Job 31:18 Meaning and Explanation
“(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job explains in a parenthesis that he had cared for the fatherless and the widow from his earliest years, as a father and guide.
What Does Job 31:18 Mean?
This parenthetical verse supports Job's claims in verses 16 and 17. He says that from his 'youth' he raised the orphan as a father would, and from earliest life guided the widow. Compassion was not a late virtue but the long habit of his whole life.
Job's care for the vulnerable was lifelong and tender, more like family love than duty. He stood in a father's place for those who had lost one. Such enduring kindness reflects the steadfast care of God, who is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows, and whose mercy is not a passing mood but His unchanging nature.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 31:18
What does Job 31:18 mean?
Job explains in a parenthesis that he had cared for the fatherless and the widow from his earliest years, as a father and guide.