Job 31:22 Meaning and Explanation
“Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job calls down a curse on the very arm he might have raised against the orphan: let it be torn from his shoulder.
What Does Job 31:22 Mean?
This verse gives the self-curse for the sin denied in verse 21. If Job ever raised his hand against the fatherless, let that arm be broken off at the shoulder and snapped from the bone — the limb of injustice destroyed.
The punishment fits the crime with poetic exactness: the arm that would oppress is the arm he offers up to ruin. Such willingness to be judged at the very point of his alleged sin shows the depth of Job's confidence and conscience. It reminds the reader that the strength God gives is meant to lift the fallen, never to strike them down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 31:22
What does Job 31:22 mean?
Job calls down a curse on the very arm he might have raised against the orphan: let it be torn from his shoulder.