What Does Job 31:36 Mean in the King James?
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The charge that could weigh on Job becomes something he is willing to carry openly and wear as a crown.
THE MEANING
The image holds both weight and honor: the charge rests on your shoulder, then is bound on as a crown. Scrutiny does not automatically make you disgraceful; here, the charge can be carried into the open without concealment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that being accused or examined must strip you of honor: the charge can be carried visibly rather than hidden in shame.
THE ROOT
אֶשָּׂאֶנּוּ
’eśā’ennû
GROWS FROM
נשא
n-ś-ʾ
to lift, carry, or bear
“take, carry” in this verse is ’eśā’ennû. Hebrew’s נשא can describe carrying, while מַשָּׂא names what is carried: a burden. The image keeps the charge’s weight, yet puts it where it can be seen and worn as a crown.
ALSO GROWS
maśśāʾ: burden, load
מַשָּׂא
This branch makes the weight explicit: Job is willing to carry the charge, not pretend it weighs nothing.
nāśîʾ: leader, chief
נָשִׂיא
This related noun is commonly understood as one raised up, placing carrying and elevation within the same word family.
nāśāʾ ʿāwōn: bear crookedness or guilt; idiomatically, forgive guilt
נָשָׂא עָוֹן
The same verb can describe bearing guilt, extending its sense of carrying from physical weight to moral account.
THE PATTERN
A weight borne openly can become a sign of value or honor rather than a mark of shame.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.THE THREAD
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.Job’s “I will carry it” and Isaiah’s “he hath borne” use the Hebrew root נשא (n-ś-ʾ), to carry or bear. Job places a charge on the shoulder; Isaiah places grief there, widening the image from public accusation to the weight of suffering.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us