English Standard Version
Job 12:11
11Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
Job 12:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
- New International Version (NIV)Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
- New Living Translation (NLT)The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.
Context of Job 12:11
9Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? 12Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 13"With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
Read all of Job 12Job 12:11 word by word
הֲלֹא־אֹ֭זֶן מִלִּ֣ין תִּבְחָ֑ן וְ֝חֵ֗ךְ אֹ֣כֶל יִטְעַם־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 12:11
- Job 34:3for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
- 1 Corinthians 10:15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
- Philippians 1:10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
- Hebrews 5:14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
- 1 Peter 2:3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
- Job 6:30Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?
Commentaries on Job 12:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Doth not the ear try words? - All these are common-place sayings. Ye have advanced nothing new; ye have cast no light upon the dispensations of Providence.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Doth not the ear try words? - The literal meaning of this, which is evidently a proverbial expression, is plain; but about its bearing here there is more difficulty. The literal sense is, that it is the office of the ear to mark the distinction of sounds, and to convey the sense to the soul. But in regard to the exact bearing of this proverb on the case in hand, commentators have not been agreed. Probably the sense is, that there ought to be a diligent…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 Job appeals to facts. The most audacious robbers, oppressors, and impious wretches, often prosper. Yet this is not by fortune or chance; the Lord orders these things. Worldly prosperity is of small value in his sight: he has better things for his children. Job resolves all into the absolute proprietorship which God has in all the creatures. He demands from his friends liberty to judge of what they had said; he appeals to any fair judgment…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11the tongue tastes its food: See 6:6–7.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. As the mouth by tasting meats selects what pleases it, so the ear tries the words of others and retains what is convincing. Each chooses according to his taste. The connection with Job 12:12 is in reference to Bildad's appeal to the "ancients" (Job 8:8). You are right in appealing to them, since "with them was wisdom," &c. But you select such proverbs of theirs as suit your views; so I may borrow from the same such as suit mine.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 12:11
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 12
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries