Job 33:2 — Word Study
WLCהִנֵּה־ נָ֭א פָּתַ֣חְתִּי פִ֑י דִּבְּרָ֖ה לְשׁוֹנִ֣י בְחִכִּֽי׃
BSABeholdhinnêh [look, see] I will openpâthach■ [to engrave, carve] my mouthpeh my addressdâbar■ [words, speech] is on the tipchêk [edge, lip] of my tonguelâshôwn [the instrument of speaking, language]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הִנֵּה־ | here! | Particle |
| נָ֭א | please | Particle |
| פָּתַ֣חְתִּי | I open | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| פִ֑י | mouth my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| דִּבְּרָ֖ה | it speaks | Verb, Piel, perfect third person feminine singular |
| לְשׁוֹנִ֣י | tongue my | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| בְחִכִּֽי׃ | on palate my | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue. |
| KJV | Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. |
| ASV | Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth. |
| YLT | Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate. |
| WEB | See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. |
| BBE | See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words. |
Translations agree on the wording of this verse, emphasizing Elihu's readiness to speak.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, indicating Elihu's readiness to communicate.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּתַח
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 33:2
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 — Elihu Begins His Address to Jobgenerated
Job 33:2 marks the beginning of Elihu's speech, where he asserts his intention to speak to Job. Elihu emphasizes the urgency of his message, indicating that he has important insights that Job must consider. This moment sets the stage for a deeper exploration of Job's suffering and God's justice, reflecting the broader themes of the book of Job.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 3:1 | After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. |
| 2 | Psalm 78:2 | I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning, |
| 3 | Matthew 5:2 | and He began to teach them, saying: |
| 4 | Job 31:30 | I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — הִנֵּה, hi.neh-generated
The Hebrew word הִנֵּה (hinneh) serves as a demonstrative particle meaning 'behold' or 'look'. It draws attention to what follows, indicating that what Elihu is about to say is significant. The parsing as a particle suggests it is used to introduce a statement or command, making it a powerful tool in speech.
This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often to emphasize a point or to alert the listener to something important. Its use here indicates Elihu's intent to command Job's attention and prepare him for the words that will follow.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse reads: 'Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.' The KJV and ASV also use 'behold,' maintaining the same emphasis.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb פָּתַ֣חְתִּי (patakhti, 'I open') governs the sentence, with two clauses following: one introducing the speaker's action and the other describing the state of his speech. The structure indicates a clear intention to communicate.
The word order places emphasis on Elihu's readiness to speak, with the imperative הִנֵּה at the beginning drawing immediate attention to his declaration.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates הִנֵּה as ἰδοὺ (idou), which also means 'behold' and serves a similar function in drawing attention. This choice reflects a consistent understanding of the urgency in Elihu's address.
The other words in the verse align closely with their Hebrew counterparts, indicating a faithful rendering of Elihu's intent.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 33:2 shows Elihu, one of Job's friends, preparing to speak. He emphasizes that he is ready to share important words, indicating that what he has to say is significant for Job's understanding of his situation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Elihu is indicating that he is ready to speak and share important insights with Job.
The word 'behold' serves to draw Job's attention to the significance of Elihu's upcoming words.
Elihu's address is crucial as it introduces a new perspective on Job's suffering and God's justice.
This verse establishes Elihu's authority and readiness to speak, signaling that he has important truths to convey.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some important truths I need to express to others, and how can I prepare to share them?
- How can I ensure that I listen attentively when someone is trying to communicate something significant to me?
- In what ways can I apply Elihu's example of speaking with intention and purpose in my own conversations?
- What truths do I need to reflect on in my own life, similar to what Elihu is about to share with Job?
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 33:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBehold, now I have opened my mouth,.... Begun to speak in order to give vent to the fulness of matter within him, which made him, like bottles of new wine, ready to burst; and since he had opened his
Read John Gill on Job 33 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryBehold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. Mouth - rather, palate, whereby the taste discerns.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 33 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleNow I have begun to speak, and intend with thy good leave to proceed in my discourse with thee. In my mouth, Heb. in or with my palate; for both tongue and palate are instruments of speech; and, that a man should speak plainly and distinctly, (which he designed to do,) it is necessary that his tongue should ofttimes touch the palate or roof of the month.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 33 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 33:2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.Ver. 2. Behold, now I have opened my mouth] I have taken upon me to be a speaker, an arbitrator in this controversy, which is usually a thankless office; for he who interposeth in business of this nature, if he had two friends before, is likely enough to lose one of them. I must of necessity blame both parties, however I come off with them. Thy three friends have had their share in the former chapter, and now comes thine, which shall be sound, though sharp, of matters weighty and important, as Psalms 78:2 Habebis sermonem serium, et de re gravi; for so much the Hebrews intend by this expression of opening the…
Read John Trapp on Job 33 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. The somewhat formal and circumstantial way in which he intimates that he is going to speak indicates his feeling of the importance of what he is going to say, and bespeaks Job’s attention.
Read Cambridge on Job 33 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleMy tongue hath spoken in my mouth - Margin, “palate.” The meaning is, that since he had ventured to speak, and had actually commenced, he would utter only that which was worthy to be heard.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 33 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible2. That Job has declared God to be arbitrary and cruel toward men, in making him to be his [Job’s] “jailer and most crafty watcher.” (See note on Job 13:27, which Elihu cites quite literally.) In so
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 33 →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
Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken.
Tyndale line
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Beholde now, I haue opened my mouth: my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
Strictly literal
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my palate,
Lo, I pray thee, I have opened my mouth, My tongue hath spoken in the palate.
Now behold, I have opened my mouth, || My tongue has spoken in the palate.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
From the Latin
Behold now I have opened my mouth, let my tongue speak within my jaws.
Simplified
Look, I'm about to speak; my mouth is ready to talk.
See, now my mouth is open, my tongue gives out words.
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 and the Septuagint largely agree on the wording of this verse, with five out of seven words matching. This suggests a strong consistency in the transmission of this text across traditions.
הִנֵּה־ נָ֭א פָּתַ֣חְתִּי פִ֑י דִּבְּרָ֖ה לְשׁוֹנִ֣י בְחִכִּֽי׃
5 of the 7 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 33:2
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.
הִנֵּה (hinneh) is a Hebrew word meaning 'behold' or 'lo!' It serves as a demonstrative particle used to draw attention, appearing in contexts such as Genesis 19:2. The word is derived from a prolongation of another Hebrew term, but the entries do not provide further details on its usage beyond this.
הִנֵּה, once הִנֶּה־ Gn 19:2, demonstr.part. lo!, behold!
base
H2009 הִנֵּה, הִנֶּה־ lo!, behold!
2009 hinneh hin-nay'
prolongation for 2005; lo!:--behold, lo, see.
see HEBREW for 02005
הִנֵּה (hin.neh) — behold.
behold, lo, see, if
Part — ParticleHTj
her, in composition:
נָא (na') is a Hebrew particle used primarily for entreaty or exhortation, meaning 'I pray,' 'now,' or 'please.' It often appears attached to verbs in the imperative or future forms, and can also modify interjections, adverbs, or conjunctions. The entries consistently emphasize its role in expressing a plea or request.
נָא part. of entreaty or exhortation, I (we) pray, now (enclitic)
base
H4994 נָא I (we) pray, now (enclitic)
4994 na' naw
a primitive particle of incitement and entreaty, which may
usually be rendered: "I pray," "now," or "then"; added mostly
to verbs (in the Imperative or Future), or to interjections,
occasionally to an adverb or conjunction:--I beseech (pray)
thee (you), go to, now, oh.
נָא (na) — please.
1) I (we) pray, now, please
1a) used in entreaty or exhortation
HTj — ParticleHTj
פָּתַח (pathach) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to open' and can refer to various actions such as opening doors, loosening restraints, or engraving. It has different forms, including Qal (to open), Niphal (to be opened), and Piel (to engrave). The entries highlight its literal and figurative uses, but there is some overlap in meaning regarding its applications in opening and engraving.
פָּתַח vb. open
Qal open sack
Niph. be opened
Pi. be opened
free, i.e. ungird, camels
loosen (and remove) sack-cloth
open gates, doors
Hithp. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck
base
[פָּתַח] vb. Pi. engrave
Pu. stones engraved with the engravings of a signet.
base
H6605a פָּתַח open .open sack
. be opened
. be opened . free, i.e. ungird, camels
. loosen (and remove) sack-cloth
. open gates, doors
. loosen thee the fetters of thy neck
H6605b פָּתַח Pi. engrave
6605 pathach paw-thakh'
a primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively);
specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve:--appear, break
forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-)grave(-n), loose (self),
(be, be set) open(-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.
פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to open.
1) to open
1a) (Qal) to open
1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to free
1c2) to loosen
1c3) to open, open oneself
1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself
Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)
פָּתַח (pa.tach) — to engrave.
1) to carve, engrave
1a) (Piel) to engrave
1b) (Pual) to be engraved
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.
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
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.
[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)
Qal speak
Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk
Pi. speak
Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for
Hithp. speaking this word
Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues
base
H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)
1696 dabar daw-bar'
a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used
figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive
sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,
declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,
say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,
use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.
: speak/tell/command
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.
: subdue
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.
: promise/declare
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
V-Piel-Perf-3fs — Verb · Piel · perfect third person feminine singularHVpp3fs
The Hebrew word לָשׁוֹן (*lashon*) primarily means 'tongue,' referring to both the organ of speech in humans and animals. It can also denote 'language' and has figurative uses, such as a 'tongue-shaped' wedge or bay. The entries highlight its literal and metaphorical applications, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
לָשׁוֹן n.m. and (more oft.) f. tongue
tongue of men
= language
tongue of animals
tongue of fire
= (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
= (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
base
H3956 לָשׁוֹן tongue . tongue of men
. = language
. tongue of animals
. tongue of fire
. = (tongue-shaped) wedge of gold
. = (tongue-shaped) bay of sea
3956 lashown law-shone'
or lashon {law-shone'}; also (in plural) feminine lshonah
{lesh-o-naw'}; from 3960; the tongue (of man or animals), used
literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech),
and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of
water):--+ babbler,bay, + evil speaker, language, talker,
tongue, wedge.
see HEBREW for 03960
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue.
: tongue/words
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: language.
: language
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
לָשׁוֹן (la.shon) — tongue: bar.
: bar/projection/bay
1) tongue
1a) tongue (of men)
1a1) tongue (literal)
1a2) tongue (organ of speech)
1b) language
1c) tongue (of animals)
1d) tongue (of fire)
1e) wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/Sp1bs
חֵךְ (chek) refers to the palate or roof of the mouth, encompassing meanings related to taste and the mouth as an organ for speech and kissing. The entries consistently describe it as relating to the mouth and taste, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
חֵךְ n.m. palate, roof of mouth, gums
base
H2441 חֵךְ
2441 chek khake
probably from 2596 in the sense of tasting; properly, the
palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the
organ of speech, taste and kissing):--(roof of the) mouth,
taste.
see HEBREW for 02596
חֵךְ (chekh) — palate.
mouth, palate, taste, gums
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp1bs