The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Parallel Translations
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The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
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The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
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The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
Cross-references (8)
Passages linked to Job 29:9 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Job 21:5 Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
- Job 40:4 “Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
- Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
- Proverbs 30:32 “If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.
- James 1:19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
- Judges 18:19 They said to him, “Hold your peace, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us. Be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”
- Job 4:2 “If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
- Job 7:11 “Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (12 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Acknowledging my wisdom.
Acknowledging my wisdom.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Job 29:9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their]…
Job 29:9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.
Ver. 9. The princes refrained talking] Not only as acknowledging his authority, but as admiring his great eloquence, and hanging upon his lips, as the babe doth upon the breast, the bee upon the flower, or the little bird upon her dam’s bill.
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And laid their hand on their mouth] Kissing their hands and adoring me ( adorare est applicare manum ad os), or rather, as stopping their mouths, being ashamed to speak in his presence, whom they knew to be far beyond them in wisdom and elocution. Now of this honour done Job by all sorts of people, Brentius hath this note, Parum est ingentes camelos possidere, &c. It is a small matter, that Job had many camels and flocks of sheep; this was a greater blessing of God upon him, that he was honoured and observed by all sorts. This followeth virtue (as the shadow doth the body) at the heels. To do worthily in Ephrata, is the way to be famous in Bethlehem, Rth 4:11.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Refrained talking; either fearing that I should discern their…
Refrained talking; either fearing that I should discern their weakness by their words; or desiring to hear my words and sentence, which they readily approved of, and fully assented to. Such an opinion had they of my wisdom, and did not think me such a foolish, erroneous, and impertinent person as you fancy or represent me to be.
Laid their hand on their mouth, in token both of their wonder at Job’s wise speeches and sentences, and of their resolution to be silent. See Job 21:5; Pro 30:32.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain The princes refrained talking,.... Who were in court before…
The princes refrained talking,.... Who were in court before Job came in, and were either talking with one another about indifferent matters, or were giving their opinion in a case before them; but no sooner did Job make his appearance, but they left off talking, and would not proceed any further; they laid a restraint upon their words, and curbed themselves from speaking any more till they had heard his opinion:
and laid their hand on their mouth; as a token of silence, Jdg 18:19.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 9. The princes refrained talking] They never ventured…
Verse 9. The princes refrained talking] They never ventured an opinion in opposition to mine; so fully were they persuaded of the justice and integrity of my decision.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain The princes refrained talking - As a mark of…
The princes refrained talking - As a mark of respect, or in awe of his presence.
And laid their hand on their mouth - To lay the finger or the hand on the mouth is every where an action expressive of silence or respect; Notes, Job 21:5. “In one of the subterranean vaults of Egypt, where the mummies lie buried, they found in the coffin an embalmed body of a woman, before which was placed a figure of wood, representing a youth on his knees, laying a finger on his mouth, and holding in his other hand a sort of chafing dish, which was placed on his head, and in which, without doubt, had been some perfumes.” Maillet.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Job 4:2; see on Job 21:5).
(Job 4:2; see on Job 21:5).
Refrained talking--stopped in the middle of their speech.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 9. Hand on their mouth — Plutarch; speaking of…
9. Hand on their mouth — Plutarch; speaking of a similar gesture, calls it a symbol of profound silence. See note, Job_21:5.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 9, 10. The meaning seems to be that Job’s…
9, 10. The meaning seems to be that Job’s arrival put a stop to speech and discussion already going on, which was not resumed until he should be heard.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (9) The princes retrained talking.—Comp. Isa_52:15.
(9) The princes retrained talking.—Comp. Isa_52:15.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain The princes refrained talking. The other head-men of the…
The princes refrained talking. The other head-men of the tribe, recognizing Job"s superior rank and dignity, refrained from words as soon as he made his appearance, and in silence awaited what he would say. Perhaps we are scarcely to understand literally the further statement that they laid their hand on their mouth, which is probably as much an idiom as our phrase, "they held their tongues". (comp. Job_21:5)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 The princes used to refrain from talking when I…
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came
This was a sign of respect. (See: Symbolic Action)
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they would lay their hand on their mouths
They did this to show that they would not speak. This was a sign of their respect for Job. (See: Symbolic Action)
The voices of the noblemen were hushed
This can be stated in active form. AT: "The noblemen hushed their voices" or "The noblemen stopped speaking" (See: Active or Passive)
their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths
This represents them having so much respect for Job that they had nothing to say. AT: "they felt that they were unable to speak" or "they had nothing to say" (See: Metonymy)
translationWords
prince
voice
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.