Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 33:2

Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.

2. 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.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

My 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. This is properly the commencement of his argument, for all that he had before said was merely an introduction. The word palate – in my palate ( b^echekiy) is used here because of the importance of that organ in the act of speaking. Perhaps also, there may be reference to the fact that the Hebrews made much more use of the lower organs of enunciation – the palate, and the throat, than we do, and much less use of the teeth and lips. Hence, their language was strongly guttural.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Now 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.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

2. mouthrather, “palate,”whereby the taste discerns. Every man speaks with his mouth,but few, as Elihu, try their words with discriminationfirst, and only say what is really good (Job 6:30;Job 12:11).

hath spokenrather,”proceeds to speak.”

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Behold, 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 lips, that he might speak and be refreshed, he desires Job to listen to him, and offers same things to his consideration to induce him to it:

my tongue hath spoken in my mouth: but does not every man’s tongue speak in his mouth when he speaks? is there anything singular and peculiar in this, that can excite attention? it may be rendered, “in my palate” d; which, as it is an instrument of speech, so of tasting and trying food, see Job 6:30; and Elihu’s sense is, that he had thoroughly considered what he should say, he had well weighed what he should speak, and should not deliver anything raw, crude, and undigested; he had palated his words, in order to discern whether there was anything in them perverse or not.

d “in palato meo”, Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Beza, Schultens; so Mr. Broughton.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Fourth section First of all the interlocutors to address Job by name, Elihu invites him to consider that he himself, like Job, is a creature of God; and as Job has so often challenged Deity to justify his ways, and at the same time made professions of fear lest he be overwhelmed by the majesty of God, he may now think himself safe in listening to the speaker as the human deputy of God: and of Job cannot answer the forthcoming discourses of instruction and reproof, he may conclude how foolish his challenge and arraignment of God have been, Job 33:1-7.

2. In my mouth Or palate. He has carefully proved the words he is about to utter, by tasting them. The Hebrew word palate stood for a discerning faculty, in a sense similar to that of our own word taste. (See Job 6:30.) “These circumstantial statements solemnly inaugurate what follows” Delitzsch. “The moment when Elihu begins to speak is an event. The natal hour of a truth is weightier than that of a world-renowned hero.” Hengstenberg.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments