Job 23:12

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.

a. NLT: I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.

b. NIV: I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

c. YLT: The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

e. Septuagint: Neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: I do not move away from the commandments of His lips; I have cherished the words of His mouth more than my sustenance.

1. “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips…”

a. neither [Strong: 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

b. have I gone back [4185 muwsh moosh] [Gesenius: to yield, to give way.][Strong: to withdraw (both literally and figuratively, whether intransitive or transitive):--cease, depart, go back, remove, take away.]

c. from the commandment [Strong: 4687 mitsvah mits-vaw' from 6680; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law):--(which was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept.]

d. of his lips [Strong: 8193 saphah saw-faw' or (in dual and plural) sepheth {sef-eth'}; probably from 5595 or 8192 through the idea of termination (Compare 5490); the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.):--band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, ((sea-))shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.]

1). In simple language it means to stop being obedient to his word.

a). Psalm 53:3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

b). Psalm 44:18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

2). Only God can see what is going on in the spirit or heart of a man when he begins to forsake the things of God. When a man or woman ceases to live by faith they have already started the process of sliding back into sin.

a). Hebrews 10:38, 39 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

2. “…I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

a. I have esteemed [Strong: 6845 tsaphan tsaw-fan' a primitive root; to hide (by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny; specifically (favorably) to protect, (unfavorably) to lurk:--esteem, hide(-den one, self), lay up, lurk (be set) privily, (keep) secret(-ly, place).]

b. the words [Strong: 561 'emer ay'-mer from 559; something said:--answer, X appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.]

c. of his mouth [Strong: 6310 peh peh from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, + file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk, tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.]

d. more than my necessary food [Strong: 2706 choq khoke from 2710; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage):--appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance(- nary), portion, set time, statute, task.]

1). The above statement from the lips of Job is one of the goals of fasting.

a). Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

2). Jesus used this verse to resist the devil’s temptations to entice Jesus to end the fast and eat.

a). Matthew 4:1-4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

3). David echoed Job’s sentiments that God’s word is more important than food. Notice the last verse in the passage.

a). Psalm 19:7-10 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

19:8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.