Job 34 3

Job 34:3 kjv

For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

Job 34:3 nkjv

For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

Job 34:3 niv

For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.

Job 34:3 esv

for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.

Job 34:3 nlt

Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears
just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'

Job 34 verses

Job 34 3 Meaning

Job 34:3 conveys a profound truth about human discernment: just as the physical senses are naturally equipped to evaluate what they encounter—the mouth discerning the taste of food—so too is the human ear (or, by extension, the mind) inherently capable of critically assessing and understanding spoken words. Elihu uses this common idiom to emphasize the necessity of attentive and discerning listening, urging his audience to weigh his words carefully, rather than passively receiving or outright dismissing them. It is a call to intellectual and spiritual discernment, implying that truth can be distinguished from falsehood through diligent examination.

Job 34 3 Context

Job 34:3 is spoken by Elihu, the youngest of Job's four companions, in his first speech. He enters the dialogue (beginning in Job 32) after the three older friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar) have ceased their arguments and Job has defended himself. Elihu claims he has waited patiently but can no longer hold back his words, for "it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding" (Job 32:8). He asserts his desire to speak impartially and clearly, believing that both Job and his friends have been misguided in their pronouncements about God. Chapter 34 specifically focuses on Elihu's defense of God's absolute justice and sovereignty, correcting Job's perceived challenge to divine righteousness. The verse serves as Elihu's opening appeal to his audience, inviting them to engage their intellects and judge the truthfulness of his statements. It also functions as a challenge to Job, as Elihu echoes a phrase Job himself used earlier (Job 12:11), effectively turning Job's own words back on him and calling for the same discernment now.

Job 34 3 Word analysis

• For (כִּ֣י - kī): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for Elihu's preceding statement (v. 2) to wise men to listen. It connects the wisdom of listening to the natural ability to discern.
• the ear (אֹ֭זֶן - ’ōzen): The physical organ of hearing. Symbolically, it represents the faculty of understanding, intelligence, and readiness to receive information or instruction.
• tests (תִּבְחַן - tivḥan): From the verb בָּחַן (baḥan), meaning "to try, examine, prove, test, discern." This is an active and critical process, not merely passive hearing. It implies a thorough evaluation, much like testing metal for purity or quality. This highlights a deliberate process of discernment and judgment of content.
• words (מִלִּ֑ין - millīn): Spoken utterances, discourse, statements, or messages. In this context, it refers to the substance of speech—its truthfulness, wisdom, and merit.
• as (כְּ - kĕ): A comparative particle, introducing the simile. It establishes a direct parallel between the two actions described.
• the mouth (פֶּ֣ה - peh): The physical organ used for speaking and, in this analogy, for tasting.
• tastes (יִטְעַם - yiṭʿam): From the verb טָעַם (ṭaʿam), meaning "to taste, savor, discern by tasting, perceive." This denotes the immediate, experiential judgment of flavor and quality through the sense of taste.
• food (אֹֽכֶל - ’ōkhel): General term for edible sustenance. Different foods have distinct properties, flavors, and nutritional values, which the mouth naturally discerns.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "For the ear tests words": This phrase emphasizes the active, critical role of the listener. It's not enough to simply hear sounds; true listening involves examining the content of speech for its truthfulness, consistency, and wisdom. This concept of testing words implies a standard of truth or righteousness against which spoken statements are measured.
• "as the mouth tastes food": This vivid simile grounds the abstract concept of intellectual discernment in a concrete, universally understood physical experience. Just as the mouth instinctively identifies flavors and properties of food (sweet, bitter, nourishing, harmful), so the discerning mind is equipped to evaluate the nature and value of words. This analogy suggests an inherent human capacity for distinguishing good communication from bad, or truth from falsehood. The immediate, often intuitive, nature of taste is paralleled with the discerning apprehension of spoken truth.

Job 34 3 Bonus section

The repeated use of this idiom by both Job (12:11) and Elihu suggests it was a recognized proverb or saying in ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions. Elihu's re-use of it serves a specific rhetorical purpose: it reminds Job of his own assertion, subtly challenging Job to now apply this principle of careful discernment to Elihu's forthcoming words. It functions as an appeal to human reason and an invitation to open-minded scrutiny. The comparison highlights not just the ability but the necessity of discernment, given that "words" can be a source of wisdom, truth, deception, or destruction. Elihu is preparing the ground for what he believes will be a clearer articulation of God's character and purposes than either Job or his friends have provided. This proverb, therefore, is not just a philosophical statement but a strategic move in the ongoing debate, emphasizing that Elihu believes his arguments, unlike the others, will stand up to such a critical "test."

Job 34 3 Commentary

Job 34:3 is a foundational aphorism employed by Elihu to preface his discourse on God's justice. By drawing upon a well-known proverb (already stated by Job in 12:11), Elihu establishes a common ground of human experience and wisdom. The verse underscores that intellectual discernment is as natural and vital as physical sensation. Just as our mouths are designed to test the quality of our food, discerning what is palatable, nourishing, or harmful, our "ears" (representing our minds and spirits) are inherently capable of evaluating the veracity and substance of spoken words. Elihu's purpose in invoking this idiom is to challenge the listeners—Job and his friends—to engage in active, critical listening rather than dismissing his arguments based on his youth or their entrenched theological positions. He implies that both Job’s complaints and the friends’ rigid doctrines have been formed without sufficient discernment. For believers, this verse serves as a timeless call to test all words, teachings, and claims against the standard of divine truth, especially as revealed in God's Word.

For example, when listening to a sermon, reading an article, or engaging in spiritual discussions, this verse encourages us to move beyond mere passive reception. Instead, we are called to ask: Is this true? Is it consistent with Scripture? Is it beneficial? Does it edify or merely entertain? Just as one wouldn't blindly consume any food, one should not uncritically accept every word.