Job 31:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job swears he never ate his food alone but shared it with the fatherless.
What Does Job 31:17 Mean?
Continuing the oath begun in verse 16, Job denies eating his 'morsel' alone while orphans went hungry. His table was open; the fatherless child ate of what he had.
Generosity, for Job, is not occasional charity but a settled way of life that refuses to feast in comfort while others starve. To share one's bread with the parentless is to act as a father to the fatherless — the very role God claims for Himself throughout Scripture. The reader is invited to a hospitality that measures abundance not by what is hoarded and kept, but by what is gladly shared with those in need.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 31:17
What does Job 31:17 mean?
Job swears he never ate his food alone but shared it with the fatherless.