Job 29:23

Job 29:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
• New International Version (NIV)They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They waited for me as for the rain, And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.

Context of Job 29:23

21“They listened to me and waited And kept silent for my counsel. 22After I spoke, they did not speak again, And my speech dropped upon them [like a refreshing shower]. They waited for me [and for my words] as for the rain, And they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. 24I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not diminish the light of my face. 25I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among his soldiers, As one who comforts mourners.

Job 29:23 word by word

וְיִֽחֲל֣וּ כַמָּטָ֣ר לִ֑י וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם פָּעֲר֥וּ לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they waitedיָחַלyâchal · to wait: waitH3176
• for me as for the rainמָטַרmâţâr · rainH4306
• and they openedפָּעַרpâ‛ar · to openH6473
• their mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• for the latter rainמַלְקוֹשׁmalqôsh · spring rainH4456

Cross-references for Job 29:23

• Psalms 72:6May he come down like rain on the mown grass, Like showers that water the earth.
• Hosea 6:3So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
• Zechariah 10:1Ask for rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain. It is the Lord who makes the thunder clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field to everyone.

Commentaries on Job 29:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23They waited for me as for the rain - The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters. They opened their mouth wide - A metaphor taken from ground chapped with long drought. The latter rain - The rain that falls a little before harvest, in order to fill and perfect the grain. The former rain is that which falls about seed-time, or in spring, in order to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had the tenderness of a…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25Job compares his past happiness, honor, and wealth with his current loss of social dignity and divine friendship (chapters 29 and 30). He ends his speech with broad vows of innocence (chapter 31).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain. opened ... mouth--panted for; Oriental image (Psa 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June. Between the early and latter rains, some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Aged
• Agriculture
• Chief
• Ready
• Job, Book of
• Proverbs, the Book of
• Rainfall in Jerusalem in Inches

Commentaries on Job 29

• 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