Job 29:11

11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,

Job 29:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
ESV
11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved,
NLT
11 “All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
MSG
11 People who knew me spoke well of me; my reputation went ahead of me.
CSB
11 When they heard me, they blessed me, and when they saw me, they spoke well of me.

Job 29:11 Meaning and Commentary

Job 29:11

When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me
The ear of the common people assembled together to hear causes tried, and how they would go; when they heard Job give his opinion in court, or the definitive sentence passed by him as a judge, they all applauded his wisdom and justice; they highly praised and commended him; in which sense the word "blessed" is used, ( Proverbs 31:28 ) ; or they wished a blessing on him; they prayed for his welfare, as it becomes people to do for those that are in authority, especially wise and faithful magistrates; or they accounted him a blessed man, and called him so, ( Luke 1:48 ) ; as he was, both in a temporal sense, being blessed with a great plenty of earthly things, and also blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, with an abundance of grace, and with a title to eternal glory; as well as he was blessed as a magistrate, with great wisdom, and with great integrity and uprightness in the discharge of his office:

and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
of his gracefulness and gravity, of his honesty and faithfulness, of his good behaviour among his neighbours, and of his wise conduct in the courts of judicature.

Job 29:11 In-Context

9 the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands;
10 the voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me,
12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.
13 The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Job 4:4; Hebrews 11:4
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