Job 20:12

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 20:12-14

Job 20:12-14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth Though it greatly please him while he is committing it; though he hide it under his tongue As an epicure doth a sweet morsel, which he keeps and rolls about his mouth, that he may longer enjoy the pleasure of it. Though he be highly pleased with the gratification of his lusts, and cleave to his sinful pleasures in hearty love, resolving to hold them fast, and improve them to the greatest delight and advantage; though he spare it Will... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 20:1-29

Zophar speaks (20:1-29)On hearing Job’s bold forecast of punishment on his accusers (see 19:28-29), Zophar can hardly control his temper. Not only does he feel insulted, but he is burning with inward rage (20:1-3). His hasty reply is intended to hurt Job by reminding him that the wicked person’s happiness and success are shortlived (4-7). The wealth he unjustly gained will not save him, and his early death will be a fitting punishment (8-11).The wicked feed on sin, keeping it in their mouths as... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 20:12

wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Job 20:12

"Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth,Though he hide it under his tongue,Though he spare it, and will not let it go,But keep it still within his mouth;Yet his food in his bowels is turned,It is the gall of asps within him.He hath swallowed down riches, and heshall vomit them up again;God will cast them out of his belly.He shall suck the poison of asps;The viper's tongue shall slay him.He shall not look upon the rivers,The flowing streams of honey and butter.That which he labored for shall he... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 20:12

12. be—"taste sweet." Sin's fascination is like poison sweet to the taste, but at last deadly to the vital organs (Proverbs 20:17; Job 9:17; Job 9:18). hide . . . tongue—seek to prolong the enjoyment by keeping the sweet morsel long in the mouth (so Job 20:13). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 20:1-29

5. Zophar’s second speech ch. 20This speech must have hurt Job more than any that his friends had presented so far. Zophar was brutal in his attack. He continued the theme of the fate of the wicked that Eliphaz and Bildad had emphasized. However, whereas Eliphaz stressed the distress of the wicked and Bildad their trapped position, Zophar elaborated on the fact that wicked people lose their wealth. He had nothing new to say, but he said it passionately."Zophar is deeply disturbed by Job’s... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 20:12-19

The certain punishment of sin 20:12-19Job 20:16 pictures the wicked eating his delicacies but finding that they have turned to poison in his stomach and are killing him (Job 20:14)."Sin tastes good in the mouth but creates terrible cramps and nausea in the stomach (Job 20:12-14)." [Note: Merrill, p. 387.] Ancient Near Easterners considered honey (often date syrup) and curds (the part of milk from which cheese comes) delicacies (cf. Judges 5:25). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 20:1-29

Zophar’s Second SpeechZophar ignores Job’s conviction that God will one day establish his innocence, and proceeds to describe the short triumph of the wicked and his certain downfall and punishment at God’s hand. Perhaps he wishes Job to apply the description to himself and take warning therefrom; though quite apart from that the speech is relevant to his argument that the moral order of the world is not, as Job maintains, unrighteous.3. The check of my reproach] RV ’the reproof which putteth... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 20:12

(12) Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth.—He draws a picture of the wicked man after the pattern of a gourmand or glutton, which, if it were intended to apply to Job, was a fresh instance of heartless cruelty, as well as of an entire want of discernment of character, and of unfitness for the office of judge he was so ready to assume. It is possible that the reproach here aimed at Job was that of inordinate love of riches, which Zophar extracts from the bare fact of his having been a wealthy... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 20:1-29

Job 20:12-13 Zophar, the Naamathite, mentioneth a sort of men in whose mouths wickedness is sweet. 'They hide it under their tongues, they spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it still in their mouths.' This furnisheth me with a tripartite division of men in the world. The first and best are those who spit sin out, loathing it in their judgments, and leaving it in their practice. The second sort, notoriously wicked, who swallow sin down, actually and openly committing it. The third,... read more

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