Job 29:9

9 the nobles refrained from talking, and laid 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 When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose up and stood;

9 the nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths;

10 the voices of princes were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.

11 When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved;