Job 27:3

3 But for as long as I draw breath, and for as long as God breathes life into me,

Job 27:3 Meaning and Commentary

Job 27:3

All the while my breath [is] in me
So long the oath of God would be upon him, or he bound himself under it:

and the spirit of God [is] in my nostrils;
which signifies the same thing. The breath of a man is his spirit, and this is of God, the Father of spirits; he first breathed into man the breath of life, and he became a living soul or spirit, ( Genesis 2:7 ) ; it is he that gives life and breath to every man, ( Acts 17:25 ) , and continues it as long as he pleases, which is a very precarious thing; for it is in his nostrils, where it is drawn to and fro and soon and easily stopped; nor will it always continue, it will some time not be, it will go forth, and then man dies, and returns to the earth, ( Ecclesiastes 12:7 ) ; but as long as there is breath there is life; so that to say this is the same as to say, as long as I live, or have a being, ( Psalms 104:33 ) ( 116:2 ) ; and while that continued, Job looked upon himself under the oath he had taken by the living God.

Job 27:3 In-Context

1 Having waited for Zophar, Job now resumed his defense:
2 "God-Alive! He's denied me justice! God Almighty! He's ruined my life!
3 But for as long as I draw breath, and for as long as God breathes life into me,
4 I refuse to say one word that isn't true. I refuse to confess to any charge that's false.
5 There is no way I'll ever agree to your accusations. I'll not deny my integrity even if it costs me my life.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.