Job 31:18

“For from my youth he was brought up with me as [with] a father, etc.] That is, the poor or the fatherless, one or both; as soon as he was at years of discretion, and was capable of observing the distressed circumstances of others, he had a tender and compassionate regard to the poor and fatherless, and acted the part of a father to them; was as affectionately concerned for them as if he had been their father, and took such care of them as if they were his children; (see <182916>Job 29:16); and I have guided her from my mother’s womb; the widow, by his counsel and advice; an hyperbolical expression, signifying how early he was a succourer of such persons, by giving his friendly advice, or…”

“Parenthetical: asserting that he did the contrary to the things in Job 31:16-17. he--the orphan. guided her--namely, the widow, by advice and protection. On this and "a father," see Job 29:16.”

“For from my youth he was brought up with me - This verse is usually regarded as a parenthesis, though very various expositions have been given of it. Some have understood it as denying that he had in any way neglected the widow and the fatherless, and affirming that the orphan had always, even from his youth, found a father in him, and the widow a guide. Others, as our translators, suppose that it is a parenthesis thrown in to indicate his general course of life, although the imprecation which he makes on himself, if he had neglected the widow and the orphan, is found in Job 31:22. Luther reads the two previous verses as questions, and this as an answer to them, and so also do Rosenmuller…”

“Youth - As soon as I was capable of managing mine own affairs. With me - Under my care. A father - With all the diligence and tenderness of a father. Her - The widow mentioned Job 31:16. From - From my tender years; ever since I was capable of discerning good and evil. Job 31:19”

“her: that is, the widow Job 31:19”