Job 31:27
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּ֣פְתְּ
enticed
H6601
וַיִּ֣פְתְּ
enticed
Strong's:
H6601
Word #:
1 of 6
to open, i.e., be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)
בַּסֵּ֣תֶר
hath been secretly
H5643
בַּסֵּ֣תֶר
hath been secretly
Strong's:
H5643
Word #:
2 of 6
a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)
לִבִּ֑י
And my heart
H3820
לִבִּ֑י
And my heart
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
3 of 6
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
וַתִּשַּׁ֖ק
hath kissed
H5401
וַתִּשַּׁ֖ק
hath kissed
Strong's:
H5401
Word #:
4 of 6
to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons
Historical Context
Kissing the hand toward celestial bodies was a common ancient Near Eastern worship practice, found in Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Canaanite religions. Israel's law specifically prohibited this (Deuteronomy 4:19, 17:3). The practice survived into Israel's later history (2 Kings 23:5). Job's denial demonstrates exclusive Yahweh worship in a polytheistic context. His righteousness wasn't merely avoiding external acts but guarding his heart from secret enticement.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Job's concern with secret heart-enticement challenge our focus on external religious performance?
- What modern forms of idolatry secretly entice our hearts away from exclusive devotion to God?
- How do we cultivate the kind of inward purity that Job demonstrates here?
Analysis & Commentary
My heart hath been secretly enticed (וַיִּפְתְּ בַּסֵּתֶר לִבִּי, vayift baseter libi)—the verb patah (פָּתָה) means to be deceived, seduced, or enticed. The phrase baseter (בַּסֵּתֶר, secretly) indicates hidden, inward sin—the heart drawn away from God in ways others couldn't see. My mouth hath kissed my hand describes a gesture of worship toward celestial bodies, blowing a kiss as an act of reverence. The Hebrew nashak leyadi (נָשַׁק לְיָדִי) was an ancient worship practice.
This verse continues verse 26's denial of astral worship. Job affirms that not only did he avoid overt idolatry, but his heart wasn't secretly drawn to worship the sun or moon. This anticipates Jesus's teaching that sin begins in the heart (Matthew 5:28, 15:19). External conformity means nothing if the heart harbors idolatry. From a Reformed perspective, this demonstrates the depth of Job's covenant faithfulness—his worship of Yahweh was exclusive, both publicly and privately. True religion governs the heart, not merely behavior.