The Meaning of Job 31:34 Explained

Job 31:34

KJV: Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

YLT: Because I fear a great multitude, And the contempt of families doth affright me, Then I am silent, I go not out of the opening.

Darby: Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...

ASV: Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door-

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Did I fear  a great  multitude,  or did the contempt  of families  terrify  me, that I kept silence,  [and] went not out  of the door? 

What does Job 31:34 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 31:34 mean?

Because I feared the multitude great and the contempt of families dreaded so that I kept silence not [And] did go out of the door
כִּ֤י אֶֽעֱר֨וֹץ ׀ הָ֘מ֤וֹן רַבָּ֗ה וּבוּז־ מִשְׁפָּח֥וֹת יְחִתֵּ֑נִי וָ֝אֶדֹּ֗ם לֹא־ אֵ֥צֵא ؟ פָֽתַח

כִּ֤י  Because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אֶֽעֱר֨וֹץ ׀  I  feared 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: מַעֲרָץ 
Sense: to tremble, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, break, be terrified, cause to tremble.
הָ֘מ֤וֹן  the  multitude 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: הָמֹון 
Sense: (Qal) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound.
רַבָּ֗ה  great 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
וּבוּז־  and  the  contempt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בּוּז  
Sense: contempt.
מִשְׁפָּח֥וֹת  of  families 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
יְחִתֵּ֑נִי  dreaded 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: חָתַת  
Sense: to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid.
וָ֝אֶדֹּ֗ם  so  that  I  kept  silence 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּמַם 
Sense: to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb.
אֵ֥צֵא  [And]  did  go  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
؟ פָֽתַח  of  the  door 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.