Job 20:14

“[Yet] his meat in his bowels is turned, etc.] Or “his bread” f782, to which sin is compared, being what the sinner lives in, and lives upon; what he strengthens himself in and with, and by which he is nourished unto the day of slaughter, and by means of which he grows and proceeds to more ungodliness, though in the issue he comes into starving and famishing circumstances; for this is bread of deceit, and proves to be ashes and gravel stones; it promises pleasure, profit, liberty, and impunity, but is all the reverse; as meat turns in a man’s stomach when it does not digest in him, or rather his stomach turns against that, and instead of its being pleasant and agreeable to him, it distresses…”

“turned--Hebrew denotes a total change into a disagreeable contrary (Jer 2:21; compare Rev 10:9-10). gall--in which the poison of the asp was thought to lie. It rather is contained in a sack in the mouth. Scripture uses popular language, where no moral truth is thereby endangered.”

“Yet his meat - His food. In his bowels is turned - That is, it is as if he had taken food which was exceedingly pleasant, and had retained it in his mouth as long as possible, that he might enjoy it, but when he swallowed it, it became bitter and offensive; compare Revelation 10:9-10. Sin may be pleasant when it is committed, but its consequences will be bitter. It is the gall of asps - On the meaning of the word here rendered “asps” (פתן pethen), see the notes at Isaiah 11:8. There can be little doubt that the “asp,” or aspic, of antiquity, which was so celebrated, is here intended. The bite was deadly, and was regarded as incurable. The sight became immediately dim after the bite - a…”

“Turned - From sweet to bitter. Gall of asps - Exceeding bitter and pernicious. Gall is most bitter; the gall of serpents is full of poison; and the poison of asps is most dangerous and within a few hours kills without remedy. Job 20:15”

“20:14-16 poisonous venom . . . cobras . . . viper: In the end, the wicked are no longer deadly to others (Matt 3:7; Rom 3:13) but only to themselves (Prov 23:29-35).”

“his meat: Sa2 11:2-5, Sa2 12:10, Sa2 12:11; Psa 32:3, Psa 32:4, Psa 38:1-8, Psa 51:8, Psa 51:9; Pro 1:31; Pro 23:20, Pro 23:21, Pro 23:29-35; Jer 2:19; Mal 2:2 the gall: Job 20:16; Deu 32:24; Rom 3:13 Job 20:15”