Bible Strands
Job 20:12
Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he conceals it under his tongue,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Zophar addresses Job during their debate over the cause of his suffering, speaking in the middle of his argument about the fate of the wicked. The verse falls between two statements describing the physical decay and persistent attachment of the evildoer.
The words — The Hebrew תַּמְתִּיק רָעָה (tam.tik ra‘ah) literally means “evil is sweet,” and יַכְחִידֶנָּה (yakhchideh.nah) translates to “he conceals it.” These terms describe the wicked person’s internal perception of wrongdoing and their deliberate effort to hide it from view.
The thread — The image of malice resting beneath the tongue directly parallels Psalms 10:7, which places trouble and malice under the tongue of the corrupt. The concept of internalizing sin also surfaces in Job 15:16, where the text describes man as drinking injustice like water.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to confront the danger of mistaking concealed wrongdoing for safety. It demands a clear-eyed examination of whether hidden actions are actually resolved or merely postponed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
Cross-references
- Job 15:16 how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
- Psalms 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.
- Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.
- Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
- Psalms 109:17 The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.
- Proverbs 9:17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
- Proverbs 20:17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.