Job 33 2

Job 33:2 kjv

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

Job 33:2 nkjv

Now, I open my mouth; My tongue speaks in my mouth.

Job 33:2 niv

I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue.

Job 33:2 esv

Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.

Job 33:2 nlt

Now that I have begun to speak,
let me continue.

Job 33 verses

Job 33 2 Meaning

Elihu, having previously restrained himself, emphatically announces his readiness and intent to speak, declaring that he will now articulate the thoughts that have been simmering within him. This statement signifies the formal beginning of his discourse, marked by an urgent and direct assertion of his voice and purpose.

Job 33 2 Context

Job 33:2 is situated at the very beginning of Elihu's first speech, following his patient, though increasingly exasperated, silence during Job's and his three friends' prolonged dialogue (Job 32:6-7, 11). He asserts his youth as a reason for his delay but also argues that divine wisdom, not age, is the true source of insight (Job 32:8-9). This verse directly fulfills the internal pressure Elihu describes in Job 32:18-20, where he speaks of feeling like wine about to burst its wineskins. He is setting himself apart from the previous speakers, promising a fresh, unburdened, and presumably, correct perspective, claiming divine inspiration for what he is about to utter.

Job 33 2 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinnēh):

  • Meaning: An emphatic particle, meaning "lo," "look," "pay attention," "indeed."
  • Significance: Used to draw immediate attention to what follows. It highlights Elihu's sense of urgency and importance, acting as a dramatic introduction to his long-awaited discourse. It underscores his confidence and the solemnity of his pronouncement, demanding a listening ear.
  • Original Context: Frequently used in Hebrew narrative and prophetic speech to signal a new development, a direct address, or an important declaration, often with a sense of revelation or urgency.

• now (עַתָּה, ‘attāh):

  • Meaning: "Now," "at this time," "presently."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the immediate present. It marks a transition from silence to speech, highlighting that Elihu's patient waiting has come to an end, and he is finally ready to intervene. This creates a sense of immediacy and contrasts with his earlier restraint.

• I open (פָּתַחְתִּי, pātach-ti):

  • Meaning: The root means "to open." Here, "I have opened" or "I am opening."
  • Significance: This verb denotes a decisive action, an intentional unveiling. Elihu is not simply beginning to speak but is consciously initiating the release of his accumulated thoughts and arguments. It implies a significant revelation is forthcoming.

• my mouth (פִּי, pī):

  • Meaning: "My mouth."
  • Significance: Refers to the physical organ of speech. Coupled with "open," it underscores the literal act of beginning to speak. In biblical thought, the mouth is not just for speaking but also a gateway for truth, wisdom, or foolishness (Prov 10:31).

• my tongue (לְשׁוֹנִי, l'shoni):

  • Meaning: "My tongue."
  • Significance: The tongue is the instrument of articulation. Its mention emphasizes the actual process of forming words. The phrase "my tongue speaks" makes the declaration even more personal and active, asserting his control and intent over his words. It often symbolizes speech itself (Psa 37:30, Jas 3:8).

• speaks (תְּדַבֵּר, t'dabber):

  • Meaning: The root means "to speak," "to say," "to talk."
  • Significance: A general term for vocal communication. Its presence reinforces the fact that speech is not just being initiated but is actively in process. It underscores the verbal delivery of his message.

• in my mouth (בְּחִכִּי, b'chikī):

  • Meaning: Literally "in my palate" or "in my mouth." The Hebrew word chekh (חֵךְ) primarily refers to the palate, the roof of the mouth, which is intrinsically involved in articulation.
  • Significance: This final phrase reiterates and emphasizes the previous point, reinforcing the idea that his words are indeed coming directly from him, carefully formed and articulated within his own being, perhaps hinting at a deep internal conviction. The repetition ("my mouth... my tongue speaks in my mouth") serves as a poetic reinforcement, asserting the source and authenticity of his words.

Words-group analysis

• "Behold, now I open my mouth": This initial clause functions as a dramatic announcement. "Behold, now" serves as a direct address to Job and the others, signaling the shift from observation to active participation. "I open my mouth" is a resolute declaration of his intent to speak, highlighting personal agency and responsibility for the ensuing words. It builds anticipation for what he is about to utter.

• "my tongue speaks in my mouth": This second clause offers a parallel, amplifying the first. It's a specific, anatomical confirmation of the act of speaking. It stresses the internal readiness and outward articulation, ensuring that there's no misunderstanding about his clear and present intention to verbally convey his thoughts. The use of "tongue" (the instrument) within "mouth" (the general opening) solidifies the idea of deliberate, formed words, not just random utterances.

Job 33 2 Bonus section

Elihu's use of repetitive parallelism, "I open my mouth; my tongue speaks in my mouth," is a common Hebrew poetic device (synthetic or stair-step parallelism). This device is not mere redundancy but serves to intensify, specify, or expand the initial statement. Here, it adds emphasis to the profound personal conviction behind his forthcoming speech, highlighting the direct, unmediated source of his words. This rhetorical flourish sets a serious tone for his intervention. Some scholars note that Elihu's language throughout his discourse, starting here, carries an almost prophetic quality, setting him apart from Job's friends whose arguments are more traditional or purely logical.

Job 33 2 Commentary

Job 33:2 marks Elihu's highly personal and confident assertion to begin speaking after his prolonged patience. It is more than a polite preamble; it is an emphatic statement of purpose and self-assuredness, signaling that he will now deliver his reasoned critique and explanation, unburdened by the previous silence. His use of strong, personal declarations ("I open my mouth," "my tongue speaks") emphasizes his agency and the weight he attributes to his upcoming words. Elihu portrays himself as having a message that must be delivered, distinct from the prior unsuccessful arguments of the older men, rooted in an internal conviction (implied by Job 32) that he possesses genuine divine insight. This verse is key to understanding Elihu's role as a new, zealous, and ultimately instrumental voice in the book, preparing the reader for his elaborate and corrective discourse to Job.