Job 29:9

9 Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth;

Job 29:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 29:9

The princes refrained talking
Who were in court before Job came in, and were either talking with one another about indifferent matters, or were giving their opinion in a case before them; but no sooner did Job make his appearance, but they left off talking, and would not proceed any further; they laid a restraint upon their words, and curbed themselves from speaking any more till they had heard his opinion:

and laid [their] hand on their mouth;
as a token of silence, ( Judges 18:19 ) .

Job 29:9 In-Context

7 When I went out to the gate by the city, when I prepared my seat on the broadway,

8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged arose [and] stood up;

9 Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.

11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me, and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me;