Job 20:13 kjv
Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
Job 20:13 nkjv
Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But still keeps it in his mouth,
Job 20:13 niv
though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth,
Job 20:13 esv
though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,
Job 20:13 nlt
They savored it,
holding it long in their mouths.
Job 20 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 1:1 | Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked... | Warns against associating with those who delight in unrighteousness. |
| Ps 10:7 | His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression... | Depicts the wicked person's speech flowing from a corrupt inner state. |
| Ps 36:4 | He plots mischief while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not despise evil. | Reveals the internal love and cherishing of evil within the heart. |
| Ps 50:19 | You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. | Connects internal depravity to external sinful expressions of the mouth. |
| Prov 4:16 | For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil... | Describes the deep compulsion and addiction to committing wickedness. |
| Prov 5:4 | But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. | Foreshadows the eventual bitter outcome of initial sin's sweetness. |
| Prov 23:32 | At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. | Emphasizes the painful and venomous consequences of sinful indulgence. |
| Isa 57:4 | Against whom do you scoff? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and stick out your tongue? | Implies deep-seated rebellion expressed through the mouth and disposition. |
| Jer 9:5 | ...they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. | Shows intentional effort and perseverance in practicing wickedness. |
| Jer 13:23 | Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. | Illustrates the ingrained habit and difficulty of relinquishing long-held sin. |
| Matt 12:34 | For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. | Explains that outward sin from the mouth originates from the heart's true disposition. |
| Jn 3:19 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. | Highlights a deliberate preference for sin over righteousness, showing active choice. |
| Rom 1:32 | Though they know God’s righteous decree... they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. | Shows not only personal sin, but approval and encouragement of sin in others. |
| Rom 3:14 | Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. | Describes the pervasive impact of a sinful heart on what is uttered. |
| Eph 4:19 | They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. | Describes those completely surrendered to sinful desires. |
| Tit 3:3 | For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures... | Acknowledges humanity's fallen state of being enslaved by desires. |
| Jas 1:14 | But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. | Explains the internal origin of sin stemming from personal desires. |
| Jas 3:6 | The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. It corrupts the whole body... | Explains the destructive power of a corrupt tongue and its influence. |
| 2 Pet 2:13 | ...they are blots and blemish, reveling in their deceptions... | Describes the enjoyment and celebration of one's own sin and deceit. |
| Jude 1:16 | These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires... | Those whose actions are driven by unholy, selfish desires. |
| Rev 10:9-10 | It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey. | An image of initial sweetness turning bitter, mirroring sin's deceptive pleasure. |
Job 20 verses
Job 20 13 Meaning
Job 20:13 powerfully illustrates the profound and unyielding attachment the wicked person has to their evil. Using a vivid metaphor, it portrays the unrighteous one savoring wickedness like a cherished, sweet morsel held firmly within their mouth, unwilling to swallow or release it. This imagery conveys not just the commission of sin, but an intimate, deliberate embrace and sustained delight in it. It emphasizes the inner disposition of a heart unwilling to part with evil, treating it as something precious to be guarded and enjoyed.
Job 20 13 Context
Job 20:13 is nestled within Zophar's second speech to Job (Job 20:4-29). In this discourse, Zophar passionately upholds the traditional wisdom that the prosperity of the wicked is inherently short-lived and will invariably conclude in ruin. He argues that even though the wicked may temporarily flourish, God's justice will inevitably bring swift retribution. This particular verse deepens the metaphor initiated in verse 12, where wickedness is described as "sweet in his mouth" and "hidden under his tongue." Here, Zophar emphasizes the tenacious, self-willed retention of this sweet sin, leading directly to the pronouncement in verse 14 that it will ultimately transform into bitter venom within them. Zophar's overall aim is to convince Job that his suffering must be a consequence of such cherished sin, based on the assumption that only the wicked truly suffer such fates.
Job 20 13 Word Analysis
Though he spare it (Hebrew: יַחְמֹלֶנָּה֙ - yachmolénnah): The root "חָמַל" (chamal) commonly means "to spare" or "pity." In this context, it takes on the meaning of withholding or protecting something from being removed or released. The wicked person actively refrains from discarding the evil, cherishing it as one would protect something valuable. This implies an active decision and internal reluctance to let go of their sin.
and will not let it go (Hebrew: וְלֹ֣א יַֽעַזְבֶ֔נָּה - wᵉlōʼ yaʿazvennah): The verb "עָזַב" (ʿazav) signifies "to leave," "abandon," or "forsake." Coupled with the emphatic negative particle "לֹא" (lōʼ), it underscores an absolute refusal to release their grip on the wickedness. This is not passive attachment, but a conscious, tenacious decision to maintain hold of their preferred evil. It denotes a deliberate rejection of repentance or change.
but keeps it still (Hebrew: יִמְנָעֶֽנָּה - yimnāʿennah): The verb "מָנַע" (manaʿ) means "to withhold," "restrain," or "prevent." It suggests a strong, active holding back, preventing the sin from exiting or dissolving. This highlights the wicked individual's determined exertion of will to keep the sin within their core being, showcasing a deep, active preference and continuous fostering of the evil.
within his mouth (Hebrew: בְּת֣וֹךְ פִּֽיהוּ - bᵉṯōḵ pîhū): "בְּת֣וֹךְ" (bᵉṯōḵ) signifies "in the midst" or "within," and "פִּֽיהוּ" (pîhū) means "his mouth." This crucial imagery extends the metaphor of the mouth from the previous verse (v. 12). The mouth here represents not just the place of literal tasting, but symbolically the innermost self and the origin of expression. Holding the sin "within his mouth" illustrates that it is internalized, savored, cherished, and an integral part of their identity, demonstrating deep personal gratification in unrighteousness.
Words-group analysis ("Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keeps it still within his mouth"): This sequence of clauses functions as a triple-layered emphasis on the wicked's stubborn devotion to their sin. The repetition of verbs like "spare," "not let go," and "keeps" powerfully conveys an unrelenting and persistent embrace of evil. This isn't a momentary lapse or an accidental stumble, but a deeply ingrained and continually chosen path. The "mouth" imagery further solidifies this internal delight and refusal to expel, indicating a sin that is tasted, re-tasted, and clung to with deep satisfaction rather than processed, repented of, or spat out. It signifies a profound spiritual gluttony for evil.
Job 20 13 Bonus section
The metaphor in Job 20:13-14 speaks volumes about sin's deceptive nature. It is initially "sweet," offering tantalizing pleasures and temporary gratification (v. 12), drawing individuals into its embrace. However, this "sweetness" is inherently deceitful. The deliberate act of holding and savoring it implies that the sinner enjoys the initial allure so much that they delay the full consequences. This passage subtly critiques the popular belief in swift, simplistic justice by highlighting the interim period where the wicked "prosper" in their wickedness, but reassures that this indulgence only ripens the hidden consequences. The act of "holding" it implies an inward cherishing that leads to spiritual digestion problems – it becomes something harmful once fully internalized. The biblical witness consistently shows that unconfessed and unrepented sin festers, leading to a state of internal decay that far outweighs any momentary delight it once offered. This verse serves as a solemn warning against prolonging a relationship with sin, even when it seems outwardly pleasurable.
Job 20 13 Commentary
Job 20:13 delves into the very core of the wicked person's character, asserting that their relationship with sin is one of profound endearment and resolute possession. It describes an active unwillingness to release evil, portraying sin as a prized morsel that the wicked savor and cling to, never fully letting go. This deliberate and self-willed attachment goes beyond the act of sin itself; it speaks to a deep internal gratification derived from unrighteousness, where evil is not just committed but cherished. This cherishing, rooted in the "mouth" (symbolic of intimate preference and inward disposition), sets the stage for the turning of this sweet indulgence into bitter venom, as elaborated in the very next verse. Zophar, though limited in his understanding of divine justice for the righteous, accurately describes the dangerous nature of a heart that holds onto sin, making it a part of its essence rather than an abhorrent act to be cast off. Such deep-seated affection for sin fosters spiritual blindness and an inability to perceive the eventual destructive consequences that inevitably follow.