Job 27:3 kjv
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Job 27:3 nkjv
As long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils,
Job 27:3 niv
as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils,
Job 27:3 esv
as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
Job 27:3 nlt
As long as I live,
while I have breath from God,
Job 27 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:7 | "then the LORD God formed the man of dust... and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life..." | God as source of life/breath. |
| Ps 104:29-30 | "When you hide your face, they are dismayed... when you send forth your Spirit, they are created..." | God's spirit as life-giver and sustainer. |
| Isa 42:5 | "who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:" | God as giver of breath and spirit. |
| Zech 12:1 | "who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him." | God as creator of human spirit. |
| Job 33:4 | "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." | Direct parallel, God as creator of Job. |
| Acts 17:25 | "nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and everything." | God as universal provider of life and breath. |
| Neh 9:6 | "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven... You preserve all of them, and the host of heaven worships you." | God as the preserver of all life. |
| Job 12:10 | "In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." | All life held in God's hand. |
| Lk 12:20 | "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you...'" | Human life's dependence on God's will. |
| Jas 4:14 | "whereas you do not know what tomorrow will bring... a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes." | Fragility and dependence of human life. |
| Job 32:8 | "But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand." | God's spirit also imparts understanding. |
| Prov 20:27 | "The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts." | Spirit within as God's means of revelation. |
| 1 Cor 2:11 | "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person which is in him?" | Human spirit allows self-knowledge. |
| Gen 7:22 | "everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died." | Life characterized by breath in nostrils. |
| Gen 6:17 | "...I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life from under heaven." | "Breath of life" as fundamental existence. |
| Gen 24:3 | "I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth..." | Solemn oath, Job's discourse functions similarly. |
| Deut 6:13 | "You shall fear the LORD your God, you shall serve him, and by his name you shall swear." | Basis for taking oaths in God's presence. |
| Matt 5:34-37 | "But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all... Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'..." | Christ's teaching on the spirit of oaths. |
| Job 2:9-10 | "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.' But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women...'" | Job's enduring integrity despite temptation. |
| Job 27:4 | "my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit." | Immediate consequence of divine sustainment. |
| Ps 73:1-2 | "Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart... My steps had almost stumbled..." | God's goodness sustains even when tested. |
Job 27 verses
Job 27 3 Meaning
Job chapter 27 verse 3 expresses Job's solemn affirmation of his integrity, made while he is still alive and divinely sustained. It asserts that as long as he possesses life, which is a direct gift and continual sustenance from God, he will not speak falsehood or concede to the claims of his accusers. This declaration grounds his subsequent unwavering commitment to truth in the very breath and spirit that God provides, emphasizing that his very existence empowers his speech.
Job 27 3 Context
Job 27:3 is part of Job's final major discourse (chapters 27-31) in which he defends his integrity and asserts his righteousness before his friends, who have consistently argued that his suffering must be a result of his sin. By this point, the dialogues between Job and his friends have run their course, and Job takes a decisive stance, speaking with strong conviction. The preceding verses (27:1-2) introduce Job's solemn, almost oath-like declaration, where he invokes God's very name, vowing by the living God that he will maintain his integrity until his dying breath. Verse 3, therefore, clarifies and grounds this powerful oath: Job declares that as long as life is in him, life directly sourced from and maintained by God's spirit, he will speak truth and refuse to validate the false accusations against him. This statement underscores Job's unwavering conviction, asserting his continued vitality as the basis for his truthful testimony, even amidst intense suffering and his friends' misinterpretations.
Job 27 3 Word Analysis
- all the while: Implies continuity and persistence. Job is asserting that this condition (having breath and spirit) is ongoing, providing the basis for a sustained declaration, not a fleeting impulse.
- my breath:
- Original Hebrew: נְשָׁמָה (transliteration: neshamah).
- Significance: Neshamah refers to the vital breath, the animating life principle imparted by God. It signifies the very essence of life within a living creature, often specifically associated with humans. This term highlights Job's acknowledgment that his very capacity to live and speak originates from outside himself—from God. It points to human dependency on the Creator.
- is in me: Affirms the active presence and sustaining nature of this divine life force within Job's being. It's not just a past event (creation), but a present reality of sustenance.
- and the spirit of God:
- Original Hebrew: וְרוּחַ אֱלוֹהַּ (transliteration: v'ruach Eloah).
- spirit: רוּחַ (ruach). This word is rich in meaning, encompassing "wind," "breath," and "spirit." In this context, it clearly denotes the divine life-giving spirit. It can signify the active, creative, and life-sustaining power of God.
- of God: אֱלוֹהַּ (Eloah). This is an ancient name for God, emphasizing His singular power and divinity, often used in poetic and wisdom literature. It portrays God as the supreme and awesome one, the ultimate source of life and all creation.
- Significance: The combined phrase emphasizes that Job's life, his breath, and his very cognitive faculty (implied by later verses regarding speech and truth) are not innate but are infused by the divine. This isn't merely biological function; it's a direct, ongoing impartation from God Himself. It sets a theological foundation for Job's solemn vow.
- is in my nostrils:
- Original Hebrew: בְּאַפִּי (transliteration: b'appi).
- nostrils: אַף (aph), literally "nose."
- Significance: This phrase is a powerful echo of Gen 2:7, where God breathed the breath of life into Adam's nostrils. It signifies the point of entry and manifestation of the divine life-giving power. It grounds the abstract concept of "spirit" or "breath" in the concrete physical reality of human existence, linking Job's present life directly back to the very act of creation. It implies not just the presence of breath, but its active function as the life force enabling all other bodily and cognitive functions, including speech.
- "all the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,": This complete phrase highlights the intrinsic connection between Job's physical life (neshamah) and its divine source and sustainer (ruach Eloah). It serves as a preamble to Job's oath (27:4ff), affirming that his capacity to speak, and thus his ability to speak truth without wavering, is fundamentally linked to God's continuous preservation of his life. It indicates that his resolve stems from a divinely endowed and maintained existence, making his ensuing declarations all the more weighty and solemn. It’s a profound theological statement asserting divine sovereignty over even a man’s last breath.
Job 27 3 Bonus section
This verse carries a polemic against any notion that human life, especially intelligent, conscious life capable of moral conviction and speech, is merely a natural phenomenon. By specifically mentioning "the spirit of God" in his nostrils, Job directly counters any view that his enduring existence and clarity of thought amidst profound suffering could be apart from divine sustainment. It reasserts the Creator's immediate involvement in every individual's life. This concept would have been significant against contemporary ancient Near Eastern cosmologies that sometimes saw life as emerging from impersonal forces or a fragmented pantheon. Job grounds existence, knowledge, and integrity directly in the living, personal God, Eloah, who actively breathes life.
Job 27 3 Commentary
Job 27:3 is a deeply significant statement in Job's concluding defense. By stating "all the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils," Job grounds his unwavering integrity and his forthcoming solemn oath (27:4-6) in the most fundamental theological truth: God is the sole source and sustainer of life. He asserts that as long as he is alive, receiving his very life force directly from the Creator, he will continue to declare his innocence and will not deviate into falsehood or accept his friends' false doctrines. This verse acts as a solemn pledge, emphasizing that his integrity is not a product of his own will alone but is enabled by the divine life-giving breath that flows through him. It is a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty even in his intense suffering, underscoring that his vital existence and thus his ability to speak truth, belong entirely to God. His speech is empowered by the life God gives him.