Job 11:2
in Job 11“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?
KJV
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
⋯
This verse in Job 11
Commentary
10 notes on this verseShould not the multitude of words be answered? - Some translate, “To multiply words profiteth nothing.” And should a man full of talk be justified - איש שפתים ish sephathayim, “a man of lips,” a proper appellation for a great talker: he is “a man of lips,” i.e., his lips are the only active parts of his system.
This site's exposition
Zophar the Naamathite replied
on Job 11:1-4
Zophar the Naamathite opens the harshest of the three friends' speeches. He alone skips the softening opening that Eliphaz and Bildad each give before they accuse. He meets Job's claim, "My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight", with open scorn.
This site's exposition
Should this stream of words go unanswered
Barnes and Clarke give the Hebrew behind such a speaker as a man of lips, all talk. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hear a rebuke of the other two friends as well. The rebuke of Job 42:7 falls on these speakers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Since Zophar does not recognize Job's virtue and the goal of his consistent remarks, he says to Job, "Do not talk much." The word of holy Scripture teaches us to control our words. It says, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking." Here Scripture …
The Medieval Church2 voices
In the speech above (10:16), Job had remarked with wonder that among other evils which he was suffering he had been tormented by his friends who rose against him like witnesses speaking for God. Sophar, who was touched by this argument answers. So the text …
Should not he that talketh much hear in his turn? and should a man full of words be justified?
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Should not the multitude of words be answered?....
But, if it be answered, let reason and grace have the answering of it, not pride and passion. Should a man full of talk (margin, a man of lips, that is all tongue, vox et præterea nihil--mere voice ) be justified? Should he be justified in his loquacity, as in effect he is if he be not reproved for it?
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Zophar assails Job for his empty words, and indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply. Taciturnity is highly prized among Orientals (Pr 10:8, 19).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Should not the multitude of words be answered? - As if all that Job had said had been mere words; or as if he was remarkable for mere garrulity. And should a man full of talk be justified - Margin, as in Hebrew “of lips.” The phrase is evidently a Hebraism, to denote a great talker - a man of mere lips, or empty sound. Zophar asks whether such a man could be justified or vindicated. It will be recollected that taciturnity was with the Orientals a much greater virtue than with us, and that it was regarded as one of the proofs of wisdom. The wise man with them was he who sat down at the feet of age, and desired to learn; who carefully collected the maxims of former times; who diligently observed the course of events; and who deliberated with care on what others had to say. Thus, Solomon says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise;” Pro 10:19; so Jas 1:19, “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.” It was supposed that a man who said much would say some foolish or improper things, and hence, it was regarded as a proof of prudence to be distinguished for silence. In Oriental countries, and it may be added also, in all countries that we regard as uncivilized, it is unusual and disrespectful to be hasty in offering counsel, to be forward to speak, or to be confident and bold in opinion; see the notes at Job 32:6-7. It was for reasons such as these that Zophar maintained that a man who was full of talk could not be justified in it; that there was presumptive proof that he was not a safe man, or a man who could be vindicated in all that he said.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הֲרֹ֣ב | haro | ¿ a multitude of | H7230 → | 149 times |
| דְּ֭בָרִים | devarim | words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יֵעָנֶ֑ה | yeaneh | will it be answered | H6030 → | 331 times |
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and or? | H518 → | 1069 times |
| אִ֖ישׁ | ʾish | a man of | H376 → | 1663 times |
| שְׂפָתַ֣יִם | sefatayim | lips | H8193 → | 176 times |
| יִצְדָּֽק׃ | yitzdak | will he be acquitted | H6663 → | 41 times |
הֲרֹ֣ב¿ a multitude of
haroH7230 →149 times
דְּ֭בָרִיםwords
devarimH1697 →1440 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יֵעָנֶ֑הwill it be answered
yeanehH6030 →331 times
וְאִם־and or?
veim-H518 →1069 times
אִ֖ישׁa man of
ʾishH376 →1663 times
שְׂפָתַ֣יִםlips
sefatayimH8193 →176 times
יִצְדָּֽק׃will he be acquitted
yitzdakH6663 →41 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 1:19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
- Proverbs 14:29
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
- Proverbs 17:27
Through
Proverbs 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
it leads to
- James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
- Proverbs 17:27–28
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
- James 1:19
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON JOB 11:3; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book X; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.