The Meaning of Job 21:31 Explained

Job 21:31

KJV: Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

YLT: Who doth declare to his face his way? And for that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?

Darby: Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

ASV: Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who shall declare  his way  to his face?  and who shall repay  him [what] he hath done? 

What does Job 21:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 21:1-34 - "shall Any Teach God?"
After a brief introduction, in which he claims the right to reply, Job 21:1-6, Job brings forward a new argument. He affirms that his friends are wrong in assuming that the connection between sin and suffering is invariable. On the contrary, he urges that wicked men often spend their lives in prosperity, on the farm, in the fold, and in the home, Job 21:10-11. Sounds of joy issue from their dwellings, Job 21:12. They die without prolonged torture, Job 21:13. From the contention of his friends, Job turns to the passer-by for confirmation of his words. Surely, he says, it is a matter of common observation that some wicked men do prosper and die in peace, Job 21:29.
With Job's answer the second colloquy ends. His friends have gained nothing by their arguments, but Job has learned much by his afflictions. On the dark background of his night the Morning Star has actually begun to shine. He appeals to God with greater confidence and even finds refuge in Him; but so far, though arguing his case, he has preserved a humble and reverent attitude. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 21

1  Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7  Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16  Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21  The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27  The judgment of the wicked is in another world

What do the individual words in Job 21:31 mean?

Who condemns to his face his way and he [for what] has done who repays him
מִֽי־ יַגִּ֣יד עַל־ ؟ פָּנָ֣יו דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְהֽוּא־ ؟ עָ֝שָׂ֗ה מִ֣י יְשַׁלֶּם־ לֽוֹ

יַגִּ֣יד  condemns 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
؟ פָּנָ֣יו  his  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
דַּרְכּ֑וֹ  his  way 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְהֽוּא־  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
؟ עָ֝שָׂ֗ה  [for  what]  has  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
יְשַׁלֶּם־  repays 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .