Job 23:12

Job 23:12 in other versions

• 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.
• New International Version (NIV)I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

Context of Job 23:12

10But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous]. 11My feet have carefully followed His steps; I have kept His ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. 13But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. 14For He performs what is planned (appointed) for me, And He is mindful of many such things.

Job 23:12 word by word

מִצְוַ֣ת שְׂ֭פָתָיו וְלֹ֣א אָמִ֑ישׁ מֵ֝חֻקִּ֗י צָפַ֥נְתִּי אִמְרֵי־פִֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Neither have I gone backמוּשׁmûsh · to removeH4185
• from the commandmentמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
• of his lipsשָׂפָהώâphâh ώepheth · lipsH8193
• I have esteemedצָפַןtsâphan · to treasureH6845
• the wordsאֵמֶר'êmer · wordH561
• of his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• more than my necessaryחֹקchôq · statute: portionH2706

Cross-references for Job 23:12

• John 6:66As a result of this many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him.
• John 8:31So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples.
• Acts 14:22strengthening and establishing the hearts of the disciples; encouraging them to remain firm in the faith, saying, “It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.”
• Hebrews 10:38But My righteous one [the one justified by faith] shall live by faith [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; And if he draws back [shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him.
• 1 John 2:19They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out [teaching false doctrine], so that it would be clearly shown that none of them are of us.
• Job 22:22Please receive the law and instruction from His mouth And establish His words in your heart and keep them.
• Psalms 19:9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
• Psalms 119:11Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
• Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
• John 4:32But He told them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
• 1 Peter 2:2like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment],
• Luke 12:42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward [of the estate], whom his master will put in charge over his household, to give his servants their portion of food at the proper time?

Commentaries on Job 23:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Neither 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-12Verses 8-12 Job knew that the Lord was every where present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before him. His views were all gloomy. God seemed to stand at a distance, and frown upon him. Yet Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God. He had relished and delighted in the…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. esteemed--rather, "laid up," namely, as a treasure found (Mt 13:44; Psa 119:11); alluding to the words of Eliphaz (Job 22:22). There was no need to tell me so; I have done so already (Jr 15:16). necessary--"Appointed portion" (of food; as in Pr 30:8). Umbreit and Maurer translate, "More than my law," my own will, in antithesis to "the words of His mouth" (Joh 6:38). Probably under the general term, "what is appointed to me" (the same Hebrew is in Job…Read the comment

Topics related to Job 23:12

• Decision
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Bitter
• Complaint
• Affliction
• Esteem

Commentaries on Job 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings