Job 29:9
New International Version
the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;

New Living Translation
The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.

English Standard Version
the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth;

Berean Standard Bible
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

King James Bible
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

New King James Version
The princes refrained from talking, And put their hand on their mouth;

New American Standard Bible
“The leaders stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;

NASB 1995
“The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;

NASB 1977
“The princes stopped talking, And put their hands on their mouths;

Legacy Standard Bible
The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;

Amplified Bible
The princes stopped talking And put their hands on their mouths;

Christian Standard Bible
City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
City officials stopped talking and covered their mouths with their hands.

American Standard Version
The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;

Contemporary English Version
while the older ones stood

English Revised Version
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Princes held back [their] words and put their hands over their mouths.

Good News Translation
The leaders of the people would stop talking;

International Standard Version
Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands.

Majority Standard Bible
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

NET Bible
the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands;

New Heart English Bible
The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

Webster's Bible Translation
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

World English Bible
The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Princes have kept in words, "" And they place a hand on their mouth.

Young's Literal Translation
Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.

Smith's Literal Translation
Chiefs held back in words, and they will put the hand to the mouth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The leaders stopped talking, and they placed a finder over their mouth.

New American Bible
Officials refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;

New Revised Standard Version
the nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The nobles held their peace, and laid their hands on their mouth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Princes were restrained in words, and they placed their hands on their mouths
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The princes refrained talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Former Blessings
8the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet. 9The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands. 10The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.…

Cross References
Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.

Isaiah 3:3
the commander of fifty and the dignitary, the counselor, the cunning magician, and the clever enchanter.

Lamentations 5:14
The elders have left the city gate; the young men have stopped their music.

Proverbs 31:28
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:

Isaiah 29:10
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.

Amos 5:13
Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.

Micah 7:16
Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their might. They will put their hands over their mouths, and their ears will become deaf.

Acts 17:12
As a result, many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men.

1 Kings 10:8
How blessed are your men! How blessed are these servants of yours who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Corinthians 14:34
Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

Titus 2:2
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.

1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

1 Corinthians 12:23
and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty,


Treasury of Scripture

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

refrained

Job 4:2
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

Job 7:11
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

laid

Job 21:5
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

Job 40:4
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Judges 18:19
And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?

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Job 29
1. Job bemoans his former prosperity














The princes
The term "princes" in this context refers to individuals of high rank and authority within society. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, princes were often seen as leaders or rulers who wielded significant influence. The Hebrew word used here is "שָׂרִים" (sarim), which denotes nobility and leadership. This highlights the respect and reverence Job commanded, as even those of high status would pause in his presence.

refrained from speaking
The act of refraining from speaking indicates a deep respect and acknowledgment of wisdom. In the Hebrew, the word "חָדַל" (chadal) suggests a deliberate cessation or holding back. This implies that the princes recognized Job's superior wisdom and insight, choosing to listen rather than speak. It reflects the cultural value placed on wisdom and the esteem in which Job was held.

and covered their mouths with their hands
This gesture of covering the mouth with the hand is a powerful symbol of silence and submission. In ancient times, this act was a sign of respect and humility, acknowledging the presence of someone greater. The Hebrew phrase "שָׂמוּ יָד לְפִיהֶם" (samu yad lefihem) conveys a voluntary act of deference. It underscores the profound impact of Job's presence and words, causing even the most powerful to pause and reflect.

(9) The princes retrained talking.--Comp. Isaiah 52:15.

Verse 9. - 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).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The princes
שָׂ֭רִים (rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

refrained
עָצְר֣וּ (‘ā·ṣə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6113: To inclose, to hold back, to maintain, rule, assemble

from speaking
בְמִלִּ֑ים (ḇə·mil·lîm)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4405: A word, a discourse, a topic

and covered
יָשִׂ֥ימוּ (yā·śî·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

their mouths
לְפִיהֶֽם׃ (lə·p̄î·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

with their hands.
וְ֝כַ֗ף (wə·ḵap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan


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OT Poetry: Job 29:9 The princes refrained from talking and laid (Jb)
Job 29:8
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