Job 21:5
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Original Language Analysis
פְּנוּ
Mark
H6437
פְּנוּ
Mark
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
1 of 7
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
וְהָשַׁ֑מּוּ
me and be astonished
H8074
וְהָשַׁ֑מּוּ
me and be astonished
Strong's:
H8074
Word #:
3 of 7
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
וְשִׂ֖ימוּ
and lay
H7760
וְשִׂ֖ימוּ
and lay
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
4 of 7
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
יָ֣ד
your hand
H3027
יָ֣ד
your hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
5 of 7
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
Cross References
Job 29:9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.Job 40:4Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.Judges 18:19And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?Proverbs 30:32If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom emphasized observable patterns—righteous actions produce blessing, wickedness brings curse. Job's argument that observable reality contradicts this pattern constituted a radical challenge. The gesture of covering the mouth appears in contexts of divine revelation overwhelming human understanding (Isaiah 52:15). Job's friends claimed to speak for God, but Job predicts they'll be silenced by facts.
Questions for Reflection
- When has observable reality challenged your theological assumptions? How did you respond?
- What does the gesture of covering the mouth teach about proper humility before mysteries we cannot solve?
- How can we distinguish between legitimate questions that challenge faulty theology versus doubt that undermines faith?
Analysis & Commentary
Mark me, and be astonished (פְּנוּ־אֵלַי וְהָשַׁמּוּ, penu-elay vehashamu)—The verb panah (פָּנָה) means to turn or face, demanding undivided attention. Shamem (שָׁמֵם) conveys horror, devastation, or appalled shock. Job isn't asking for sympathy but for his friends to confront the reality that will shatter their theology.
Lay your hand upon your mouth—This gesture signifies stunned silence (Judges 18:19, Micah 7:16). Job's coming argument about wicked prosperity will be so overwhelming that honest observers must fall silent. The phrase anticipates God's eventual rebuke of the friends (42:7) and foreshadows Job's own response when God speaks from the whirlwind (40:4). Wisdom begins when human explanations cease and we acknowledge mystery beyond our comprehension.