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Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Good News Translation

Job 31:28

Such a sin should be punished by death; it denies Almighty God.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Covetousness;   Hope;   Idolatry;   Integrity;   Rich, the;   Sun;   Temptation;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Riches, Earthly;   Security-Insecurity;   Trust in Riches;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Moon, the;   Riches;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hope;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Job;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Job, the Book of;   Moon;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Idolatry;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Moon;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Kiss;   Sabbath;   Sun;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Idolatry,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Job;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adoration;   Deny;   Queen of Heaven;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Sun;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
this would also be an iniquity deserving punishment,for I would have denied God above.
Hebrew Names Version
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
King James Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
English Standard Version
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
New Century Version
If I had, these also would have been sins to be punished, because I would have been unfaithful to God.
New English Translation
then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.
Amplified Bible
This also would have been [a heinous] sin calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
New American Standard Bible
That too would have been a guilty deed calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.
World English Bible
This also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God who is above.
Geneva Bible (1587)
(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)
Legacy Standard Bible
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment,For I would have denied God above.
Berean Standard Bible
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
Contemporary English Version
Such horrible sins would have deserved punishment from God.
Complete Jewish Bible
then this too would be a criminal offense, for I would have been lying to God on high.
Darby Translation
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
Easy-to-Read Version
This is also a sin that must be punished. If I had worshiped them, I would have been unfaithful to God All-Powerful.
George Lamsa Translation
Then God has seen my crafty ways, and I have lied before him.
Lexham English Bible
this also is an iniquity to be judged, for I have deceived God above.
Literal Translation
this also would be an iniquity for the judges; for I would have denied God above.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(that were a wickednesse worthy to be punyshed, for then shulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
American Standard Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
Bible in Basic English
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have lied to God that is above.
King James Version (1611)
This also were an iniquitie to be punished by the Iudge: For I should haue denied the God that is aboue.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
(That were a wickednesse worthy to be punished: for then shoulde I haue denyed the God that is aboue.)
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
let this also then be reckoned to me as the greatest iniquity: for I should have lied against the Lord Most High.
English Revised Version
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges: for I should have lied to God that is above.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
which is the moost wickidnesse, and deniyng ayens hiyeste God;
Update Bible Version
This also was an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.
Webster's Bible Translation
This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge: for I should have denied the God [that is] above.
New King James Version
This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.
New Living Translation
If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.
New Life Bible
these also would be sins to be judged. It would say I did not know the God above.
New Revised Standard
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
Revised Standard Version
this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.
Young's Literal Translation
It also [is] a judicial iniquity, For I had lied to God above.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
That too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, For I would have denied God above.

Contextual Overview

24 I have never trusted in riches 25 or taken pride in my wealth. 26 I have never worshiped the sun in its brightness or the moon in all its beauty. 27 I have not been led astray to honor them by kissing my hand in reverence to them. 28 Such a sin should be punished by death; it denies Almighty God. 29 I have never been glad when my enemies suffered, or pleased when they met with disaster; 30 I never sinned by praying for their death. 31 All those who work for me know that I have always welcomed strangers. 32 I invited travelers into my home and never let them sleep in the streets.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an: Job 31:11, Job 9:15, Job 23:7, Genesis 18:25, Deuteronomy 17:2-7, Deuteronomy 17:9, Judges 11:27, Psalms 50:6, Hebrews 12:23

for: Joshua 24:23, Joshua 24:27, Proverbs 30:9, Titus 1:16, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:23, Jude 1:4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 3:32 - lifted

Cross-References

Genesis 29:13
and when he heard the news about his nephew Jacob, he ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him, and brought him into the house. When Jacob told Laban everything that had happened,
Genesis 31:3
Then the Lord said to him, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you."
Genesis 31:13
I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, where you dedicated a stone as a memorial by pouring olive oil on it and where you made a vow to me. Now get ready and go back to the land where you were born.'"
Genesis 31:24
In a dream that night God came to Laban and said to him, "Be careful not to threaten Jacob in any way."
Genesis 31:55
Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters good-bye, and left to go back home.
Exodus 4:27
Meanwhile the Lord had said to Aaron, "Go into the desert to meet Moses." So he went to meet him at the holy mountain; and when he met him, he kissed him.
Ruth 1:9
And may the Lord make it possible for each of you to marry again and have a home." So Naomi kissed them good-bye. But they started crying
Ruth 1:14
Again they started crying. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye and went back home, but Ruth held on to her.
1 Samuel 13:13
"That was a foolish thing to do," Samuel answered. "You have not obeyed the command the Lord your God gave you. If you had obeyed, he would have let you and your descendants rule over Israel forever.
1 Kings 19:20
Elisha then left his oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you." Elijah answered, "All right, go back. I'm not stopping you!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

This also [were] an iniquity [to be punished by] the judge,.... As well as adultery, Job 31:11; by the civil magistrates and judges of the earth, who are God's vicegerents, and therefore it behooves them to take cognizance of such an iniquity, and to punish for it, which affects in so peculiar a manner the honour and worship of the true God; this by the law of Moses was punished by stoning to death,

Deuteronomy 13:9; however this will be taken notice of and punished by God the Judge of all, whose law is broken hereby, and who will visit this iniquity more especially on those who commit it, and their posterity after them. Idolaters of every sort shall have their part and portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, Exodus 20:3; the consideration of its being such a heinous sin, and so deserving of punishment, deterred Job from it; the Targum paraphrases it, a most amazing iniquity, it being, as follows, a denial of the true God:

for I should have denied the God [that is] above; that is, had he worshipped the sun and moon secretly or openly; for, as the atheist denies him in words, the idolater denies him in facts, worshipping the creature besides the Creator, and giving his glory to another, and his praise to idols; which is a virtual denial of him, even of him who is above the sun and moon in place, being higher than the heavens; and in nature, excellency, and glory, being the Creator of them, and they his creatures; and in power and authority, who commands the sun, and it rises not, and has appointed the moon for seasons, Job 9:7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judqe - Note Job 31:11. Among the Hebrews idolatry was an offence punishable by death by stoning; Deuteronomy 17:2-7. It is possible, also, that this might have been elsewhere in the patriarchal times a crime punishable in this manner. At all events, Job regarded it as a heinous offence, and one of which the magistrate ought to take cognizance.

For I should have denied the God that is above - The worship of the heavenly bodies would have been in fact the denial of the existence of any Superior Being. This, in fact, always occurs, for idolaters have no knowledge of the true God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 31:28. For I should have denied the God that is above. — Had I paid Divine adoration to them, I should have thereby denied the God that made them.


 
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