Psalm 17:3 You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.
Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
Proverbs 4:24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Proverbs 10:31-32 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. / The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Proverbs 12:19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.
Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Isaiah 6:5 Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Matthew 12:34-37 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. / But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ...
Matthew 15:18-20 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. / For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. / These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”
Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
John 7:18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood.
John 8:46 Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
Job 33:8-12 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice ofthy words,saying, …
Job 42:3-6 Whois he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not…
cannot.
Job 6:6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is thereany taste in the white of an egg?
Job 12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
Job 34:3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Job is defending his integrity and righteousness in the face of his friends' accusations. The tongue, often symbolizing speech and communication, is a recurring theme in Scripture regarding the expression of one's heart (James 3:5-10). Job is questioning whether he has spoken anything sinful or deceitful. In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, words held significant power and were believed to reflect one's inner character. Job's insistence on the purity of his speech underscores his claim to innocence and aligns with the biblical principle that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).
Can my mouth not discern malice? Job asserts his ability to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. This reflects the wisdom tradition in which discernment is a valued trait (Proverbs 2:3-5). Job's rhetorical question suggests that he is confident in his moral and spiritual discernment, challenging the accusations of his friends. The ability to discern malice is crucial in maintaining righteousness, as seen in the life of Jesus, who often perceived the intentions of those around Him (John 2:24-25). Job's claim here is a testament to his wisdom and understanding, which he believes are gifts from God, enabling him to navigate his suffering with integrity.
Persons / Places / Events
1.Job A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and perseverance.
2.Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar Job's three friends who visit him to offer counsel and comfort but often end up accusing him of wrongdoing.
3.Uz The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia.
4.God The sovereign Creator who allows Job's testing and ultimately restores him.
5.Satan The adversary who challenges Job's integrity, suggesting that his faithfulness is due to his prosperity.
Teaching Points
Guarding Our Speech Job's question about iniquity on his tongue reminds us of the importance of being mindful of our words. As believers, we should strive to speak truthfully and lovingly.
Discernment in Communication Job's ability to discern malice emphasizes the need for discernment in our interactions. We should seek wisdom to understand the intentions behind words, both ours and others'.
Integrity in Adversity Despite his suffering, Job maintains his integrity, challenging us to uphold our values and faith even when facing trials.
Self-Examination Job's introspection encourages us to regularly examine our hearts and speech for any hidden sin or malice, seeking God's help in purifying our intentions.
The Role of Friends in Suffering Job's interactions with his friends highlight the importance of offering genuine support and avoiding judgment when others are in distress.
(30)Is there iniquity?--Or,injustice in my tongue? Is my taste so perverted that it cannot perceive what is perverse?"Ye appear to think that I am wholly incapable of judging my own cause because it is my own; but if ye will only condescend to return in due course, ye shall find that I know what is right as well as you, and that there is no more vicious reasoning in me than there is with you, and probably less." It is difficult to draw out the argument of Job in the logical form of our Western thought, and to trace the line of connection running through it. If we look at it in detail--as we must in order to explain it--then we are apt to look at it piecemeal, and miss the thread; but in point of fact it is just this very thread which it is so difficult to detect and retain from one chapter to another.
Verse 30. -Is there iniquity in my tongue? (see ver. 26). Job now justifies his words, which previously he had admitted to have been "rash" (ver. 3). Perhaps he intends to distinguish between rashness and actual wickedness.Cannot my taste discern perverse things?i.e. I see no perversity or wickedness in what I have said. If there were any, I think I should discern it The reasoning is somewhat dangerous, since men are not infallible judges, not being unprejudiced judges, in their own case. Job's ultimate verdict on himself is that he has "uttered that which he understood not" (Job 42:3) - wherefore he "abhors himself, and repents in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6).
