Job 29 · Verse 23

Job 29:23

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Job 29:23, King James Version

Job 29:23 in other translations

BSBThey waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
WEBThey waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
ASVAnd they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
YLTAnd they wait as for rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide As for the latter rain.
DARBYAnd they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
BBEThey were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
WebsterAnd they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

What does Job 29:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain. opened ... mouth--panted for; Oriental image (Psa 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June. Between the early and latter rains, some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls (De 11:14; Jas 5:7).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 They waited for me as for the rain - The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters. They opened their mouth wide - A metaphor taken from ground chapped with long drought. The latter rain - The rain that falls a little before harvest, in order to fill and perfect the grain. The former rain is that which falls about seed-time, or in spring, in order to impregnate and swell the seed, and moisten the earth to produce its nourishment.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 29:18-25

Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had…

Read the full comment on Job 29:18-25 →

Job 29:23 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.

וְיִֽחֲל֣וּve.yi.cha.Luand they waitedH3176
כַמָּטָ֣רkha.ma.Tarlike the rainH4306
לִ֑יLifor me
וּ֝פִיהֶ֗םu.fi.Hemand mouth theirH6310
פָּעֲר֥וּpa.'a.Ruthey opened wideH6473
לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ\׃le.mal.Ko.oshfor spring rainH4456

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

Cross references for Job 29:23

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

  • Psalms 72:6

    He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.

  • Zechariah 10:1

    Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as for the rain.
Ps 72:6
the latter rain.
Ho 6:3; Zec 10:1

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

Context

  • Job 29:22

    After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

  • Job 29:23

    And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

  • Job 29:24

    If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

Read all of Job 29

Job 29:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y esperábanme como á la lluvia, y abrían su boca como á la lluvia tardía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et on m’attendait comme la pluie, et on ouvrait la bouche comme pour la pluie de la dernière saison.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie harrten auf mich wie auf den Regen, und sperrten ihren Mund auf wie nach dem Spätregen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Expectabant me sicut pluviam, et os suum aperiebant quasi ad imbrem serotinum.