:15
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Chapter Context
Job 31 is a wisdom dialogue chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of grace, holiness, covenant. Written during the patriarchal period (literary composition later), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient wisdom traditions often wrestled with the problem of suffering and divine justice.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-40: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Job and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Job 31:15
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Analysis
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? (הֲלֹא בַבֶּטֶן עֹשֵׂנִי עָשָׂהוּ, halo ba-beten oseini asahu)—the doubled verb asah (עָשָׂה, make/fashion) emphasizes the Creator's universal work. Did not one fashion us in the womb? (vay-khuneinu be-reḥem eḥad, וַיְכֻנֶנּוּ בָּרֶחֶם אֶחָד) uses kun (כּוּן, establish/fashion) and eḥad (אֶחָד, one), emphasizing shared origin.
This is Scripture's earliest explicit statement of human equality grounded in creation. Job argues: since God formed both master and servant in the womb, they share essential dignity and worth. This theology undergirds Malachi 2:10 ("Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?") and Paul's declaration that in Christ "there is neither bond nor free" (Galatians 3:28). Job's treatment of servants (vv. 13-15) flows from creation theology—to despise those made in God's image is to despise their Maker.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cultures had rigid social hierarchies with masters having absolute power over slaves. Job's theology was radically countercultural—he granted servants legal standing to bring cases against him (v. 13). This anticipates Mosaic law's protections for servants (Exodus 21:26-27) and reflects Job's Edomite-era knowledge of creation theology (Genesis 1:27). The womb imagery emphasizes pre-social equality—class distinctions are human constructs, not divine design.
Reflection
- How does recognizing that God fashioned all people in the womb challenge social, economic, or racial prejudice?
- In what areas of life do you treat people differently based on their social status rather than their image-bearing dignity?
- How does Job's creation-based ethics inform Christian engagement with issues of human rights and equality today?
Cross-References
- Creation: Malachi 2:10
- Parallel theme: Job 34:19, Proverbs 14:31, 22:2