The Meaning of Job 31:33 Explained

Job 31:33

KJV: If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

YLT: If I have covered as Adam my transgressions, To hide in my bosom mine iniquity,

Darby: If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

ASV: If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If I covered  my transgressions  as Adam,  by hiding  mine iniquity  in my bosom: 

What does Job 31:33 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 31:1-40 - The Clean Life
Job had specially guarded against impurity, for its heritage is one of calamity and disaster. He is sure that even if he were weighed by God Himself there would be no iniquity discovered in him. He even goes so far as to invoke the most awful results if he has sinned against the seventh commandment. It is well for us if we are able with similar sincerity to appeal to the verdict of God and of our own heart. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to beget in us purity and separateness from sin, that we may walk with unsullied garments.
Job also protests the even-handedness of his dealings with his servants, alleging the principle which underlies the whole Christian teaching on the point, that we all have been made by the same Creator. He insists on his benevolence to the widow and the fatherless. He is careful to show that he had not failed in doing all the good that was within his reach. Alas, how few of us can say as much! How many such occasions cross our path every day, which we heedlessly let pass!
With this appeal Job goes into the presence of God, and asks for a reply. In the strong gospel light we are too deeply convicted of sin to dare to do this, and must rely upon the merits of Christ. In these alone can we approach the uncreated light. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 31

1  Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties

What do the individual words in Job 31:33 mean?

If I have covered as Adam my transgressions by hiding in my bosom my iniquity
אִם־ כִּסִּ֣יתִי כְאָדָ֣ם פְּשָׁעָ֑י לִטְמ֖וֹן בְּחֻבִּ֣י עֲוֺֽנִי

כִּסִּ֣יתִי  I  have  covered 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּסָה  
Sense: to cover, conceal, hide.
כְאָדָ֣ם  as  Adam 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: first man.
פְּשָׁעָ֑י  my  transgressions 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
לִטְמ֖וֹן  by  hiding 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: טָמַן  
Sense: to hide, conceal, bury.
בְּחֻבִּ֣י  in  my  bosom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חֹב  
Sense: bosom.
עֲוֺֽנִי  my  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.