Job 29:9

9 The princes refrained from talking, And laid their 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 forth to the city gate, When I prepared my seat in the street,

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, The aged rose up and stood;

9 The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;

10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.

11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it commended me: