Job 32:20

20 Let me speak {that I may find relief}; let me open my lips, and let me answer.

Job 32:20 Meaning and Commentary

Job 32:20

I will speak, that I may be refreshed
That his mind might be made easy; the matter it was full of lay with much weight upon it, pressed him hard, and gave him pain; and therefore he determines to speak his mind, and disburden himself: so a minister of the word speaks sometimes to the refreshment of others, the Gospel being a word in season to weary souls, bread to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, even wine to them that are of an heavy heart; and especially it is refreshing when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart through it, and the presence of God is enjoyed under it; and sometimes he speaks to the refreshment of himself with others, ( Romans 15:32 ) ; and whether it be so, one or the other, yet a faithful minister eases his mind, discharges his conscience, and is clear from the blood of all, when he truly and fully declares the whole counsel of God, so far as he is acquainted with it:

I will open my lips and answer;
speak freely and boldly what was upon his mind, and he had to say, and which he judged would be a sufficient answer to Job; the opening of his lips is a phrase used by him in allusion to the opening of a bottle, full of new wine, the metaphor before expressed by him.

Job 32:20 In-Context

18 for I am full of words; {the spirit within me} urges me.
19 "Look, my internal organs [are] like unopened wine, like new wineskins it is [ready] to burst open.
20 Let me speak {that I may find relief}; let me open my lips, and let me answer.
21 {Please let me not show partiality to anyone}, and let me not show flattery to human beings,
22 for I do not know [how] {to flatter}, [else] my Maker would {soon} put an end to me.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "and let it find relief for me"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.