Job 34:3 Meaning and Explanation
“For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Just as the mouth tastes food to judge it, the ear tests words to discern whether they are good.
What Does Job 34:3 Mean?
Elihu offers a vivid comparison: the ear examines speech the way the palate samples food. He is inviting his hearers to be discerning judges, not passive receivers, weighing his claims as one might savor a meal to know whether it is sound. The image draws on the most ordinary of daily acts to teach the work of careful listening.
There is wisdom here for every reader of God's word. We are not asked to swallow whatever is set before us, but to taste and test, distinguishing the wholesome from the spoiled. Scripture itself commends this: 'taste and see that the LORD is good,' and 'prove all things; hold fast that which is good.' Discernment is not distrust but love for the truth.
Job 34:3 in the Original Language
bachan (בָּחַן), 'trieth' -- to test or examine for genuineness, as metal is assayed by fire.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 34:3
What does Job 34:3 mean?
Just as the mouth tastes food to judge it, the ear tests words to discern whether they are good.