Job 31:5 If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

◄ Job 31:5 ►

New International Version
“If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit—

New Living Translation
“Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone?

English Standard Version
“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;

Berean Standard Bible
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

Berean Literal Bible
If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried toward deceit,

King James Bible
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

New King James Version
“If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

New American Standard Bible
“If I have walked with deception, And my foot has hurried after deceit,

NASB 1995
“If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hastened after deceit,

NASB 1977
“If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot has hastened after deceit,

Legacy Standard Bible
“If I have walked with worthlessness, And my foot has hastened after deceit,

Amplified Bible
“If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has chased after deceit,

Berean Annotated Bible
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

Christian Standard Bible
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

American Standard Version
If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot hath hasted to deceit

Contemporary English Version
I am not dishonest or deceitful,

English Revised Version
If I have walked with vanity, and my foot hath hasted to deceit;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If I have walked with lies or my feet have run after deception,

Good News Translation
I swear I have never acted wickedly and never tried to deceive others.

International Standard Version
"If I've lived my life in the company of vanity, or run quickly to embrace deception,

NET Bible
If I have walked in falsehood, and if my foot has hastened to deceit--

New Heart English Bible
"If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

Webster's Bible Translation
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,

World English Bible
“If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
If I have walked with vanity, "" And my foot hurries to deceit,

Berean Literal Bible
If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried toward deceit,

Young's Literal Translation
If I have walked with vanity, And my foot doth hasten to deceit,

Smith's Literal Translation
If I went with vanity, and my foot will haste upon deceit;

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:

Catholic Public Domain Version
If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,

New American Bible
If I have walked in falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit,

New Revised Standard Version
“If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit—

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
If I have walked with hypocrites, or if my foot hastened to deceit;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If I have walked with deceivers and if my feet hasten to run in treachery

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
If I have walked with vanity, And my foot hath hasted to deceit--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if I had gone with scorners, and if too my foot has hasted to deceit:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Job's Final Appeal
…4Does He not see my ways and count my every step? 5If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, 6let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

If I have walked in falsehood

Psalm 119:29
Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.

Psalm 101:7
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.

Proverbs 10:9
He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

or my foot has rushed to deceit,

Proverbs 6:18
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,

Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Psalm 26:1-2
Of David. Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. / Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind.

Proverbs 4:25-27
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. / Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. / Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.

Psalm 101:2-3
I will ponder the way that is blameless—when will You come to me? I will walk in my house with integrity of heart. / I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

Psalm 15:2
He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,

Proverbs 19:1
Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.

Psalm 119:104
I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.

Proverbs 20:7
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.

1 John 1:6
If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Treasury of Scripture

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hurried to deceit;

Psalm 7:3-5
O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; …

walked

Psalm 4:2
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Psalm 44:20,21
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; …

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Job 31

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

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

If I have walked in falsehood
This phrase suggests a lifestyle or pattern of living characterized by dishonesty or deceit. In the context of Job, it reflects his self-examination and integrity. Walking in falsehood contrasts with the biblical call to walk in truth, as seen in passages like Psalm 86:11, which emphasizes living according to God's truth. The imagery of "walking" is often used in Scripture to denote one's conduct or way of life, as seen in Ephesians 5:8, where believers are urged to walk as children of light. Job's assertion here is a claim to moral integrity, aligning with the wisdom literature's emphasis on righteousness and truthfulness.

or my foot has rushed to deceit
The imagery of the foot rushing suggests a deliberate and eager movement towards deception. This phrase highlights the intentionality behind deceitful actions, contrasting with the biblical ideal of pursuing righteousness and truth. Proverbs 6:18 lists a heart that devises wicked schemes and feet that are quick to rush into evil as things the Lord detests. Job's denial of such behavior underscores his commitment to integrity and righteousness. In the broader biblical narrative, this reflects the call to avoid the path of the wicked, as seen in Psalm 1:1, which advises against walking in the counsel of the wicked. Job's statement serves as a defense of his character, emphasizing his adherence to God's standards despite his suffering.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith.

2. God
The sovereign Creator who allows Job's faith to be tested by Satan, yet ultimately restores Job's fortunes.

3. Satan
The adversary who challenges Job's integrity, suggesting that Job is faithful only because of his prosperity.

4. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to comfort him but end up accusing him of sin as the cause of his suffering.

5. The Land of Uz
The setting of the Book of Job, a region in the ancient Near East, possibly located in modern-day Jordan or Arabia.

Teaching Points

Integrity in Action
Job's statement is a self-examination of his life, emphasizing the importance of living with integrity. Believers are called to reflect on their own lives and ensure their actions align with God's truth.

The Danger of Deceit
Job's mention of deceit warns against the subtlety of sin. Christians must be vigilant in avoiding even the smallest steps toward dishonesty.

Self-Examination
Job's introspection serves as a model for believers to regularly assess their spiritual walk, ensuring they are not straying from God's path.

Trust in God's Justice
Despite accusations, Job maintains his innocence, trusting in God's ultimate justice. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God sees and knows the truth of their hearts.

The Role of Accountability
Job's friends challenge him, albeit incorrectly. This highlights the importance of having godly accountability in our lives to help us stay true to our commitments.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1. What is the meaning of Job 31:5?

2. How does Job 31:5 challenge us to examine our personal integrity today?

3. What does "walked with falsehood" mean in the context of Job 31:5?

4. How can we guard against deceit in our daily lives, as Job describes?

5. Which other scriptures emphasize the importance of truthfulness and integrity?

6. How can Job 31:5 inspire accountability in our Christian community?

7. What does Job 31:5 reveal about personal integrity and honesty in one's life?

8. How does Job 31:5 challenge believers to examine their own actions and motives?

9. In what ways does Job 31:5 reflect the broader themes of justice and righteousness in the Bible?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 31?

What Does Job 31:5 Mean

If I have walked in falsehood

Job begins with a sober self-examination. He pictures his whole way of life—his “walk”—and asks whether it has ever been characterized by deliberate falseness.

• Walking suggests an ongoing pattern, not a momentary stumble. Psalm 26:3-4 echoes this resolve: “I do not sit with deceitful men.”

• Truthfulness is foundational; Proverbs 4:24 urges, “Put away deceitful speech.” The New Testament calls for the same consistency: Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully.”

• Job’s words remind us that fellowship with God requires integrity of heart (Psalm 51:6). Any habitual falsehood breaks that communion.

or my foot has rushed to deceit

Job now narrows from his overall walk to the speed of his steps. He is asking, Have I ever been quick—eager, even—to take the crooked shortcut?

• God warns against hasty sin: Proverbs 6:18 lists “feet that run swiftly to evil” among the things He hates.

• Isaiah 59:7 paints the same picture: “Their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed innocent blood,” contrasting sharply with the righteous path Job claims.

• By highlighting haste, Job shows how sin often begins: a sudden impulse, a rush that bypasses sober thought. Psalm 1:1 counsels the opposite pace—“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.”

• The believer is called to vigilance; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 urges, “Abstain from every form of evil,” and Proverbs 4:26 advises, “Make a level path for your feet.” Slow, deliberate obedience guards against deceitful shortcuts.

summary

Job 31:5 sets a high standard of integrity: lifelong truthfulness without even the briefest sprint toward deceit. He invites God’s scrutiny of both the steady course of his life and the quick decisions of the moment. For us, the verse calls for continual honesty and deliberate, cautious steps, trusting that the God who loves truth will uphold all who walk in it.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit. "If I have been a living lie, i.e. if, under a fair show of piety and righteousness of life, I have, as you my friends suppose, been all along a deceiver and a hypocrite, cloaking my secret sins under a mere pretence of well-doing, then the sooner I am exposed the better. Let me be weighed," etc. The painful suggestion of hypocrisy has been made by Job's friends repeatedly during the colloquy (Job 4:7-9; Job 8:6, 12; Job 11:4-6, '11-14; 15:30-35; 18:5-21; 20:5-29, etc.), and has deeply afflicted the patriarch. It is a charge so easily made, and so impossible to refute. All that the righteous man, thus falsely accused, can do is to appeal to God: "Thou, God, knowest. Thou, God, wilt one day show forth the truth."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

I have walked
הָלַ֥כְתִּי (hā·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

falsehood
שָׁ֑וְא (šāw)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7723: Evil, idolatry, uselessness

or my foot
רַגְלִֽי׃ (raḡ·lî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

has rushed
וַתַּ֖חַשׁ (wat·ta·ḥaš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2363: To hurry, to be eager with excitement, enjoyment

to
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

deceit,
מִרְמָ֣ה (mir·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery

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OT Poetry: Job 31:5 If I have walked with falsehood (Jb)