Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow— New Living Translation No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. English Standard Version (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), Berean Standard Bible though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow— King James Bible (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) New King James Version (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow); New American Standard Bible (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from my infancy I guided her), NASB 1995 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy I guided her), NASB 1977 (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from infancy I guided her), Legacy Standard Bible (But from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And from the womb of my mother I guided her), Amplified Bible (But from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, And from my mother’s womb I have been the widow’s guide), Christian Standard Bible for from my youth, I raised him as his father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow — Holman Christian Standard Bible for from my youth, I raised him as his father, and since the day I was born I guided the widow— American Standard Version (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And her have I guided from my mother's womb); Contemporary English Version Since the time I was young, I have cared for orphans and helped widows. English Revised Version (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have been her guide from my mother's womb;) GOD'S WORD® Translation (From my youth the orphan grew up with me as though I were his father, and from my birth I treated the widow kindly.) Good News Translation All my life I have taken care of them. International Standard Version (even a poor man had grown up with me as if I were his father, and even though I had guided the widow from the time I was born), Majority Standard Bible though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother?s womb I guided the widow? NET Bible but from my youth I raised the orphan like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow! New Heart English Bible (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, her have I guided from my mother's womb); Webster's Bible Translation (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) World English Bible (no, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, I have guided her from my mother’s womb); Literal Translations Literal Standard Version(But from my youth "" He grew up with me as [with] a father, "" And from the belly of my mother I am led), Young's Literal Translation (But from my youth He grew up with me as with a father, And from the belly of my mother I am led.) Smith's Literal Translation (For from my youth he grew up to me as a father, and I shall guide her from my mother's womb;) Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bible(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother's womb :) Catholic Public Domain Version (for from my infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me from my mother’s womb;) New American Bible Though like a father he has reared me from my youth, guiding me even from my mother’s womb— New Revised Standard Version for from my youth I reared the orphan like a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow — Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible(Because from my youth I was brought up in sorrows, and from my mother's womb with sighing); Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because sorrows from my youth raised me and groanings from the belly of my mother OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have been her guide from my mother's womb. Brenton Septuagint Translation (for I nourished them as a father from my youth and guided them from my mother's womb.) Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job's Final Appeal…17if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless— 18though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow— 19if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,… Cross References James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ... Galatians 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. Proverbs 19:17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. 1 John 3:17-18 If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? / Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land. Luke 14:13-14 But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, / and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked. Acts 20:35 In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Isaiah 58:6-7 Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 1 Timothy 5:10 and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work. Proverbs 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. Romans 12:13 Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality. Exodus 22:22-24 You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. / If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. / My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless. Treasury of Scripture (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) her. Jump to Previous Belly Birth Body Cared Earliest Grew Guide Guided Infancy Led Mother Mother's Reared Widow Womb YouthJump to Next Belly Birth Body Cared Earliest Grew Guide Guided Infancy Led Mother Mother's Reared Widow Womb YouthJob 31 1. Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several dutiesthough from my youth I reared him as would a father This phrase highlights Job's lifelong commitment to righteousness and compassion. The reference to "from my youth" suggests a deep-seated moral foundation, indicating that Job's care for others was not a recent development but a consistent part of his character. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the role of a father was to provide, protect, and guide, which Job claims to have extended to those in need. This reflects the biblical principle of caring for the vulnerable, as seen in passages like James 1:27, which emphasizes looking after orphans and widows. Job's actions can be seen as a type of Christ, who is described as the Good Shepherd, caring for His flock with a father's love. and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow— Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith. 2. The Fatherless Refers to orphans or those without a father figure, whom Job claims to have cared for as a father would. 3. The Widow Represents women who have lost their husbands, often vulnerable and in need of protection and support in ancient society. 4. Job's Youth Indicates the period in Job's life when he began practicing righteousness and caring for the needy, suggesting a lifelong commitment to these values. 5. Job's Birth Symbolizes the beginning of Job's life, emphasizing that his compassion and guidance for the widow were inherent from the start. Teaching Points Commitment to RighteousnessJob's lifelong dedication to caring for the vulnerable serves as a model for believers to commit to righteous living from an early age. Compassionate Leadership Just as Job acted as a father to the fatherless, Christians are called to lead with compassion and provide guidance to those in need. Support for the Vulnerable The care for widows and orphans is a recurring biblical theme, urging believers to actively support and protect the most vulnerable in society. Consistency in Faith Job's actions from youth to adulthood demonstrate the importance of consistent faith and practice, encouraging believers to maintain their commitment to God's commands throughout their lives.(18) For from my youth he.--The pronouns refer to the fatherless of Job 31:17 and to the widow of Job 31:16.Verse 18. - For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb; i.e. I have always, so long as I can remember, protected the orphan and done my best to help the widow. It has been my habit from my earliest years so to act. The language is exaggerated; but it had, no doubt, a basis of fact to rest upon. Job was brought up in these principles. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew thoughכִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction from my youth מִ֭נְּעוּרַי (min·nə·‘ū·ray) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons I reared him גְּדֵלַ֣נִי (gə·ḏê·la·nî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great as would a father, כְאָ֑ב (ḵə·’āḇ) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1: Father and from my mother's אִמִּ֣י (’im·mî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 517: A mother, ) womb וּמִבֶּ֖טֶן (ū·mib·be·ṭen) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything I guided [the widow]— אַנְחֶֽנָּה׃ (’an·ḥen·nāh) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5148: To guide, to transport Links Job 31:18 NIVJob 31:18 NLT Job 31:18 ESV Job 31:18 NASB Job 31:18 KJV Job 31:18 BibleApps.com Job 31:18 Biblia Paralela Job 31:18 Chinese Bible Job 31:18 French Bible Job 31:18 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 31:18 No from my youth he grew up (Jb) |