Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
Even though evil may taste sweet in someone's mouth, even though they try to savor it secretly under their tongue,
This verse describes how people can find sin temporarily pleasurable and try to hide their enjoyment of wrongdoing.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, set in ancient times possibly during the patriarchal era, Job is a righteous man who suffers immense trials, and his friend Zophar speaks in Chapter 20 to defend God's justice. Zophar uses poetic language to describe how the wicked might enjoy their sins temporarily, but it ultimately leads to their downfall. This verse employs a metaphor of wickedness tasting sweet, reflecting the cultural understanding in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature that sin deceives like hidden poison.
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