Job 12:11
New International Version
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food?

New Living Translation
The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.

English Standard Version
Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

Berean Standard Bible
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?

King James Bible
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

New King James Version
Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?

New American Standard Bible
“Does the ear not put words to the test, As the palate tastes its food?

NASB 1995
“Does not the ear test words, As the palate tastes its food?

NASB 1977
“Does not the ear test words, As the palate tastes its food?

Legacy Standard Bible
Does not the ear test words, As the palate tastes its food?

Amplified Bible
“Does the ear not put words to the test, Just as the palate tastes its food [distinguishing between the desirable and the undesirable]?

Christian Standard Bible
Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Doesn’t the ear test words as the palate tastes food?

American Standard Version
Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?

Contemporary English Version
We hear with our ears, taste with our tongues,

English Revised Version
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Doesn't the ear distinguish sounds and the tongue taste food?

Good News Translation
But just as your tongue enjoys tasting food, your ears enjoy hearing words.

International Standard Version
The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food."

Majority Standard Bible
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?

NET Bible
Does not the ear test words, as the tongue tastes food?

New Heart English Bible
Doesn't the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?

Webster's Bible Translation
Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste its food?

World English Bible
Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Does the ear not try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

Young's Literal Translation
Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

Smith's Literal Translation
Shall not the ear try words? and the palate shall taste food to it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Doth not the ear discern words, and the palate of him that eateth, the taste?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Does not the ear perceive words, and the palate, when eating, perceive flavor?

New American Bible
Does not the ear judge words as the mouth tastes food?

New Revised Standard Version
Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The ear hears the words, and the palate tastes food.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The ear hears words and the palate tastes food
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the ear tries words, and the palate tastes meats.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Responds to Zophar
10The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. 11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food? 12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.…

Cross References
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.

Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:21
but test all things. Hold fast to what is good.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Psalm 119:66
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.

Proverbs 14:15
The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.

1 Corinthians 2:14-15
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. / The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.

Philippians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Isaiah 7:15
By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.

Proverbs 15:14
A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

John 7:24
Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.


Treasury of Scripture

Does not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

Doth

Job 34:3
For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

1 Corinthians 10:15
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

Philippians 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

mouth.

Job 6:30
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

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Ear Food Itself Meat Mouth Palate Taste Tasted Tastes Tasteth Test Tested Tongue Try Words
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Job 12
1. Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him
7. He acknowledges the doctrine of God's omnipotence














Does not the ear
The phrase "Does not the ear" invites us to consider the function of the ear beyond its physical capacity. In Hebrew, the word for ear is "אָזֶן" (ozen), which is often associated with understanding and discernment. The ear is not merely a sensory organ but a symbol of wisdom and the ability to discern truth from falsehood. In the ancient Near Eastern context, listening was a revered skill, essential for leaders and judges. This phrase challenges us to use our spiritual ears to discern God's truth in a world filled with noise.

test words
The Hebrew root for "test" is "בָּחַן" (bachan), meaning to examine or scrutinize. This implies a process of careful evaluation, much like a goldsmith tests the purity of metal. In the biblical context, words are powerful and can either build up or destroy. The act of testing words suggests a deliberate and thoughtful approach to what we hear, ensuring that it aligns with God's truth. This is a call to Christians to be vigilant and discerning, testing all teachings against the Word of God.

as the tongue tastes its food
The comparison of the ear testing words to the tongue tasting food is a vivid metaphor. The Hebrew word for "taste" is "טָעַם" (ta'am), which conveys the idea of perceiving or discerning. Just as the tongue instinctively knows what is nourishing and what is harmful, so should our spiritual discernment be sharp and instinctive. In the ancient world, food was not only sustenance but also a symbol of fellowship and covenant. This metaphor encourages believers to cultivate a palate for truth, savoring the richness of God's Word and rejecting what is false or harmful.

(11) Doth not the ear try words?--Bildad had appealed to the wisdom of authority and tradition, but Job reminds him that it is given to the wise man not to accept everything he has received, but to discriminate. He allows that wisdom is the prerogative of age, but reminds him that the Ancient of Days must needs be wise indeed.

Verse 11. - Doth not the ear try words? and the month taste his meat? rather, as the palate tasteth its meat? (see the Revised Version). In other words, "Is it not as much the business of the ear to discriminate between wise and unwise words, as of the palate to determine between pleasant and unpleasant tastes?" The bearing of the verse on the general argument is not clear.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Does not
הֲלֹא־ (hă·lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

the ear
אֹ֭זֶן (’ō·zen)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

test
תִּבְחָ֑ן (tiḇ·ḥān)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 974: To test, to investigate

words
מִלִּ֣ין (mil·lîn)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4405: A word, a discourse, a topic

as the tongue
וְ֝חֵ֗ךְ (wə·ḥêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2441: Palate, roof of the mouth, gums

tastes
יִטְעַם־ (yiṭ·‘am-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2938: To taste, to perceive

its
לֽוֹ׃ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

food?
אֹ֣כֶל (’ō·ḵel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 400: Food


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OT Poetry: Job 12:11 Doesn't the ear try words even as (Jb)
Job 12:10
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