Bible Strands
Job 31:26
if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job speaks in his own defense, addressing God and his friends while cataloging potential sins to prove his moral integrity. He stands at the midpoint of his oath, using conditional statements to rule out idolatrous fascination with the sky.
The words — The Hebrew אִם־ ('im) means "if," structuring the clause as a legal oath, while יָקָ֥ר (ya.kar) translates to "splendor" or "preciousness." These terms describe the moon's visible brightness without attributing divine power to it.
The thread — The text warns against being enticed by the sun and moon, a prohibition repeated in Deuteronomy 4:19 and Deuteronomy 17:3. Ezekiel 8:16 later records Israelite leaders turning their backs to the temple while worshiping these same celestial bodies.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to test whether admiration for creation has quietly replaced exclusive devotion to God. It requires the active refusal to treat natural phenomena as objects of reverence or sources of security.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 8:16 So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.
- Deuteronomy 4:19 When you look to the heavens and see the sun and moon and stars—all the host of heaven—do not be enticed to bow down and worship what the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
- Deuteronomy 17:3 and going to worship other gods, bowing down to them or to the sun or moon or any of the host of heaven—which I have forbidden—
- 2 Kings 23:5 Josiah also did away with the idolatrous priests ordained by the kings of Judah to burn incense on the high places of the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem—those who had burned incense to Baal, to the sun and moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven.
- 2 Kings 23:11 And he removed from the entrance to the house of the LORD the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court near the chamber of an official named Nathan-melech. And Josiah burned up the chariots of the sun.
- Jeremiah 8:2 They will be exposed to the sun and moon, and to all the host of heaven which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up or buried, but will become like dung lying on the ground.
- Jeremiah 44:17 Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.
- Genesis 1:16 God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night. And He made the stars as well.
- Deuteronomy 11:16 But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,
- Psalms 8:3 When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place—