איוב, פרק ל״א, פסוק כ״א

Job reflects on his moral integrity, specifically focusing on his treatment of the most vulnerable members of society. He questions whether he ever raised his hand to strike a helpless orphan [מצודת ציון]. This reflection centers around the city gate, which served as the local courtroom and the center of justice. The primary approach among commentators is that Job wonders if he ever took advantage of his high social standing and personal connections with the judges. He could have easily relied on their favor to support him and ignore the rights of an orphan, yet he never abused this power.

Other perspectives highlight more complex situations where the law was actually on Job's side, but he still held back from using force. For instance, there were times when Job won a legal dispute against an orphan. Even if the defeated orphan refused to comply with the court's decision, Job never resorted to striking him [אלשיך]. Another view pictures Job himself acting as the judge at the city gate. In cases where an orphan was found guilty and legally required to receive lashes, Job refused to administer the beating with his own hands [מלבי״ם].

This defense is a strict condition tied to a self-imposed curse. Job declares that if he ever actually committed such an offense against an orphan, he would deserve a harsh physical punishment, such as his shoulder falling from his body. He maintained this strict moral standard and avoided harming the weak entirely out of a deep fear and awe of God and His judgment [רמב״ן].