Job 31:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In Him, all our virtues are measured, and through His guidance, we discern what we must cast aside in our own lives. We are evaluated in these scales whenever we are inspired by the examples of His life. It is written, “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps; He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten” (1 Peter 2:21-23). Consequently, Paul encourages us to endure what is set before us: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:1-2). For this reason, the Lord took on flesh so that human existence might be revived through exhortation, illuminated by example, redeemed through His suffering, and extended by the Resurrection. While the blessed Job finds nothing in himself that warrants blame, he broadens his perspective to the life of the Saviour, which transcends all teachings, saying, “If I have walked in vanity, and if my foot hastened to guile, let Him weigh me in the balances, and let God know my integrity.” This is akin to stating plainly, “If I have committed any frivolous act or engaged in wickedness, it is essential for the Mediator between God and man to manifest so that I may learn from His life whether I truly embody simplicity.” Thus, as previously mentioned, he, who surpassed his contemporaries, sought the Mediator between God and humanity in order that being measured by Him, he might discover whether he truly lived simply. Therefore, he expresses, “Let Him weigh me in the scales, and let God know my integrity,” meaning, “Let Him make me aware.” He clarifies that, “As I evaluate my life against the standard of humanity, I currently see no aspect within myself that rightly deserves the title of unworthy; yet unless the Mediator between God and man appears to provide a more precise example of righteous living, I cannot ascertain how far I diverge from true simplicity.” It is important to observe the correct order presented; for if one’s foot hastens first in vanity, it subsequently moves toward guile. If hastening in vanity relates to levity, then wickedness pertains to wrongdoing. Often, people commit wrongs later because they initially did not escape the lightness of vanity. The text continues:

His home was welcoming to all travelers (30-32); he felt so virtuous that he could confidently stand in the presence of the Almighty during judgment (31-37) and was unafraid of incurring the curse that fell upon Adam for his transgression (38-40). Thus, through Job's actions and characteristics, we witness not only the integrity of the Old Testament righteous, but also the noble virtues that exemplify true believers of the New Testament. Notably, within these discourses, particularly the final one, we find a compelling overview of Job's entire life, as recounted by Job himself. He is portrayed as a family man, a judge, and a leader; we observe his interactions with peers and those beneath him, and his kindness towards the afflicted—both in his visible conduct and in his innermost intentions. This portrayal encompasses every aspect of his existence: his happiness in days gone by, his current suffering, and his hopes for the future. This is the complete picture of Job, and it was most appropriate for him to conclude his defense against his friends with this account, affirming his innocence. Particularly remarkable is the conclusion of Job's discourse (as noted in the Slavonic and Default versions, 32:1), which serves as an integral part of the narrative.