Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

Job 31:36

Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and bind it like crowns to me.

Bible Study Resources

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Job, the Book of;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bind;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crown;   Elihu (2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Crown;   Manuscripts;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I would surely carry it on my shoulderand wear it like a crown.
Hebrew Names Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown.
King James Version
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
English Standard Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;
New Century Version
I would wear the writing on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.
New English Translation
Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;
Amplified Bible
"Surely I would [proudly] bear it on my shoulder, And bind the scroll around my head like a crown.
New American Standard Bible
I would certainly carry it on my shoulder, I would tie it to myself like a garland.
World English Bible
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; And I would bind it to me as a crown.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?
Legacy Standard Bible
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;I would bind it to myself like a crown.
Berean Standard Bible
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
Contemporary English Version
Then I would wear his charges on my clothes and forehead.
Complete Jewish Bible
I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown.
Darby Translation
Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
Easy-to-Read Version
I would wear it around my neck. I would put it on my head like a crown.
George Lamsa Translation
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and make it a crown to me.
Good News Translation
I would wear them proudly on my shoulder and place them on my head like a crown.
Lexham English Bible
I would surely carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then shall I take it vpon my shulder, & as a garlade aboute my heade.
American Standard Version
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown:
Bible in Basic English
Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.
King James Version (1611)
Surely I would take it vpon my shoulder, and bind it as a crowne to me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yet will I take it vpon my shoulder, & as a garlande binde it about my head.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
I would place it as a chaplet on my shoulders, and read it.
English Revised Version
Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
write a book, that Y bere it in my schuldre, and cumpasse it as a coroun to me?
Update Bible Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it to me as a crown:
Webster's Bible Translation
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, [and] bind it [as] a crown to me.
New King James Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;
New Living Translation
I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.
New Life Bible
For sure I would carry it on my shoulder. I would tie it around my head like a crown.
New Revised Standard
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Oh! would I not, upon my shoulder, lift it, or bind it as a crown upon me;
Douay-Rheims Bible
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
Revised Standard Version
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;
Young's Literal Translation
If not -- on my shoulder I take it up, I bind it a crown on myself.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, I would bind it to myself like a crown.

Contextual Overview

33 if I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, 34 then let me fear before a great multitude, and let the scorn of families frighten me and I will be silent, and not go out the door. 35 Oh that I had one to hear me! See, my mark! Let the Almighty answer me, and let my Accuser write an indictment. 36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and bind it like crowns to me. 37 I would tell Him the number of my steps. Like a prince I would go near Him. 38 If my land cries out against me, or its furrows weep together; 39 if I have eaten its strength without silver, or have caused its owner to expire; 40 let thorns come forth instead of wheat, and a weed instead of barley. The words of Job are finished.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I: Exodus 28:12, Isaiah 22:22

a crown: Job 29:14, Isaiah 62:3, Philippians 4:1

Reciprocal: Job 19:7 - no judgment Isaiah 41:1 - let us

Cross-References

Genesis 30:2
And Jacob's anger glowed against Rachel, and he said, Am I in God's place, who has kept back from you the fruit of the womb?
Genesis 31:19
And Laban went to shear his sheep. And Rachel stole the household idols which were her father's.
Genesis 31:20
And Jacob deceived the heart of Laban the Syrian, for he did not tell him that he was about to flee.
Genesis 34:7
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard, and the men were furious, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Israel, to lie with the daughter of Jacob, and it should not be done in this way.
Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and I will scatter them in Israel.
Numbers 16:15
And Moses was very angry, and said to Jehovah, Do not respect their offering; I have not taken one ass from them, nor have I done evil to one of them.
2 Kings 5:11
And Naaman was angry, and went on, and said, Behold, I said, He will certainly come out to me and will stand and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and will wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
2 Kings 13:19
And the man of God was angry with him, and said, By striking five or six times, then you would have stricken Syria until it was finished; but now, you shall strike Syria three times.
Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee though no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Mark 3:5
And having looked around on them with anger, being greatly grieved over the hardness of their heart, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he stretched out, and his hand was restored sound as the other.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder,.... The bill of indictment, the charge in writing; this he would take up and carry on his shoulder as a very light thing, having nothing weighty in it, no charge of sin and guilt to bear him down; nothing but what he could easily stand up under, only some trifling matter, which could not be interpreted sin; for anything of that kind would have been a burden too heavy for him to have borne: or else his sense is, that should he be convicted of any sin, he would openly confess the charge, acknowledge the sin in the most public manner, that being visible which is borne upon the shoulder; and would also patiently bear the afflictions and chastisements that were laid upon him for it: though rather the meaning is, that he should take up and carry such a bill, not as a burden, but as an honour, as one bears a sword of state, or carries a sceptre as an ensign of royalty on his shoulder; to which the allusion may be in Isaiah 9:6; not at all doubting but it would turn out to his glory; which is confirmed by what follows;

[and] bind it [as] a crown to me, or "crowns" q, having various circles of gold hung with jewels; signifying that he would not only take his bill or charge, and carry it on his shoulder, but put it on his head, and wear it there, as a king does his crown; which is an ornament and honour to him, as he should reckon this bill, seeing it would give him an opportunity of clearing himself effectually.

q עטרות "diademata", Montanus; "corollas", Tigurine version; "coronas", Vatablus, Piscator, Cocceius, Michaelis.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Surely, I would take it upon my shoulder - That is, the book or bill which the Almighty would write in the case. Job says that he has such confidence that what God would record in his case would be in his favor, such confidence that he had no charge of hypocrisy against him, and that he who knew him altogether would not bring such an accusation against him, that he would bear it off triumphantly on his shoulders. It would be all that he could desire. This does not refer to what a judge would decide if the cause were submitted to him, but to a case where an opponent or adversary in court should bring all that he could say against him. He says that he would bear even such a bill on his shoulders in triumph, and that it would be a full vindication of his innocence. It would afford him the best vindication of his character, and would be that which he had long desired.

And bind it as a crown to me - I would regard it as an ornament - a diadem. I would bind it on my head as a crown is worn by princes, and would march forth exultingly with it. Instead of covering me with shame, it would be the source of rejoicing, and I would exhibit it every where in the most triumphant manner. It is impossible for anyone to express a more entire consciousness of innocence from charges alleged against him than Job does by this language.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Job 31:36. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder — I would be contented to stand before the bar as a criminal, bearing upon my shoulder the board to which the accusation is affixed. In a book of Chinese punishments now before me, containing drawings representing various criminals brought to trial, in trial, and after trial, charged with different offences; in almost all of them a board appears, on which the accusation or crime of which they are accused, or for which they suffer, is fairly written. Where the punishment is capital, this board appears fastened to the instrument, or stuck near the place of punishment. In one case a large, heavy plank, through which there is a hole to pass the head, - or rather a hole fitting the neck, like that in the pillory, - with the crime written upon it, rests on the criminal's shoulders; and this he is obliged to carry about for the weeks or months during which the punishment lasts. It is probable that Job alludes to something of this kind, which he intimates he would bear about with him during the interim between accusation and the issue in judgment; and, far from considering this a disgrace, would clasp it as dearly as he would adjust a crown or diadem to his head; being fully assured, from his innocence, and the evidence of it, which would infallibly appear on the trial, that he would have the most honourable acquittal. There may also be an allusion to the manner of receiving a favour from a superior: it is immediately placed on the head, as a mark of respect; and if a piece of cloth be given at the temple, the receiver not only puts it on his head, but binds it there.


 
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