Job 27:3

3 For as long as breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,

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 Also Job added, taking his parable, and said, (And Job added to his parable, and said,)
2 God liveth, that hath taken away my doom, and Almighty God, that hath brought my soul to bitterness. (The Lord God liveth, who hath taken away my justice, and Almighty God, who hath brought my soul to bitterness.)
3 For as long as breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
4 my lips shall not speak wickedness, neither my tongue shall think a leasing (nor shall my tongue tell a lie).
5 Far be it from me, that I deem you just (that I judge you right, or correct); till I fail (life), that is, (for) as long as I live, I shall not go away from mine innocence.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.