Job 20:13 (KJV)

What does Job 20:13 mean?

Job 20:13 describes someone who holds onto something harmful or sinful, refusing to let it go, and instead keeps it close as if savoring it in their mouth. The verse uses the image of a person not discarding but cherishing what should be rejected.

In the story, Zophar is speaking to Job, warning about the fate of the wicked. Zophar paints a picture of a person who clings to wrongdoing, unwilling to give it up, almost like someone enjoying a tasty morsel and not wanting to swallow or spit it out. This verse is part of Zophar’s argument that evil, even if it seems pleasant for a time, will eventually bring trouble.

The Hebrew behind Job 20:13

• "spare" (חָמַל, ḥāmal): This word often means to have pity or to hold back from destroying. Here, it suggests the person is reluctant to get rid of the harmful thing.
• "forsake" (עָזַב, ʿāzav): This word means to leave or abandon. The verse emphasizes that the person refuses to abandon what is wrong.
• "still" (מָנַע, mānaʿ): This word means to withhold or restrain. In this context, it shows the person is keeping the thing inside, not letting it go.
• "within" (תָּוֶךְ, tāvek): This word means "in the middle of" or "inside." The image is of keeping something deep inside the mouth, not letting it out.
• "mouth" (חֵךְ, ḥēk): This word refers to the palate or inside of the mouth, highlighting the idea of savoring or holding onto something pleasurable.

Why Job 20:13 matters

• Job 20:13 makes it clear that the pleasure of wrongdoing can be short-lived, even if someone tries to hold onto it as long as possible.
• The verse helps explain Zophar’s view that wickedness is not just an action but something people can cling to and cherish, which leads to their downfall.
• This image connects to the larger theme in Job 20, where Zophar insists that evil will eventually turn bitter, no matter how much someone tries to enjoy it.