Job 29:9

9 leaders refrained from speaking -they would lay their hands on their mouths;

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 I would go out to the city gate and set up my seat in the open space;

8 when young men saw me they would hide themselves, while the aged arose and stood;

9 leaders refrained from speaking -they would lay their hands on their mouths;

10 the voices of nobles were silenced; their tongues stuck to their palates.

11 Any ear that heard me blessed me, any eye that saw me gave witness to me,