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Job's Final Appeal
…37I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—38ifmy landcries outagainst meand its furrowsweeptogether,39if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,…

Treasury of Scripture

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

cry

Job 20:27
The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.

Habakkuk 2:11
For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

James 5:4
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

complain.

Psalm 65:13
The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

ComplainCriedCriesCriethCryEarthFurrowsLikewiseOutcryPloughedSorrowTearsThereofTogetherWeepWeptWetComplainCriedCriesCriethCryEarthFurrowsLikewiseOutcryPloughedSorrowTearsThereofTogetherWeepWeptWet1.Job makes a solemn protestation of his integrity in several duties

if my land cries out against me
This phrase suggests a deep connection between the land and its owner, reflecting the ancient belief that the land could bear witness to human actions. In the Old Testament, the land is often personified and seen as having a relationship with its inhabitants (Genesis 4:10, where Abel's blood cries out from the ground). The idea of the land crying out implies a moral or ethical breach, possibly related to injustice or mistreatment. In the context of Job, this reflects his integrity and righteousness, as he is willing to be judged by the very ground he has worked. This concept is also seen inLeviticus 18:25, where the land is said to "vomit out" its inhabitants due to their sins.

and its furrows weep together
The imagery of furrows weeping suggests a profound sorrow or lamentation, possibly due to neglect or exploitation. In an agrarian society, furrows are the result of plowing, essential for planting crops. If they "weep," it could indicate poor stewardship or unjust practices, such as failing to give the land its Sabbath rest (Exodus 23:10-11). This phrase underscores the importance of ethical treatment of the land, resonating with the biblical principle of stewardship found inGenesis 2:15, where humanity is tasked with tending and keeping the earth. The weeping of the furrows can also symbolize the interconnectedness of creation, where human sin affects the natural world, a theme echoed inRomans 8:22, where creation groans under the weight of sin.

1.Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man described as blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil. In this chapter, Job is making his final defense, asserting his integrity and righteousness.

2.Land
Represents Job's property and livelihood. In ancient times, land was a significant part of one's wealth and sustenance, and it was believed to have a voice in matters of justice and righteousness.

3.Furrows
The trenches made in the soil by a plow. They symbolize the productivity and fruitfulness of the land, as well as the labor invested in it.

4.Cry/Weep
These terms are personifications of the land and its furrows, suggesting that they could testify against Job if he had wronged them.

5.God
The ultimate judge to whom Job is appealing, asserting that he has not committed any injustice that would cause his land to cry out against him.Stewardship of Creation
As stewards of God's creation, we are responsible for treating the land and environment with respect and justice. Job's assertion that his land does not cry out against him challenges us to consider how we care for the earth.

Integrity in All Areas of Life
Job's defense of his integrity extends to how he manages his property. This teaches us that righteousness should permeate every aspect of our lives, including our business dealings and environmental practices.

The Witness of Creation
The idea that the land can testify against us serves as a reminder that our actions have consequences beyond what we might immediately see. We should live in a way that even the earth would testify to our righteousness.

Accountability Before God
Ultimately, we are accountable to God for how we live and manage the resources He has entrusted to us. Job's appeal to God as his judge encourages us to live with an awareness of divine accountability.Top 10 Lessons from Job 31

What is the order of the Bible's books?

In Job 31:1–4, how can Job claim such purity given other scriptures teach no one is entirely sinless?

How does the promise of safety in Isaiah 33:16 align with observable instances of righteous people facing disaster historically?

How does Job 38:31's mention of binding the constellations (Pleiades and Orion) fit with what we know about astronomy?(38)Or that the furrows likewise thereof complain.--Rather,Or if the furrows thereof weep together--a strong impersonation to express the consequence of oppression and wrong-doing. It is to be observed that throughout this defence Job has far more than traversed the indictment of his friends. He has shown that he has not only not broken the moral law, as they insinuated, but, much more, has shown himself exemplary in all the relations of life, so that, according to the narrator of the history, he was not only one thatfeared God and eschewed evil(Job 1:1), but also wasperfect, i.e.,of sincere and consistent conduct andupright.

Verses 38-40. - It is generally supposed that these verses, with the exception of the last clause of ver. 40, are misplaced. As a termination, they form an anti-climax, and greatly weaken the peroration. Their proper place would seem to be between vers. 32 and 33.Verse 38. -If my land cry against me;i.e. if my land disclaim my ownership, as having been acquired by wrong or robbery.If the furrows likewise thereof complain; or, weep, as having been torn from their rightful proprietors, and seized by a stranger. The apodosis is in ver. 40.

Parallel Commentaries ...


If
אִם־(’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518:Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

my land
אַדְמָתִ֣י(’aḏ·mā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 127:Ground, land

cries out
תִזְעָ֑ק(ṯiz·‘āq)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2199:To shriek, to announce, convene publicly

against me
עָ֭לַי(‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, against

and its furrows
תְּלָמֶ֥יהָ(tə·lā·me·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8525:A bank, terrace

weep
יִבְכָּיֽוּן׃(yiḇ·kā·yūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 1058:To weep, to bemoan

together,
וְ֝יַ֗חַד(wə·ya·ḥaḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3162:A unit, unitedly


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OT Poetry: Job 31:38 If my land cries out against me (Jb)