Job 23:12

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

American King James Version (AKJV)

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

American Standard Version (ASV)

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Basic English Translation (BBE)

I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

Webster's Revision

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

World English Bible

I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

English Revised Version (ERV)

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Clarke's Job 23:12 Bible Commentary

The commandment of his lips - The written law that proceeded from his own mouth.

I have esteemed the words of his mouth - Mr. Good has given a better version of the original: In my bosom have I stored up the words of his mouth. The Asiatics carry every thing precious or valuable in their bosom, their handkerchiefs, jewels, purses, etc. Job, therefore, intimates that the words of God's mouth were to him a most precious treasure.

Barnes's Job 23:12 Bible Commentary

Neither have I gone back - I have not put away or rejected.

The commandment of his lips - That which he has spoken, or which has proceeded out of his mouth.

I have esteemed - Margin, "hid," or, "laid up." The Hebrew is, "I have hid," as we hide or lay up that which is valuable. It is a word often applied to laying up treasures, or concealing them so that they would be safe.

More than my necessary food - Margin, "or, appointed portion." Dr. Good renders it, "In my bosom have I laid up the words of his mouth." So Noyes, "The words of his mouth I have treasured up in my bosom." So Wemyss; and so it is rendered in the Vulgate, and by the Septuagint. The variety in the translation has arisen from the difference of reading in regard to the Hebrew word מחקי mēchôqı̂y. Instead of this meaning "more than my portion" or "allowance," the Septuagint and Vulgate appear to have read בחקי bēchôqı̂y - "in my bosom." But there is no authority for the change, and there seems to be no reason for it. The word חק chôq, means something decreed, designated, appointed; then an appointed portion, as of labor, Exodus 5:14; then of food - an allowance of food, Proverbs 30:8; then a limit, bound, law, statute, etc. It seems to me that the word here means "purpose, intention, rule, or design," and that the idea is that he had regarded the commands of God more "than his own purposes." He had been willing to sacrifice his own designs to the will of God, and had thus shown his preference for God and his law. This sense seems to be the most simple of any, and it is surprising that it has not occurred to any expositors. So the same word is used in Job 23:14. If this be the meaning, it expresses a true sentiment of piety in all ages. He who is truly religious is willing to sacrifice and abandon his own plans at the command of God. Job says that he was conscious of having done this, and he thus had a firm conviction that he was a pious man.

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