Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. New Living Translation then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted. English Standard Version then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. Berean Standard Bible then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. King James Bible Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. New King James Version Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out. New American Standard Bible Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. NASB 1995 Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. NASB 1977 Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. Legacy Standard Bible Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. Amplified Bible Then let me plant and [let] another eat [from the results of my labor], And let my crops be uprooted and ruined. Christian Standard Bible let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted. Holman Christian Standard Bible let someone else eat what I have sown, and let my crops be uprooted. American Standard Version Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out. Contemporary English Version then others can eat my harvest and uproot my crops. English Revised Version Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out. GOD'S WORD® Translation [then] let someone else eat what I have planted, and let my crops be uprooted. Good News Translation then let my crops be destroyed, or let others eat the food I grow. International Standard Version what I've planted, let another eat or let my crops be uprooted." NET Bible then let me sow and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted. New Heart English Bible then let me sow, and let another eat. Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out. Webster's Bible Translation Then let me sow, and let another eat; yes, let my offspring be rooted out. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblethen may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. World English Bible then let me sow, and let another eat. Yes, let the produce of my field be rooted out. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionLet me sow—and another eat, "" And let my products be rooted out. Young's Literal Translation Let me sow -- and another eat, And my products let be rooted out. Smith's Literal Translation I will sow and another shall eat; and my offspring shall be rooted up. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out. Catholic Public Domain Version then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated. New American Bible Then may I sow, but another eat, and may my produce be rooted up! New Revised Standard Version then let me sow, and another eat; and let what grows for me be rooted out. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut when I sowed, then I ate, and when I planted, then I cultivated and gathered the crops. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But if I have sown then I ate, and if I planted, then I raised and I stored up OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out. Brenton Septuagint Translation then let me sow, and let others eat; and let me be uprooted on the earth. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job's Final Appeal…7If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands, 8then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. 9If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,… Cross References Deuteronomy 28:30 You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit. Proverbs 5:10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner. Micah 6:15 You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine. Leviticus 26:16 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. Jeremiah 12:13 They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail. Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.” Isaiah 65:21-22 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. / No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. Amos 5:11 Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. / And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. Psalm 109:11 May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. Hosea 8:7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up. Matthew 25:24-30 Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. / So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ / ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. ... Luke 12:20-21 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ / This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” James 5:1-3 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. / Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. / Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, / his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. / If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ... Treasury of Scripture Then let me sow, and let another eat; yes, let my offspring be rooted out. let me Job 5:5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance. Job 24:6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. Leviticus 26:16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. let my Job 5:4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them. Job 15:30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. Job 18:19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. Jump to Previous Crops Earth Eat Field Fruit Grows Offspring Others Produce Products Rooted Seed Sow Sown UprootedJump to Next Crops Earth Eat Field Fruit Grows Offspring Others Produce Products Rooted Seed Sow Sown UprootedJob 31 1. Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several dutiesthen may another eat what I have sown This phrase reflects the concept of justice and retribution found throughout the Bible, where one's actions lead to corresponding consequences. In the context of Job, he is asserting his innocence and integrity by invoking a curse upon himself if he has been unjust. The idea of another eating what one has sown is a reversal of the blessing found in Deuteronomy 28:30-33, where obedience leads to enjoying the fruits of one's labor. The cultural context of ancient agrarian societies placed great importance on the harvest, as it was directly tied to survival and prosperity. This phrase also echoes the principle of sowing and reaping found in Galatians 6:7, emphasizing moral and ethical conduct. and may my crops be uprooted Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith. 2. The Land of Uz The setting of the Book of Job, often thought to be located in the region of Edom or northern Arabia. It is a place of both prosperity and trial for Job. 3. Job's Friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to offer counsel and comfort but often end up accusing him of wrongdoing. 4. God The ultimate authority and sovereign being who allows Job's trials to test his faith and integrity. 5. Satan The adversary who challenges Job's righteousness, suggesting that his faith is only due to his prosperity. Teaching Points Integrity in ActionJob's declaration in this verse is part of his larger discourse on maintaining integrity. He is willing to accept the consequences if he has acted unjustly, demonstrating the importance of living a life of integrity. Understanding Consequences Job acknowledges that actions have consequences. This teaches us to be mindful of our actions and their potential impact on our lives and others. Trust in Divine Justice Job's willingness to accept divine justice reflects his trust in God's fairness. We are reminded to trust in God's justice, even when we do not understand our circumstances. Repentance and Accountability Job's statement implies a readiness to repent and be accountable if he has wronged. This encourages us to be open to self-examination and correction. The Role of Suffering Job's trials remind us that suffering can be a test of faith and character, not necessarily a punishment for wrongdoing. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 31:8?2. How does Job 31:8 reflect the consequences of unrepentant sin in our lives? 3. What does "let my crops be uprooted" teach about divine justice? 4. How can Job 31:8 inspire us to maintain integrity in our work? 5. Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of living righteously before God? 6. How can we apply Job's example of accountability to our daily actions? 7. What does Job 31:8 reveal about the consequences of sin according to the Bible? 8. How does Job 31:8 reflect the theme of divine justice? 9. What historical context influences the interpretation of Job 31:8? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 31? 11. What does the Bible say about aging? 12. How do Job’s self-imposed curses in Job 31 compare with New Testament passages emphasizing mercy and forgiveness? 13. Who is The Evil One in the story? 14. What does 'You Reap What You Sow' mean? What Does Job 31:8 Mean Then may another eat what I have sown“then may another eat what I have sown” (Job 31:8a) • Job is issuing a self-maledictory oath: if he has been dishonest (see v. 5–7), he invites God to let someone else enjoy the fruit of his labor. • Such language echoes covenant curses like Deuteronomy 28:30, 33 where the unfaithful “plant vineyards but will not enjoy them.” • The idea underscores tangible loss: – Loss of provision (Jeremiah 12:13: “They have sown wheat but will reap thorns”). – Loss of satisfaction (Micah 6:15: “You will sow but not reap”). • Job’s willingness to suffer this penalty shows his confidence in his integrity; he is not bargaining—he is testifying. • By choosing an agricultural image, Job speaks in everyday terms his friends and readers understand, making the moral point vivid: righteousness protects the work of one’s hands; sin forfeits it (Proverbs 3:33). and may my crops be uprooted “and may my crops be uprooted” (Job 31:8b) • The curse intensifies: not only would another eat the harvest, the very plants would be torn out—erasing all future yield. • Uprooting signifies total judgment (Psalm 80:16; Isaiah 5:5-6). – The land becomes barren, a picture of divine displeasure (Amos 5:11). • Job is effectively saying, “If I am guilty, let my livelihood be destroyed at the roots.” • This points to God’s sovereign control over prosperity and disaster (Job 1:21; 2:10). • The picture also foreshadows the ultimate separation God will make between righteousness and wickedness (Matthew 13:41-43). • Again, Job can speak so boldly because he trusts that the Lord sees his righteous walk (Job 23:10). summary Job 31:8 is Job’s solemn vow of innocence. He invites two escalating covenant curses—loss of harvest and destruction of the field—should he be found deceitful. By calling these judgments on himself, Job affirms that God justly rewards integrity and punishes evil. His words challenge us to live transparently before the Lord who both blesses faithful labor and uproots unrighteous gain. Verse 8. - Then let me sow, and let another eat (comp. Job 5:5; Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:33, 51, etc.). The expression is proverbial. Yea, lot my offspring be rooted out; rather, my produce, or the produce of my field (see the Revised Version).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew then may anotherוְאַחֵ֣ר (wə·’a·ḥêr) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other eat יֹאכֵ֑ל (yō·ḵêl) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat what I have sown, אֶ֭זְרְעָה (’ez·rə·‘āh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular Strong's 2232: To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify and my crops וְֽצֶאֱצָאַ֥י (wə·ṣe·’ĕ·ṣā·’ay) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 6631: Issue, offspring, produce be uprooted. יְשֹׁרָֽשׁוּ׃ (yə·šō·rā·šū) Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8327: To root, strike into the soil, to pluck from it Links Job 31:8 NIVJob 31:8 NLT Job 31:8 ESV Job 31:8 NASB Job 31:8 KJV Job 31:8 BibleApps.com Job 31:8 Biblia Paralela Job 31:8 Chinese Bible Job 31:8 French Bible Job 31:8 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 31:8 Then let me sow and let another (Jb) |