Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 34:3
For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
3. Elihu makes his appeal to his hearers for the ear trieth words. His appeal is to the common reason, or to the common reverent and just thoughts of God in men. The “ear” is the inner ear, the understanding, which is a judge of sentiments as much as, or like as, the palate is a judge of meats, ch. Job 12:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For the ear trieth words – Ascertains their meaning, and especially determines what words are worth regarding. The object of this is, to fix the attention on what he was about to say; to get the ear so that every word should make its proper impression. The word ear in this place, however, seems not to be used to denote the external organ, but the whole faculty of hearing. It is by hearing that the meaning of what is said is determined, as it is by the taste that the quality of food is discerned.
As the mouth tasteth meat – Margin, as in Hebrew palate. The meaning is, as the organ of taste determines the nature of the various articles of food. The same figure is used by Job in Job 12:11.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. The ear trieth words] I do not think, with Calmet, that the inward ear, or judgment, is meant simply. The Asiatics valued themselves on the nice and harmonious collection of words, both in speaking and in writing; and perhaps it will be found here that Elihu labours as much for harmonious versification as for pious and weighty sentiments. To connect sense with sound was an object of general pursuit among the Hebrew, Arabic, and Persian poets; and so fond are the latter of euphony, that they often sacrifice both sense and sentiment to it; and some of the Greek poets are not exempt from this fault.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Mans mind judgeth Of things spoken and heard.
The ear, the sense of discipline, is put for the mind, to which things are conveyed by it. See Poole “Job 12:11“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. palate(See on Job12:11; Job 33:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the ear trieth words,…. Not only the musical sound of them, the goodness of the language and diction, and the grammatical construction of them, but the sense of them, and whether the matter of them is good or not; that they are sound speech, which cannot be condemned, or unsound; whether they are right or wrong, agreeably to right reason, sound doctrine, and the word of God; for there are words and words, some the words of men, others the words of God. A sanctified ear tries these; but then men must have such ears to hear, and be attentive to what they hear, and retain it; hear internally as well as externally; and which a man does when his ears are opened by the Lord, from whom are the hearing ear and seeing eye; and such try what they hear, distinguish between good and bad, approve truth and receive it, and retain and hold it fast:
as the mouth tasteth meat; words and doctrines are like meat, some good and some bad; and such that have a good taste try them, either a rational or rather a spiritual discernment: some have no spiritual taste, their taste is not changed, and therefore cannot distinguish, nor make any good judgment of things; but others have, and these discern the difference, relish truth, savour the things that be of God, taste the good word of God, and esteem it more than their necessary food; and it is sweeter to them than the honey or the honeycomb. Such Elihu judged these men to be he addressed, and therefore desired their attention to what he had to say.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. As the mouth tasteth Literally, As the palate tastes in order to eat.
See note on Job 33:2; Job 12:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 34:3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
Ver. 3. For the ear trieth words ] And for that end we have that excellent sense of hearing given us, that we may hear with judgment, and trying all things, hold fast that which is good, 1Th 5:21 , taking heed what we hear, Mar 4:24 , as by the taste we may take heed what we let down; for else a man may easily eat his own bane, drink his poison: so here, for the soul hath her senses also, Phi 1:9 , and these habitually exercised to discern good and evil, Heb 5:14 . Which while carnal people want, they are carried away as they are led, 1Co 12:2 ; plucked away with the error of the wicked, 2Pe 3:17 ; wherried about with every wind of doctrine, Heb 13:9 , &c. See Trapp on “ Job 12:1 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
mouth = palate.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the ear: Job 6:30, Job 12:11, 1Co 2:15, Heb 5:14
mouth: Heb. palate, Job 31:30, Job 33:2, *marg.
Reciprocal: Job 6:6 – taste Job 6:26 – reprove Job 34:10 – understanding Isa 11:3 – understanding 1Co 10:15 – General Phi 1:10 – approve things that are excellent