What Does Job 31:26 Mean?

Job continues his oath of innocence: "If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness." The verb ra'ah (רָאָה, "beheld") means to look upon with approval or worship. The verb halak (הָלַךְ, "walking") describes the moon's progress across the sky. Job denies solar or lunar worship—explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 4:19, 17:3). Celestial worship was common in surrounding cultures—Egyptian Ra worship, Mesopotamian Sin (moon god). From a Reformed perspective, Job's denial demonstrates the first commandment's priority: exclusive worship of Yahweh. The temptation to worship creation rather than Creator is universal (Romans 1:25). Job's testimony shows that true knowledge of God requires rejecting all idolatry, however culturally acceptable or sophisticated. The Reformers' emphasis on soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone) continues Job's rejection of divided loyalty.