“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job isn't just saying he didn't refuse the poor; he's emphasizing that he didn't keep them waiting in anxious hope that eventually gave way to despair. The phrase "caused the eyes of the widow to fail" paints a vivid picture of someone looking so long for help that their hope and vision itself starts to dim.
“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job is now defending himself against accusations of neglecting the vulnerable, particularly the poor and widows. He's declaring his innocence by listing specific ways he hasn't wronged them, contrasting his actions with the charges leveled against him. He follows this by affirming his commitment to justice and generosity when dealing with those in need.
Job is laying out his defense, and he starts by talking about the poor. But what does it really mean to 'withhold' something from them?
Job isn't just talking about giving handouts; he's talking about basic human dignity and fairness.
Beyond Mere Giving
When Job says, 'If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,' he's speaking about more than just handing over money. It's about not blocking their access to what they genuinely needed and were rightfully seeking, whether that was food, work, or a fair hearing.
Prompt Justice, Not Tedious Waiting
The phrase 'caused the eyes of the widow to fail' paints a vivid picture. It means making someone wait so long for help or justice that their hope wears out. Job is declaring he didn't let widows languish in painful, prolonged expectation of his aid or his legal decisions.
The 'eyes of the widow failing' is a powerful image. What does this prolonged waiting reveal about the deeper trust placed in Job?
This part of Job's defense speaks volumes about the responsibilities he felt towards the vulnerable.
A Failed Hope
When the text says 'caused the eyes of the widow to fail,' it implies that she had looked to Job with a specific hope. Her eyes were fixed on him, anticipating relief, justice, or support. For them to 'fail' meant that this anticipation was met with emptiness, disappointment, and the exhaustion of waiting.
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Job's Conscience
Job is essentially saying he didn't create this cycle of desperate waiting and dashed hopes. He recognizes the significant trust people placed in him, especially widows who had few other recourse, and affirms that he didn't betray that trust through neglect or unjust delay.
Understand the original words
dal · Hebrew Adjective
One who lacks material resources and is socially or economically disadvantaged. In Scripture, the poor are often the object of God's special concern and protection, and believers are commanded to care for them.
almanah · Hebrew Noun
A woman whose husband is deceased. Throughout the Bible, widows are categorized among the most vulnerable members of society, and God explicitly demands justice and provision for them.
yathom · Hebrew Noun
One who has lost one or both parents. The Bible frequently pairs the fatherless with the widow and the sojourner as a group vulnerable to exploitation, whom God commands His people to protect and sustain.
Job's impassioned defense of his integrity, particularly concerning his care for the poor and widows, resonates deeply within the context of ancient Israelite law and the warnings of the prophets against social injustice.
c. 1000 BC
Reign of King David
David established a righteous kingdom, and the Law, which emphasized care for the vulnerable, was beginning to be understood and practiced.
c. 950 BC
Reign of King Solomon
Solomon's reign saw increased wealth and international trade, but also the beginnings of the corruption that would plague later Israelite kings.
c. 930 BC
Division of the Kingdom
The united monarchy split into the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah, often leading to political instability and social neglect.
c. 800-750 BC
Prophetic Warnings
Prophets like Amos and Isaiah railed against the wealthy elite for their oppression of the poor and the vulnerable, especially widows and orphans.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens and serving as a stark warning to Judah.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquered Judah, destroying Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiling much of the population. This crisis led to deep reflection on covenant faithfulness.
Undated (Patriarchal Period)— this verse
Job's Life and Suffering
Job, a man of integrity and wealth, faces catastrophic loss and questions God's justice. He recounts his past righteousness, including his compassion for the poor and widowed, in his defense.
This passage lays out the principle behind Job's declaration, commanding Israel to open their hand and lend generously to those in need, underscoring the importance of not hardening one's heart against the poor.
Psalm 69:3This psalm describes a similar feeling of exhaustion and despair, where the psalmist's eyes fail from looking for God's salvation, echoing the 'failing eyes' of the widow in Job's statement who waits in vain for help.
Proverbs 15:25This proverb directly contrasts the actions of the righteous and the wicked regarding the vulnerable, stating that the Lord will establish the boundary of the widow and the fatherless, reinforcing the divine importance of their protection.
James 1:27This verse defines true religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress, providing a clear theological parallel to Job's defense of his integrity in caring for the vulnerable.
bensonJob 31:16: "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;"
Job 31:16-17 . If I have withheld the poor, &c. — If I have denied them what they desired of me, either in justice or from necessity; for he was under no obligation to grant their vain or inordinate desires. Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail — With tedious expectation of my justice or charity. I durst neither deny nor delay my help, when they needed or required it. Or have eaten…
wesleyJob 31:16: "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;"
31:16 If I - Denied them what they desired of me. To fail - With tedious expectation of my justice or charity. Job is most large upon this head, because in this matter Eliphaz had most particularly accused him.
Job isn't just saying he didn't refuse the poor; he's emphasizing that he didn't keep them waiting in anxious hope that eventually gave way to despair. The phrase "caused the eyes of the widow to fail" paints a vivid picture of someone looking so long for help that their hope and vision itself starts to dim.
Job is now defending himself against accusations of neglecting the vulnerable, particularly the poor and widows. He's declaring his innocence by listing specific ways he hasn't wronged them, contrasting his actions with the charges leveled against him. He follows this by affirming his commitment to justice and generosity when dealing with those in need.
Job is now defending himself against accusations of neglecting the vulnerable, particularly the poor and widows. He's declaring his innocence by listing specific ways he hasn't wronged them, contrasting his actions with the charges leveled against him. He follows this by affirming his commitment to justice and generosity when dealing with those in need.
"“If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it" — Job isn't just saying he didn't refuse the poor; he's emphasizing that he didn't keep them waiting in anxious hope that eventually gave way to despair. The phrase "caused the eyes of the widow to f…
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Last reviewed October 2026