Job 29:23 — Word Study
WLCוְיִֽחֲל֣וּ כַמָּטָ֣ר לִ֑י וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם פָּעֲר֥וּ לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃
BSAThey waitedyâchal■ [with anticipation, as for the latter rain] for me as for rainmâṭar [the life-giving] and drank in my wordspâʻar■ [with eagerness, like a spring shower] like spring showersmalqôwsh [the nourishing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְיִֽחֲל֣וּ | and they waited | Verb, Piel, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| כַמָּטָ֣ר | like the rain | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| לִ֑י | for me | Preposition, suffix |
| וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם | and mouth their | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| פָּעֲר֥וּ | they opened wide | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃ | for spring rain | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers. |
| KJV | And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. |
| ASV | And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. |
| YLT | And they wait as [for] rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide [As] for the latter rain. |
| WEB | They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain. |
| BBE | They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains. |
The translations agree on the imagery of waiting for Job's words as one would wait for rain — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two similes that elaborate on the actions of waiting and drinking in Job's words.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbיָחַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 29:23
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on His Past Influencegenerated
Job 29:23 presents Job reminiscing about a time when he was held in high regard. He describes how people eagerly awaited his words, much like they would anticipate rain, which is essential for life. This verse is part of a larger reflection where Job contrasts his former status with his current suffering, emphasizing the respect he once commanded.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 72:6 | May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth. |
| 2 | Hosea 6:3 | So let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth. |
| 3 | Zechariah 10:1 | Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יָחַל, ve.yi.cha.Lugenerated
The verb יָחַל (yachal) means to wait with a sense of hope and expectation. It is a Piel verb, indicating a more active form of waiting, suggesting that the people were not just passively waiting but were filled with anticipation for Job's words.
This word captures the essence of longing and trust, as it is often used in contexts where one waits for something vital or life-giving, much like rain in an arid land.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations generally agree on the meaning of this verse.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb יָחַל (yachal), meaning 'they waited', governs the sentence, with two phrases describing how they waited and what they did with his words. The structure emphasizes the eagerness of the listeners.
The phrase 'and drank in my words' follows the main verb, indicating the action taken by the people, which further underscores their anticipation and desire for Job's teachings.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates 'like the rain' with the Greek word ὥσπερ (hōsper), which means 'just as'. This choice maintains the simile, emphasizing the comparison between Job's words and the nourishing quality of rain.
This translation highlights the importance of Job's speech in providing sustenance to those who listened, paralleling the life-giving nature of rain.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 29:23 describes how people waited eagerly for Job's words, comparing their anticipation to the life-giving rain. They drank in his words like spring showers, indicating how much they valued his teachings.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This indicates that Job's words were seen as vital and refreshing, much like rain is essential for life.
Rain symbolizes nourishment and blessing; thus, Job's words are portrayed as life-giving and necessary for the people.
It suggests that they were eager and receptive to Job's teachings, valuing them highly.
Spring rain is crucial for growth and renewal, paralleling how Job's teachings could bring wisdom and understanding.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I seek nourishment for my spirit, similar to how the people sought Job's words?
- How can I cultivate a sense of eagerness in my own learning and growth?
- What does it mean to wait with anticipation for something life-giving in my life?
- How can I share my insights with others in a way that they eagerly receive them?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 29:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they waited for me as for the rain,.... The former rain, as appears by the following clause, which fell in autumn, about October, after seedtime, in order to nourish and cherish it, and bring it
Read John Gill on Job 29 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 29 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAs for the rain; as the earth or the husbandman waiteth for the rain, to wit, the former rain, of which see , because the latter rain is here opposed to it: see . They opened their mouth to receive my words, and therewith to satisfy their thirst, as the dry and parched earth gapes or opens its mouth to receive the rain.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 29 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.Ver. 23. And they waited for me as for the rain] Which in those hot countries was highly prized, and dearly longed for. And they opened their mouth wide] Stupebant, me loquente, et ore hiabant; they gaped, as if they would have eaten my words; they listened as for life. As for the latter rain] A rain which came very seldom in that country, saith Diodati; but was much desired for the refreshing and nourishing of the grain and other fruits and benefits of the earth, Proverbs 26:1 Zechariah 10:1. Merlin collecteth from this text that Job came not into the public assemblies there to…
Read John Trapp on Job 29 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 23. They waited for me as for the rain] The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters. They opened their mouth wide] A metaphor taken from ground chapped with long drought. The latter rain.] The rain that falls a little before harvest, in order to fill and perfect the grain. The former rain is that which falls about seed-time, or in spring, in order to impregnate and swell the seed, and moisten the earth to produce its nourishment.
Read AdamClarke on Job 29 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges21–25. Return to the main thought of the passage, his place among men, his brothers.
Read Cambridge on Job 29 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd they waited for me as for the rain - That is, as the dry and thirsty earth waits for the rain.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 29 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible23. The latter rain — Falls in the months of March and April, and is quite indispensable for the ripening of vegetation.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 29 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
They waited for me as people wait for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rains.
Tyndale line
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
Strictly literal
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
And they wait as [for] rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide [As] for the latter rain.
And they wait for me as [for] rain, || And they have opened wide their mouth || [As] for the spring rain.
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
From the Latin
They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
Simplified
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: וְיִֽחֲל֣וּ כַמָּטָ֣ר לִ֑י וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם פָּעֲר֥וּ לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃. The Septuagint has a different structure and does not match the Hebrew text closely, indicating a divergence in translation and interpretation.
וְיִֽחֲל֣וּ כַמָּטָ֣ר לִ֑י וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם פָּעֲר֥וּ לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃
1 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 29:23
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
יָחַל (yachal) is a Hebrew verb that means to wait, with implications of hope and patience. It has various forms: in the Niphal it means to wait, while in the Piel and Hiphil it conveys waiting for or hoping for something. The entries indicate a range of meanings related to expectation and trust.
[יָחַל] vb. Niph. wait; Pi. await
Niph. wait
Pi.
wait, tarry for
wait for = hope for
Hiph. wait, tarry
base
H3176 יָחַל Niph. wait; Pi. await
3176 yachal yaw-chal'
a primitive root; to wait; by implication, to be patient,
hope:--(cause to, have, make to) hope, be pained, stay, tarry,
trust, wait.
יָחַל (ya.chal) — to wait: wait.
: wait[for_time]
1) to wait, hope, expect
1a) (Niphal) to wait
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait, await, tarry
1b2) to wait for, hope for
1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for
Also means: ya.chal (יָחַל ": hope" H3176H)
יָחַל (ya.chal) — to wait: hope.
: hope/trust
1) to wait, hope, expect
1a) (Niphal) to wait
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait, await, tarry
1b2) to wait for, hope for
1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait for, hope for
Conj | V-Piel-Perf-3cp — Verb · Piel · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vpq3cp
מָטַר (matar) means 'rain' in Hebrew. It is derived from the root word מָטַר (H4305), which also relates to rain. The entries consistently define it simply as rain, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
H4306 מָטַר rain
4306 matar maw-tawr'
from 4305; rain:--rain.
see HEBREW for 04305
מָטַר (ma.tar) — rain.
rain
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
ran (maTar, Arabic (?), maTar, "rain" geshem, "heavy rain" moreh, "early rain," yoreh, "former rain," malqosh, "latter rain"; brecho, huetos):
1. Water-Supply in Egypt and Palestine:
In Egypt there is little or no rainfall, the water for vegetation being supplied in great abundance by the river Nile; but in Syria and Palestine there are no large rivers, and the people have to depend entirely on the fall of rain for water for themselves, their animals and their fields. The children of Israel when in Egypt were promised by Yahweh a land which "drinketh water of the rain of heaven" (De 11:11). Springs and fountains are found in most of the valleys, but the flow of the springs depends directly on the fall of rain or snow in the mountains.
2. Importance of Rain in Season:
Rain
There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the “latter rain” (Prov. 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, “the rains.” The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Gen. 7:12; Ezra 10:9; Cant. 2:11. The “early” or “former” rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:23; comp.
In the Bible "early rain" signifies the rain of the autumn, (11:14) and "latter rain" the rain of spring. (Proverbs 16:1,5) For six months in the year, from May to October, no rain falls, the whole land becomes dry, parched and brown. The autumnal rains are eagerly looked for, to prepare the earth for the reception of the seed. These, the early rains, commence about the latter end of October continuing through November and December. January and February are the coldest months, and snow falls, sometimes to the depth of a foot or more, at Jerusalem, but it does not lie long; it is very seldom seen along the coast and in the low plains. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March it is very rare in April. Robinson observes that there are not, at the present day, "any particular periods of rain or succession of showers…
In Scripture the "early" and the "latter" rain of Palestine is spoken of, De 11:14 Ho 6:3. The former falls in the latter part of October, the seed-time of Palestine; and the weather then continues variable, with more or less rain the whole winter, until after the latter or spring rain in April. Afterwards, the weather becomes serene, and the crops ripen. The wheat harvest takes place in May; by the middle of August, the fruits are gathered in; and from that time to the coming of the first or October rains, prevail the scorching heats and droughts of summer. Nothing can more expressively represent spiritual blessings than copious showers of rain after this trying season is past, De 32:2
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word פֶּה (*peh*) means 'mouth' and encompasses various meanings, including the mouth of a person or animal, as well as openings or orifices. It can also refer to speech, edges, and portions. Additionally, it denotes a weight equal to one third of a shekel, found in 1 Samuel 13:21.
פֶּה 485 n.m. mouth
mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
external organ
much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
as laughing; panting
of God
of idols
of musical instr. = sound
of animals; hence of edge of sword
mouth = opening, orifice
extremity, end
= portion
with preps.
base
H6310 פֶּה mouth . . mouth, of man, organ of eating and drinking
. external organ
. . much oftener, as organ of speech, of man
. as laughing; panting
. of God
. of idols
. of musical instr. = sound
. of animals
. mouth = opening, orifice
. . extremity, end
. = portion
. with preps.
6310 peh peh
from 6284; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether
literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically
edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition)
according to:--accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment,
assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, +
file, hole, X in, mind, mouth, part, portion, X (should)
say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, X spoken, talk,
tenor, X to, + two-edged, wish, word.
see HEBREW for 06284
פֶּה (peh) — lip.
: lip/mouth
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: edge.
: edge
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21
פֶּה (peh) — lip: word.
: word/command
peh
1) mouth
1a) mouth (of man)
1b) mouth (as organ of speech)
1c) mouth (of animals)
1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc)
1e) extremity, end pim
HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
פָּעַר (pa`ar) is a primitive root meaning to open wide, particularly in reference to the mouth. It conveys the idea of gaping or yawning, both literally and figuratively. The entries consistently emphasize this notion of opening wide without any noted disagreements.
[פָּעַר] vb. open wide (the mouth)
base
H6473 [פָּעַר] open wide (the mouth)
6473 pa`ar paw-ar'
a primitive root; to yawn, i.e. open wide (literally or
figuratively):--gape, open (wide).
פָּעַר (pa.ar) — to open.
1) to open wide, gape
1a) (Qal) to gape
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
מַלְקוֹשׁ (malqowsh) refers to the latter or spring rain, specifically the showers that occur in March and April, which are crucial for maturing crops. It is derived from a root meaning to be weak or faint, and it can also figuratively suggest eloquence. The entries consistently emphasize its agricultural significance.
מַלְקוֹשׁ n.m. latter-rain, spring-rain (i.e. showers of March-April; important as strengthening and maturing crops)
base
H4456 מַלְקוֹשׁ latter-rain, spring-rain (i.e. showers of March-April; important as strengthening and maturing crops)
4456 malqowsh mal-koshe'
from 3953; the spring rain (compare 3954); figuratively,
eloquence:--latter rain.
see HEBREW for 03953
see HEBREW for 03954
מַלְקוֹשׁ (mal.qosh) — spring rain.
1) latter rain, spring rain
1a) the March and April rains which mature the crops of Palestine
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
ran (maTar, Arabic (?), maTar, "rain" geshem, "heavy rain" moreh, "early rain," yoreh, "former rain," malqosh, "latter rain"; brecho, huetos):
1. Water-Supply in Egypt and Palestine:
In Egypt there is little or no rainfall, the water for vegetation being supplied in great abundance by the river Nile; but in Syria and Palestine there are no large rivers, and the people have to depend entirely on the fall of rain for water for themselves, their animals and their fields. The children of Israel when in Egypt were promised by Yahweh a land which "drinketh water of the rain of heaven" (De 11:11). Springs and fountains are found in most of the valleys, but the flow of the springs depends directly on the fall of rain or snow in the mountains.
2. Importance of Rain in Season:
Rain
There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the “latter rain” (Prov. 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, “the rains.” The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Gen. 7:12; Ezra 10:9; Cant. 2:11. The “early” or “former” rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:23; comp.
In the Bible "early rain" signifies the rain of the autumn, (11:14) and "latter rain" the rain of spring. (Proverbs 16:1,5) For six months in the year, from May to October, no rain falls, the whole land becomes dry, parched and brown. The autumnal rains are eagerly looked for, to prepare the earth for the reception of the seed. These, the early rains, commence about the latter end of October continuing through November and December. January and February are the coldest months, and snow falls, sometimes to the depth of a foot or more, at Jerusalem, but it does not lie long; it is very seldom seen along the coast and in the low plains. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March it is very rare in April. Robinson observes that there are not, at the present day, "any particular periods of rain or succession of showers…
In Scripture the "early" and the "latter" rain of Palestine is spoken of, De 11:14 Ho 6:3. The former falls in the latter part of October, the seed-time of Palestine; and the weather then continues variable, with more or less rain the whole winter, until after the latter or spring rain in April. Afterwards, the weather becomes serene, and the crops ripen. The wheat harvest takes place in May; by the middle of August, the fruits are gathered in; and from that time to the coming of the first or October rains, prevail the scorching heats and droughts of summer. Nothing can more expressively represent spiritual blessings than copious showers of rain after this trying season is past, De 32:2