Job 29:9

Job 29:9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.

Ver. 9. The princes refrained talking] Not only as acknowledging his authority, but as admiring his great eloquence, and hanging upon his lips, as the babe doth upon the breast, the bee upon the flower, or the little bird upon her dam’s bill.

And laid their hand on their mouth] Kissing their hands and adoring me ( adorare est applicare manum ad os), or rather, as stopping their mouths, being ashamed to speak in his presence, whom they knew to be far beyond them in wisdom and elocution. Now of this honour done Job by all sorts of people, Brentius hath this note, Parum est ingentes camelos possidere, &c. It is a small matter, that Job had many camels and flocks of sheep; this was a greater blessing of God upon him, that he was honoured and observed by all sorts. This followeth virtue (as the shadow doth the body) at the heels. To do worthily in Ephrata, is the way to be famous in Bethlehem, Rth 4:11.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Acknowledging my wisdom.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(Job 4:2; see on Job 21:5).

Refrained talking--stopped in the middle of their speech.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 9. The princes refrained talking] They never ventured an opinion in opposition to mine; so fully were they persuaded of the justice and integrity of my decision.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(9) The princes retrained talking.—Comp. Isa_52:15.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

9, 10. The meaning seems to be that Job’s arrival put a stop to speech and discussion already going on, which was not resumed until he should be heard.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The princes refrained talking,.... Who were in court before Job came in, and were either talking with one another about indifferent matters, or were giving their opinion in a case before them; but no sooner did Job make his appearance, but they left off talking, and would not proceed any further; they laid a restraint upon their words, and curbed themselves from speaking any more till they had heard his opinion:

and laid their hand on their mouth; as a token of silence, Jdg 18:19.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The princes refrained talking - As a mark of respect, or in awe of his presence.

And laid their hand on their mouth - To lay the finger or the hand on the mouth is every where an action expressive of silence or respect; Notes, Job 21:5. “In one of the subterranean vaults of Egypt, where the mummies lie buried, they found in the coffin an embalmed body of a woman, before which was placed a figure of wood, representing a youth on his knees, laying a finger on his mouth, and holding in his other hand a sort of chafing dish, which was placed on his head, and in which, without doubt, had been some perfumes.” Maillet.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Refrained talking; either fearing that I should discern their weakness by their words; or desiring to hear my words and sentence, which they readily approved of, and fully assented to. Such an opinion had they of my wisdom, and did not think me such a foolish, erroneous, and impertinent person as you fancy or represent me to be.

Laid their hand on their mouth, in token both of their wonder at Job’s wise speeches and sentences, and of their resolution to be silent. See Job 21:5; Pro 30:32.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

9. Hand on their mouth — Plutarch; speaking of a similar gesture, calls it a symbol of profound silence. See note, Job_21:5.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The princes used to refrain from talking when I came

This was a sign of respect. (See: Symbolic Action)

they would lay their hand on their mouths

They did this to show that they would not speak. This was a sign of their respect for Job. (See: Symbolic Action)

The voices of the noblemen were hushed

This can be stated in active form. AT: "The noblemen hushed their voices" or "The noblemen stopped speaking" (See: Active or Passive)

their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths

This represents them having so much respect for Job that they had nothing to say. AT: "they felt that they were unable to speak" or "they had nothing to say" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

prince

voice

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

Princes refrained from talking and would wait until I started the conversation.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.