Job 31:32

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 31:32 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “(The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveller);” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

(The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveller);
Job 31:32 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 31

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
32(The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveller);

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The stranger did not lodge in the street, etc.] By a stranger is not meant an unconverted man, that is a stranger to God and godliness, to Christ, and the way of salvation by him, to the Spirit of God and spiritual things, nor a good man, who is a stranger and pilgrim on earth; but one that is out of his nation and country, and at a distance from it, whether a good man or a bad man; these Job would not suffer to lie in the streets in the night season, exposed to the air and the inclemencies of it; (see <071915> Judges 19:15-21); [but] I opened my doors to the traveller; even all the doors of his house, to denote his great liberality, that as many as would might enter it; and this was done by…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“traveller--literally, "way," that is, wayfarers; so expressed to include all of every kind (Sa2 12:4).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The stranger did not lodge in the street - This is designed to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, and to express his consciousness that he had showed the most generous hospitality. But I opened my doors to the traveler - Margin, or way. The word used here ארח 'ôrach means properly way, path, road; but it also denotes those who travel on such a way; see Job 6:19, “The troops of Tema looked,” Hebrew ארח תימא têymâ' 'ôrach - the ways, or paths of Tema; that is, those who traveled in those paths. Vulgate here, viatori. Septuagint, “To everyone that came” - παντί ἐλθόντι panti elthonti. This was one of the methods of hospitality - the central and crowning virtue among the…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The stranger: Job 31:17, Job 31:18; Gen 19:2, Gen 19:3; Jdg 19:15, Jdg 19:20, Jdg 19:21; Isa 58:7; Mat 25:35, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:44, Mat 25:45; Rom 12:13; Ti1 5:10; Heb 13:2; Pe1 4:9 traveller: or, way Job 31:33”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification