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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 20:12 Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/20-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/1/18_Job_20_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 20:12 - Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue," /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/20-11.htm" title="Job 20:11">◄</a> Job 20:12 <a href="/job/20-13.htm" title="Job 20:13">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, though he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, <i>though</i> he hide it under his tongue;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, <i>And</i> he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth <i>And</i> he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Though evil is sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Though evil is sweet in his mouth, <i>And</i> he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Though evil is sweet in his mouth <i>And</i> he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Though evil <i>and</i> wickedness are sweet in his mouth And he hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Sinners love the taste of sin; they relish every bite <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue....<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Though evil tastes sweet in his mouth, though he conceals it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Though wickedness may be sweet in his mouth, though he may hide it under his tongue;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Though he sweetens evil in his mouth, hides it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Though he doth sweeten evil in his mouth, Doth hide it under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />If evil shall be sweet in his mouth he will cover it under his tongue;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />For when evil shall be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under his tongue. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />For, when evil will be sweet in his mouth, he will hide it under his tongue.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />“Though wickedness is sweet in their mouth, though they hide it under their tongues,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Though his wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide deceit under his tongue,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />If his evil will be sweet in his mouth and he will hide deceit under his tongue<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Though evil be sweet in his mouth, <i>though</i> he will hide it under his tongue;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/20-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=3063" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/20.htm">Zophar: Destruction Awaits the Wicked</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie down with him in the dust. <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">Though</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: rā·‘āh (Adj-fs) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">evil</a> <a href="/hebrew/4985.htm" title="4985: tam·tîq (V-Hifil-Imperf-3fs) -- To become or be sweet or pleasant. A primitive root; to suck, by implication, to relish, or be sweet.">is sweet</a> <a href="/hebrew/6310.htm" title="6310: bə·p̄îw (Prep-b:: N-msc:: 3ms) -- Mouth. From pa'ah; the mouth, whether literal or figurative; specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially according to.">in his mouth</a> <a href="/hebrew/3582.htm" title="3582: yaḵ·ḥî·ḏen·nāh (V-Hifil-Imperf-3ms:: 3fse) -- To hide. A primitive root; to secrete, by act or word; hence to destroy.">and he conceals</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: ta·ḥaṯ (Prep) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">it under</a> <a href="/hebrew/3956.htm" title="3956: lə·šō·w·nōw (N-csc:: 3ms) -- Tongue. Or lashon; also feminine lshonah; from lashan; the tongue, used literally, and figuratively.">his tongue,</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>though he cannot bear to let it go and keeps it in his mouth,…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/9-17.htm">Proverbs 9:17-18</a></span><br />“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!” / But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/20-17.htm">Proverbs 20:17</a></span><br />Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/10-7.htm">Psalm 10:7</a></span><br />His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/1-14.htm">James 1:14-15</a></span><br />But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/5-3.htm">Proverbs 5:3-4</a></span><br />Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, / in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/6-21.htm">Romans 6:21</a></span><br />What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/36-3.htm">Psalm 36:3</a></span><br />The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/23-31.htm">Proverbs 23:31-32</a></span><br />Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. / In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/59-3.htm">Isaiah 59:3</a></span><br />For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/15-18.htm">Matthew 15:18-20</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/52-2.htm">Psalm 52:2-4</a></span><br />Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah / You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-24.htm">Proverbs 6:24-28</a></span><br />to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. / Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. / For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-13.htm">Romans 3:13-14</a></span><br />“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” / “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/140-3.htm">Psalm 140:3</a></span><br />They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-1.htm">1 Peter 2:1</a></span><br />Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;</p><p class="hdg">wickedness</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/15-16.htm">Job 15:16</a></b></br> How much more abominable and filthy <i>is</i> man, which drinketh iniquity like water?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-6.htm">Genesis 3:6</a></b></br> And when the woman saw that the tree <i>was</i> good for food, and that it <i>was</i> pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make <i>one</i> wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/9-17.htm">Proverbs 9:17,18</a></b></br> Stolen waters are sweet, and bread <i>eaten</i> in secret is pleasant… </p><p class="hdg">he hide</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/10-7.htm">Psalm 10:7</a></b></br> His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue <i>is</i> mischief and vanity.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/109-17.htm">Psalm 109:17,18</a></b></br> As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/19-22.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/nehemiah/9-35.htm">Evil-Doing</a> <a href="/job/14-13.htm">Hide</a> <a href="/job/6-16.htm">Hides</a> <a href="/job/17-9.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/job/19-16.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/job/18-10.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/esther/2-12.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/job/15-5.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/job/11-14.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/20-29.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/job/22-5.htm">Evil-Doing</a> <a href="/job/24-4.htm">Hide</a> <a href="/job/34-29.htm">Hides</a> <a href="/job/20-13.htm">Keeps</a> <a href="/job/20-13.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/job/31-9.htm">Secretly</a> <a href="/job/21-33.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/job/20-16.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/job/22-5.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Job 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/20-1.htm">Zophar shows the state and portion of the wicked</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Though evil is sweet in his mouth</b><br>This phrase suggests the initial allure and deceptive pleasure of sin. In biblical context, sin often appears attractive and desirable, as seen in <a href="/genesis/3-6.htm">Genesis 3:6</a>, where Eve finds the forbidden fruit pleasing to the eye. The sweetness of evil can be likened to the temporary satisfaction that sin provides, which ultimately leads to destruction (<a href="/proverbs/14-12.htm">Proverbs 14:12</a>). This reflects the human tendency to be enticed by immediate gratification without considering long-term consequences.<p><b>and he conceals it under his tongue</b><br>The act of concealing evil under the tongue implies deceit and premeditation. This imagery suggests a deliberate choice to harbor sin secretly, akin to hiding something precious or forbidden. In historical and cultural contexts, the tongue is often associated with speech and the power of words (<a href="/james/3-5.htm">James 3:5-6</a>). This concealment indicates a hidden sinfulness that is not immediately visible to others, echoing the biblical theme of hypocrisy and the danger of hidden sins (<a href="/psalms/19-12.htm">Psalm 19:12</a>). The concealment also points to the internal struggle and the deceitfulness of the heart (<a href="/jeremiah/17-9.htm">Jeremiah 17:9</a>), emphasizing the need for repentance and transformation.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. The central figure in the Book of Job, he undergoes severe trials and suffering.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/z/zophar_the_naamathite.htm">Zophar the Naamathite</a></b><br>One of Job's three friends who visit him to offer counsel. Zophar is the speaker in <a href="/bsb/job/20.htm">Job 20</a>, and he represents a traditional view of retributive justice, believing that suffering is a direct result of sin.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land_of_uz.htm">The Land of Uz</a></b><br>The setting of the Book of Job, traditionally considered to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/satan.htm">Satan</a></b><br>The adversary who challenges Job's integrity, suggesting that Job is faithful only because of his prosperity.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign Creator who allows Job's testing and ultimately restores him, demonstrating His wisdom and justice.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_deceptive_nature_of_sin.htm">The Deceptive Nature of Sin</a></b><br>Sin often appears attractive and sweet initially, but its consequences are bitter and destructive. Believers must be vigilant and discerning to avoid being enticed by temporary pleasures that lead to spiritual harm.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_concealing_sin.htm">The Danger of Concealing Sin</a></b><br>Hiding sin "under the tongue" suggests a deliberate choice to harbor and nurture wrongdoing. Christians are called to confess and forsake sin rather than conceal it, as hidden sin can lead to greater bondage and separation from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_accountability.htm">The Importance of Accountability</a></b><br>Zophar's speech, though misguided in its application to Job, highlights the need for accountability among believers. We should encourage one another to live righteously and address sin in love and truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_suffering_in_spiritual_growth.htm">The Role of Suffering in Spiritual Growth</a></b><br>While Zophar incorrectly attributes Job's suffering to hidden sin, the broader account of Job teaches that suffering can be a tool for refining faith and deepening reliance on God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_doesn't_job_28_align_with_other_wisdom.htm">Why does Job 28 offer poetic descriptions of wisdom's source without reconciling them with scientific or pagan wisdom traditions of the time?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_dragons_fit_with_zoology.htm">How do we reconcile biblical accounts of dragons with modern zoology?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_greedy_exploiters_thrive_unpunished.htm">If Job 20:19-20 suggests a direct correlation between greed and swift downfall, why do some wealthy exploiters seem to thrive indefinitely without facing apparent divine retribution?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_wicked_prosper_despite_job_11_20.htm">Job 11:20 asserts the wicked lose hope, yet history and modern times show many unethical people prosper. How is this reconciled?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) <span class= "bld">Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth.</span>--He draws a picture of the wicked man after the pattern of a gourmand or glutton, which, if it were intended to apply to Job, was a fresh instance of heartless cruelty, as well as of an entire want of discernment of character, and of unfitness for the office of judge he was so ready to assume. It is possible that the reproach here aimed at Job was that of inordinate love of riches, which Zophar extracts from the bare fact of his having been a wealthy man.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 12, 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> though the wicked man delight in his wickedness, and gloat over it, and keep the thought of it in his mind, as a gourmand keeps, so long as he can, a delicious taste in his mouth; though he, as it were, hide it under his tongue, in order not to let it escape him; <span class="cmt_word">though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth</span>, yet, notwithstanding all this, disgust and nausea arrive in course of time (see the next two verses). It is, perhaps, the most surprising among the phenomena of wickedness that men can gloat over it, voluntarily recur to it, make a boast of it, recount signal instances of it to their friends, and seem to find a satisfaction in the recollection. One would have expected that shame and self-disapproval and fear of retribution would have led them to dismiss their wicked acts from their thoughts as soon as possible. But certainly the fact is otherwise. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/20-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Though</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">evil</span><br /><span class="heb">רָעָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(rā·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bad, evil</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is sweet</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּמְתִּ֣יק</span> <span class="translit">(tam·tîq)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4985.htm">Strong's 4985: </a> </span><span class="str2">To become or be sweet or pleasant</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in his mouth</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּפִ֣יו</span> <span class="translit">(bə·p̄îw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6310.htm">Strong's 6310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and he conceals</span><br /><span class="heb">יַ֝כְחִידֶ֗נָּה</span> <span class="translit">(yaḵ·ḥî·ḏen·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3582.htm">Strong's 3582: </a> </span><span class="str2">To secrete, by act, word, to destroy</span><br /><br /><span class="word">it under</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּ֣חַת</span> <span class="translit">(ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his tongue,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְשׁוֹנֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·šō·w·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">The tongue</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/20-12.htm">Job 20:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/20-12.htm">OT Poetry: Job 20:12 Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/20-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 20:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 20:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/20-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 20:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 20:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>