Job 20:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The wicked man clings to his sin, refusing to let it go, keeping it in his mouth.
What Does Job 20:13 Mean?
Continuing the picture of sin as a cherished morsel, Zophar shows the man unwilling to part with it. He “spares” it, refuses to give it up, and keeps it lingering in his mouth. The wrongdoing is no passing slip; it is held onto, nursed, and protected.
Here is the difference between stumbling into sin and harboring it. To keep evil “still within the mouth” is to refuse repentance, to guard the very thing that is poisoning us. Scripture pleads with us instead to forsake our sin and find mercy. The tragedy Zophar describes is not merely that the man sinned, but that he would not let it go when he could have.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 20:13
What does Job 20:13 mean?
The wicked man clings to his sin, refusing to let it go, keeping it in his mouth.