איוב, פרק ל״א, פסוק י״ט

In defending his moral integrity, Job highlights his deep compassion for the poor and destitute. This defense serves as a direct response to earlier accusations claiming that he had robbed people and stripped them of their garments [מלבי״ם]. He describes encountering miserable, lost individuals who were wasting away because of their harsh circumstances [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Within his defense, Job distinguishes between two distinct degrees of poverty. The first represents the most extreme level of need, where a person is left entirely without clothing, lacking even the most basic inner garments. The second degree describes someone who possesses basic inner clothing but lacks a heavy outer garment to cover and protect them from the cold [אלשיך].

Framed as a condition that connects to his subsequent thoughts, Job declares that he never simply stood by and watched when he saw someone suffering in either state. Instead, he took immediate action, providing these vulnerable people with clothing made from the fleece of his own sheep to keep them warm. Because of his genuine care, the gratitude of the poor went beyond mere spoken words. Their response was a profound, physical blessing radiating directly from their own bodies, which had been warmed and comforted by his provision [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].