Job 23 · Verse 12

Job 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12, King James Version

Job 23:12 in other translations

BSBI have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
WEBI haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
ASVI have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
YLTThe command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.
DARBYNeither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
BBEI have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.
WebsterNeither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

What does Job 23:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. esteemed--rather, "laid up," namely, as a treasure found (Mt 13:44; Psa 119:11); alluding to the words of Eliphaz (Job 22:22). There was no need to tell me so; I have done so already (Jr 15:16). necessary--"Appointed portion" (of food; as in Pr 30:8). Umbreit and Maurer translate, "More than my law," my own will, in antithesis to "the words of His mouth" (Joh 6:38). Probably under the general term, "what is appointed to me" (the same Hebrew is in Job 23:14), all that ministers to the appetites of the body and carnal will is included.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 The commandment of his lips - The written law that proceeded from his own mouth. I have esteemed the words of his mouth - Mr. Good has given a better version of the original: In my bosom have I stored up the words of his mouth. The Asiatics carry every thing precious or valuable in their bosom, their handkerchiefs, jewels, purses, etc. Job, therefore, intimates that the words of God's mouth were to him a most precious treasure.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 23:8-12

Job knew that the Lord was every where present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before him. His views were all gloomy. God seemed to stand at a distance, and frown upon him. Yet Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God. He had…

Read the full comment on Job 23:8-12 →

Job 23:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מִצְוַ֣תmitz.Vat[the] commandment ofH4687
שְׂ֭פָתָיוSe.fa.tavlips hisH8193
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
אָמִ֑ישׁ'a.MishI have ceasedH4185
מֵ֝חֻקִּ֗יme.chu.Kimore than portion myH2706
צָפַ֥נְתִּיtza.Fan.tiI have treasured upH6845
אִמְרֵי\־'im.rei-[the] words ofH561
פִֽיו\׃Fivmouth hisH6310

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 23:12

  • Jeremiah 15:16

    Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

  • Psalms 119:11

    Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

  • Psalms 119:103

    How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

  • John 4:34

    Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

  • Psalms 19:9-10

    The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

  • Job 22:22

    Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

  • John 4:32

    But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.

  • John 8:31

    Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

  • Psalms 119:127

    Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

  • John 6:66-69

    From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

  • Job 6:10

    Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neither.
Joh 6:66-69; 8:31; Ac 14:22; Heb 10:38,39; 1Jo 2:19
I have esteemed. Heb. hid, or, laid up.
22:22; Ps 19:9,10; 119:11,103,127; Jer 15:16; Joh 4:32,34; 1Pe 2:2
necessary food. or, appointed portion.
Lu 12:42,46

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 23:11

    My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

  • Job 23:12

    Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

  • Job 23:13

    But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Read all of Job 23

Job 23:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Del mandamiento de sus labios nunca me separé; guardé las palabras de su boca más que mi comida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je ne me suis pas retiré du commandement de ses lèvres; j’ai serré par-devers moi les paroles de sa bouche plus que le propos de mon propre cœur.
German
Elberfelder 1871		von dem Gebote seiner Lippen bin ich nicht abgewichen, ich habe die Worte seines Mundes verwahrt, mehr als meinen eigenen Vorsatz.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		A mandatis labiorum ejus non recessi, et in sinu meo abscondi verba oris ejus.