Job 12 11

Job 12:11 kjv

Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

Job 12:11 nkjv

Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?

Job 12:11 niv

Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?

Job 12:11 esv

Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

Job 12:11 nlt

The ear tests the words it hears
just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.

Job 12 verses

Job 12 11 Meaning

Job 12:11 conveys that just as the mouth inherently discerns the quality and nature of food by tasting, so too should the ear naturally and instinctively test and evaluate the veracity and essence of spoken words or received doctrines. It is a rhetorical question asserting a fundamental principle of discerning wisdom, suggesting an innate human capacity, or at least a necessary practice, to evaluate truth from falsehood, wise counsel from foolish rhetoric.

Job 12 11 Context

Job 12:11 appears within Job’s third speech (chapters 12-14), specifically in his rebuttal to Zophar’s condemnations. Zophar had asserted that Job's suffering must be due to hidden sin, portraying a rigid, simplistic view of divine justice. Job, feeling wronged and misunderstood, uses this rhetorical question to challenge his friends' uncritical acceptance of conventional wisdom. He argues that he, too, understands wisdom and discerning principles as well as they do, perhaps even better, because he is not blindly applying theological truisms without regard for his actual experience or the complexity of God's ways. This verse asserts a basic human capacity for discernment, implicitly questioning his friends' failure to apply it to his situation and their own pronouncements.

Job 12 11 Word analysis

• Does not: A rhetorical interrogative, anticipating an affirmative answer. It strongly asserts the self-evident nature of the statement that follows, highlighting a foundational truth Job expects his audience to acknowledge.
• the ear: From the Hebrew ’ozen (אָזֶן), the organ of hearing. Figuratively, it represents the faculty of understanding, attention, and spiritual receptivity, implying an active engagement with what is heard.
• test: From the Hebrew verb bachan (בָּחַן), meaning to examine, prove, try, discern, or refine. This suggests a rigorous, critical process of evaluation, akin to testing metal for purity, moving beyond simple hearing to a deeper inquiry into veracity and quality.
• words: From the Aramaic milin (מִלִּין), referring to speech, utterances, or discourse. In the context of the Joban dialogue, it points to the arguments, counsel, and theological pronouncements made by Job's friends.
• as: A crucial particle indicating a simile, establishing a direct and intuitive comparison. It connects the familiar act of tasting to the less obvious, but equally vital, act of intellectual or spiritual discernment.
• the mouth: From the Hebrew chek (חֵךְ), meaning palate or roof of the mouth, primarily associated with the sense of taste. Figuratively, it represents the discerning faculty responsible for assessing the quality and suitability of what is taken in.
• tastes: From the Hebrew verb ṭaʿam (טָעַם), meaning to taste, perceive, discern, or enjoy. This verb implies a direct, experiential evaluation of flavor, texture, and wholesomeness before ingestion. It's an instinctive form of judgment.
• food: From the Hebrew ’okhel (אֹכֶל), referring to anything edible. This represents literal sustenance but in the simile, it is that which must be processed and evaluated for its nutritive value or potential harm.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Does not the ear test words: This phrase emphasizes the necessity and naturalness of evaluating spoken information. It's not enough merely to hear; there must be an active process of proving or examining the content. This suggests a call for critical spiritual and intellectual engagement rather than naive acceptance.
• as the mouth tastes food: This simile provides a universally understood analogy. Just as one instinctively discerns what is suitable to eat and rejects what is bad or poisonous, so should one instinctively discern truth from error in speech. This comparison highlights the practical, essential, and sometimes survival-critical nature of discernment.

Job 12 11 Bonus section

The concept of using bodily senses (like tasting, hearing, seeing) as metaphors for spiritual or intellectual discernment is prevalent throughout Scripture, underscoring a holistic human engagement with truth. Job, in asserting this principle, not only defends his own wisdom but also highlights a foundational aspect of spiritual maturity. Furthermore, this verse subtly rebukes his friends' dogmatism. Their insistence on their preconceived theological framework made them incapable of genuinely "testing" Job's words or their own; they swallowed conventional wisdom whole without discerning its applicability to Job's unique, God-ordained suffering. This failure to discern led them to misjudge God and afflict their friend further. Thus, the verse is not merely a statement of principle but a profound indictment of intellectual and spiritual complacency.

Job 12 11 Commentary

Job 12:11 serves as a profound statement on the importance of discernment, central not only to Job’s defense but to all wisdom literature. Job here asserts an obvious truth: just as we intuitively discern what we ingest through taste, so we should instinctively process and scrutinize what we hear. His friends were presenting doctrines that, while appearing sound by traditional standards, were experientially false to Job and failed to align with divine truth concerning his suffering. Job challenges them to apply the same careful discernment to their theological claims as they would to their daily food.

This verse emphasizes that truth, particularly spiritual truth, is not to be consumed indiscriminately. It calls for an active, critical engagement with ideas, teachings, and pronouncements. Believers are not to be passive receptacles but active evaluators, constantly testing what they hear against the standard of God's revealed word and the discernment granted by the Holy Spirit. For example, when encountering a new teaching, one should ask: "Does this resonate with scripture?" or "Does this produce life, or lead to confusion and despair?" Just as a chef tastes an ingredient to check its freshness, so a believer must taste doctrines for their soundness, lest they ingest spiritual poison or empty calories. This critical faculty, sharpened through maturity and exposure to sound doctrine, prevents deception and fosters spiritual growth, enabling one to separate light from darkness, truth from error.