Bible Strands
Job 31:30
I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job addresses this declaration to himself and his assembled witnesses as he catalogs his moral integrity before God. He places it immediately after condemning secret joy at an enemy’s downfall.
The words — The Hebrew נָתַתִּי לַחֲטֹא (na.Ta.ti la/cha.To') literally renders “I have permitted to sin,” while בְּאָלָה (be./'a.Lah) means “with a curse.” Job states that he did not let his palate sin by cursing his adversary’s life.
The thread — This restraint against cursing an enemy parallels the New Testament commands to bless persecutors rather than retaliate (Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 3:9) and the Old Testament law requiring the return of an enemy’s stray animal (Exodus 23:4).
Why it lands — The verse demands that a reader actively suppress the impulse to wish harm on those who oppose them. It requires replacing vengeful speech with deliberate restraint in both private thought and public declaration.
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
Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
- 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- Exodus 23:4 If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
- Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
- Matthew 5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
- James 3:9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
- 1 Peter 2:22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.
- Ecclesiastes 5:6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
- Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.