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Job 16:17

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer [is] pure.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Although there is no violence in mine hands, and my prayer is pure.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Not for [any] injustice in my hands: also my prayer [is] pure.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Though no violence was in my hands, and, my prayer, was pure.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Not for any iniustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— But not for any iniquity in my hands; my prayer also is pure.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer [is] pure.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Not x3808
(3808) Complement
לֹא
lo'
{lo}
lo; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abstract negation); by implication no; often used with other particles.
for x5921
(5921) Complement
עַל
`al
{al}
Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications.
[any] injustice 2555
{2555} Prime
חָמָס
chamac
{khaw-mawce'}
From H2554; violence; by implication wrong; by metonymy unjust gain.
in mine hands: 3709
{3709} Prime
כַּף
kaph
{kaf}
From H3721; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm tree); figuratively power.
also my prayer 8605
{8605} Prime
תְּפִלָּה
t@phillah
{tef-il-law'}
From H6419; intercession, supplication; by implication a hymn.
[is] pure. 2134
{2134} Prime
זַךְ
zak
{zak}
From H2141; clear.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

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Matthew Henry's Commentary

Job 16:17-22

_ _ Job's condition was very deplorable; but had he nothing to support him, nothing to comfort him? Yes, and he here tells us what it was.

_ _ I. He had the testimony of his conscience for him that he had walked uprightly, and had never allowed himself in any gross sin. None was ever more ready than he to acknowledge his sins of infirmity; but, upon search, he could not charge himself with any enormous crime, for which he should be made more miserable than other men, Job 16:17.

_ _ 1. He had kept a conscience void of offence, (1.) Towards men: “Not for any injustice in my hands, any wealth that I have unjustly got or kept.” Eliphaz had represented him as a tyrant and an oppressor. “No,” says he, “I never did any wrong to any man, but always despised the gain of oppression.” (2.) Towards God: Also my prayer is pure; but prayer cannot be pure as long as there is injustice in our hands, Isaiah 1:15. Eliphaz had charged him with hypocrisy in religion, but he specifies prayer, the great act of religion, and professes that in that he was pure, though not from all infirmity, yet from reigning and allowed guile: it was not like the prayers of the Pharisees, who looked no further than to be seen of men, and to serve a turn.

_ _ 2. This assertion of his own integrity he backs with a solemn imprecation of shame and confusion to himself if it were not true, Job 16:18. (1.) If there were any injustice in his hands, he wished it might not be concealed: O earth! cover thou not my blood, that is, “the innocent blood of others, which I am suspected to have shed.” Murder will out; and “let it,” says Job, “if I have ever been guilty if it,” Genesis 4:10, Genesis 4:11. The day is coming when the earth shall disclose her blood (Isaiah 26:21), and a good man as far from dreading that day. (2.) If there were any impurity in his prayers, he wished they might not be accepted: Let my cry have no place. He was willing to be judged by that rule, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, Psalms 66:18. There is another probable sense of these words, that he does hereby, as it were, lay his death upon his friends, who broke his heart with their harsh censures, and charges the guilt of his blood upon them, begging of God to avenge it and that the cry of his blood might have no place in which to lie hid, but might come up to heaven and be heard by him that makes inquisition for blood.

_ _ II. He could appeal to God's omniscience concerning his integrity, Job 16:19. The witness in our own bosoms for us will stand us in little stead if we have not a witness in heaven for us too; for God is greater than our hearts, and we are not to he our own judges. This therefore is Job's triumph, My witness is in heaven. Note, It is an unspeakable comfort to a good man, when he lies under the censure of his brethren, that there is a God in heaven who knows his integrity and will clear it up sooner or later. See John 5:31, John 5:37. This one witness is instead of a thousand.

_ _ III. He had a God to go to before whom he might unbosom himself, Job 16:20, Job 16:21. See here, 1. How the case stood between him and his friends. He knew not how to be free with them, nor could he expect either a fair hearing with them or fair dealing from them. “My friends (so they call themselves) scorn me; they set themselves not only to resist me, but to expose me; they are of counsel against me, and use all their art and eloquence” (so the word signifies) “to run me down.” The scorns of friends are more cutting than those of enemies; but we must expect them, and provide accordingly. 2. How it stood between him and God. He doubted not but that, (1.) God did now take cognizance of his sorrows: My eye pours out tears to God. He had said (Job 16:16) that he wept much; here he tells us in what channel his tears ran, and which way they were directed. His sorrow was not that of the world, but he sorrowed after a godly sort, wept before the Lord, and offered to him the sacrifice of a broken heart. Note, Even tears, when sanctified to God, give ease to troubled spirits; and, if men slight our grief, this may comfort us, that God regards them. (2.) That he would in due time clear up his innocency (Job 16:21): O that one might plead for a man with God! If he could but now have the same freedom at God's bar that men commonly have at the bar of the civil magistrate, he doubted not but to carry his cause, for the Judge himself was a witness to his integrity. The language of this wish is like that in Isaiah 50:7, Isaiah 50:8, I know that I shall not be ashamed, for he is near that justifies me. Some give a gospel sense of this verse, and the original will very well bear it; and he will plead (that is, there is one that will plead) for man with God, even the Son of man for his friend, or neighbour. Those who pour out tears before God, though they cannot plead for themselves, by reason of their distance and defects, have a friend to plead for them, even the Son of man, and on this we must bottom all our hopes of acceptance with God.

_ _ IV. He had a prospect of death which would put a period to all his troubles. Such confidence had he towards God that he could take pleasure in thinking of the approach of death, when he should be determined to his everlasting state, as one that doubted not but it would be well with him then: When a few years have come (the years of number which are determined and appointed to me) then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. Note, 1. To die is to go the way whence we shall not return. It is to go a journey, a long journey, a journey for good and all, to remove from this to another country, from the world of sense to the world of spirits. It is a journey to our long home; there will be no coming back to out state in this world nor any change of our state in the other world. 2. We must all of us very certainly, and very shortly, go this journey; and it is comfortable to those who keep a good conscience to think of it, for it is the crown of their integrity.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Job 16:17

Not — And all this is not come upon me for any injurious dealing, but for other reasons known to God only. Pure — I do not cast off God's fear and service, Job 15:4. I do still pray and worship God, and my prayer is accompanied with a sincere heart.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Job 16:17

Not for [any] injustice in (q) mine hands: also my prayer (r) [is] pure.

(q) Signifying that he is not able to understand the cause of this his grievous punishment.

(r) That is, unfeigned and without hypocrisy.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Not for:

Job 11:14 If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Job 15:20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all [his] days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites [shall be] desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
Job 21:27-28 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me. ... For ye say, Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked?
Job 22:5-9 [Is] not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? ... Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Job 27:6-7 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live. ... Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
Job 29:12-17 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him. ... And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Job 31:1-40 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? ... Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
Psalms 7:3-5 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; ... Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
Psalms 44:17-21 All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. ... Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

my prayer:

Job 8:5-6 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; ... If thou [wert] pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
Psalms 66:18-19 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]: ... [But] verily God hath heard [me]; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Jb 8:5; 11:14; 15:20, 34; 21:27; 22:5; 27:6; 29:12; 31:1. Ps 7:3; 44:17; 66:18. Pv 15:8. 1Ti 2:8.

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