Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 31

I made a covenant with my eyes. — Job makes one grand profession of innocence, recounting his manner of life from the beginning. Here, he does not content himself with addressing the accusations of his friends, but also professes his innocence of sins less apparent to others and concerning secret conduct and the heart—specifically, sensual transgression and idolatry.

His object, therefore, is to show his friends that he has really been more upright than their standard demanded or than they supposed him to be, until his affliction made them suspect him. This uprightness was the consequence of rigid and inflexible adherence to principle, for he made a covenant with his eyes, as the pathways of sinful desires .

What portion of God is there from above? — Compare the remonstrance of Joseph (Genesis 39:9).

Is not — that is, is this not the portion of Job 31:2?

Does not he. —The “He” is emphatic, obviously meaning God. His appeal is to the All-seeing knowledge of God, whom nothing escapes, and who is judge of the hearts and reins (Psalms 7:9; Psalms 44:21; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12). (Compare to Acts 25:11.)

If my step hath turned out of the way—The form of the expression is very emphatic: the narrow way of strict integrity and righteousness. (Compare the expression applied to the first believers in Acts 9:2—men of the way.)