The Meaning of Job 31:9 Explained

Job 31:9

KJV: If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

YLT: If my heart hath been enticed by woman, And by the opening of my neighbour I laid wait,

Darby: If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,

ASV: If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor's door;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If mine heart  have been deceived  by a woman,  or [if] I have laid wait  at my neighbour's  door; 

What does Job 31:9 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 31:9 mean?

If has been enticed my heart by a woman Or [if] at door of my neighbor I have lurked
אִם־ נִפְתָּ֣ה לִ֭בִּי עַל־ אִשָּׁ֑ה וְעַל־ פֶּ֖תַח רֵעִ֣י אָרָֽבְתִּי

נִפְתָּ֣ה  has  been  enticed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתָה 
Sense: to be spacious, be open, be wide.
לִ֭בִּי  my  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
אִשָּׁ֑ה  a  woman 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
וְעַל־  Or  [if]  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
פֶּ֖תַח  door 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
רֵעִ֣י  of  my  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
אָרָֽבְתִּי  I  have  lurked 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָרַב  
Sense: to lie in wait, ambush, lurk.