Job 31:10then let my wife grind for another, and let others sleep with her.
The setting
Job invokes the most shameful consequence imaginable in his culture — his wife becoming another man's servant and sexual partner.
The emotion here: willing to accept the most devastating personal consequences to prove his innocence
The original word
tachan (טָחַן) — to grind grain, but also a euphemism for sexual servitude
Why it matters
Ancient Near Eastern law codes prescribed that adulterous men would lose their wives to their victims as compensation
Read with care
What most readers miss in Job 31:10
Job is invoking lex talionis — 'eye for eye' justice. If he violated someone's marriage, let his own be violated
Common misconceptionPeople think Job is being harsh about women, but he's actually following ancient justice principles where punishment fit the crime exactly — this shows how seriously he took marriage fidelity.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Job 31:10
Bible Genome reading
Job 31:10 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Job 31:10 comes from the book of Job, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to Job. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include consequences, justice. Notable phrases: let my wife grind for another; let others sleep with her.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Job 31:10 mean to you, today?
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