Job 31:40 Meaning: When Job Stopped Speaking
let briers grow instead of wheat, and stinkweed instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
Instead of wheat let a thorn go forth, And instead of barley a useless weed! The words of Job are finished.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
Meaning in one sentence
Job 31:40 ends Job's defense with a curse on his own land and a note that his words are finished; it marks the transition in the Book of Job.
Context
Job 31 is the climax of Job's long defense against his friends. He has been swearing oaths of innocence one after another, calling on God as his witness. In the final verses he adds a curse: if he has wronged his land or its workers, let thorns and stinking weeds replace his wheat and barley. Then comes a short, quiet line: 'The words of Job are ended.' This note closes his part of the dialogue. He will speak again later, but only to God in humble repentance. The conversation with his friends is over, and the book now moves toward the speeches of Elihu and the Lord.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for 'briers' is choach, a thorn or hooked brier, the kind that catches your clothes and skin, worthless for anything. 'Stinkweed' translates bashah, from a root that means to stink; it is a foul, noxious weed, utterly unfit for harvest. Job picks the most useless plants he can imagine to stand in place of the good grain he hopes never to betray.
But the final word carries the real weight: tammu, from tamam, meaning 'they are finished, complete, at an end.' The same root appears in Psalm 72:20 when the prayers of David are said to be ended. It is not a word of defeat. It speaks of a task brought to its full measure. Job has said all he can say. His case is complete. He leaves it there, before God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this closing note in different ways. Adam Clarke and the Cambridge commentary suggest it may be an editorial addition by a later hand, a copyist's way of marking the end of Job's speeches. Barnes and Keil-Delitzsch emphasize that it ends Job's discussion with his friends, not his final words in the book. The Geneva Bible notes simply treat it as part of the text, closing Job's testimony. Across these views, all agree on one thing: the verse marks a real turning point. Job has finished his defense, and now the book waits for God to answer.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think Job died after saying these words, or that he gave up in despair. In fact, the phrase 'the words of Job are ended' refers only to his dialogue with his friends. Job speaks again later, first to God when he repents in dust and ashes (Job 42:1, 6). The note is a structural marker, not an obituary.
Living This Out
Job reached a point where he had nothing left to say. He had poured out his honesty, his pain, his questions, and his innocence before God. Then he stopped. This week you may find yourself in a situation where you have said all you can, in a disagreement, a prayer, or a long struggle. Job's example invites you to leave it there. You do not have to keep pleading or explaining. You can place your case before God and wait. He has heard every word.
Main takeaway: Job's defense ends not with defiance but with trust; he has spoken all he can, and now he waits for God to answer.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Job wanted to be very honest with God. He said, 'If I did anything wrong, let my fields grow weeds instead of good plants.' Then he stopped talking. He knew God had heard everything.
For ages 9, 12
Job had argued with his friends for a long time about why he was suffering. At the end of chapter 31, he makes one last promise that he is innocent, even saying that if he lied, his crops should turn into worthless weeds. Then the writer tells us, 'The words of Job are ended.' This is a turning point in the book. Job has said all he can. Now he will wait for God to speak, and he will finally repent in dust and ashes.
Questions People Ask
Did Job die after saying 'The words of Job are ended'?
No. This note simply closes his dialogue with his friends. Job speaks again later in the book, but only to God in repentance (Job 40:3, 5, 42:1, 6). The phrase marks a structural shift in the book.
Is 'The words of Job are ended' part of the original book or added later?
Many scholars suggest it is an editorial note added by a later copyist or editor to mark the end of Job's speeches. The Geneva Bible notes call it a remark by the compiler. It does not appear in some ancient translations but is present in the Hebrew text.
What does 'stinkweed' mean in Job 31:40?
The Hebrew word is 'bashah,' meaning a foul-smelling, noxious weed. It is likely a stinking plant like hoary nightshade or a poisonous weed. It contrasts with barley, a valuable grain.
Why does Job curse his own land?
It is a hypothetical curse to prove his innocence. He is saying, 'If I have wronged anyone, let my land produce worthless weeds instead of good crops.' It is a way of calling on God to hold him accountable.
What happens in the Book of Job right after this verse?
Immediately after this, the narrative introduces Elihu (Job 32), a younger man who speaks for several chapters. Then God himself speaks from the whirlwind (Job 38, 41), and Job humbly repents (Job 42). The book ends with Job's restoration.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study