Job 27:4

Authorized King James Version

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My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

Original Language Analysis

אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 1 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תְּדַבֵּ֣רְנָה shall not speak H1696
תְּדַבֵּ֣רְנָה shall not speak
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 2 of 8
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
שְׂפָתַ֣י My lips H8193
שְׂפָתַ֣י My lips
Strong's: H8193
Word #: 3 of 8
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
עַוְלָ֑ה wickedness H5766
עַוְלָ֑ה wickedness
Strong's: H5766
Word #: 4 of 8
(moral) evil
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנִ֗י nor my tongue H3956
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנִ֗י nor my tongue
Strong's: H3956
Word #: 5 of 8
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 6 of 8
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יֶהְגֶּ֥ה utter H1897
יֶהְגֶּ֥ה utter
Strong's: H1897
Word #: 7 of 8
to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder
רְמִיָּֽה׃ deceit H7423
רְמִיָּֽה׃ deceit
Strong's: H7423
Word #: 8 of 8
remissness, treachery

Analysis & Commentary

My lips shall not speak wickedness (אִם־תְּדַבֵּרְנָה שְׂפָתַי עָוְלָה)—the Hebrew avlah (עַוְלָה) denotes injustice, unrighteousness, or moral perversity. Job vows his mouth will not compromise truth. Nor my tongue utter deceit (וּלְשׁוֹנִי אִם־יֶהְגֶּה רְמִיָּה)—remiyyah (רְמִיָּה) means deceit, treachery, or falsehood. The parallel structure emphasizes comprehensive verbal integrity: neither substantive wickedness nor tactical deception.

This oath directly challenges his friends' implicit demand that Job confess unknown sins to satisfy their retribution theology. Job refuses false confession—he will not slander God by attributing imaginary guilt to himself, nor will he abandon truth-telling to gain social peace. This anticipates Jesus's absolute truthfulness even unto death, and James's warning that the tongue is a fire set on hell's course (James 3:6). Verbal integrity reflects spiritual reality.

Historical Context

In Ancient Near Eastern oath-taking, invoking divine witness to one's truthfulness carried ultimate seriousness. Job's vow occurs after three dialogue cycles where his friends have pressured him to admit wrongdoing. His refusal to speak falsehood, even to end suffering and social alienation, demonstrates that truth-telling is non-negotiable for the righteous.

Questions for Reflection