Job 31:27
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Job 31:27
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
Chapter Context
Job 31 is a wisdom dialogue chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of grace, salvation, judgment. Written during the patriarchal period (literary composition later), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient wisdom traditions often wrestled with the problem of suffering and divine justice.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-40: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it establishes important theological principles that resonate throughout Scripture. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Job and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Job 31:27
27 And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:
Analysis
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.
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.
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?