Job 32:19

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 32:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.
Job 32:19 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 32

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Behold, my belly [is] as wine, [which] hath no vent, etc.] Or, “is not opened” f1171, like a bottle of wine, as Ben Gersom, which is stopped close, and the wine in it new; which is most apt to ferment, and should have vent given it; so the Targum, “as new wine, which is not opened:” in the same manner Jarchi and Bar Tzemach interpret it; in these words Elihu illustrates, by a metaphor taken from new wine put into bottles and tightly stopped, what he had before more literally and properly expressed, and so in the following clause: it is ready to burst like new bottles; or perhaps it may be better rendered, “like bottles of new wine” f1172; for new bottles are not so apt to burst as old ones,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“belly--bosom: from which the words of Orientalists in speaking seem to come more than with us; they speak gutturally. "Like (new) wine (in fermentation) without a vent," to work itself off. New wine is kept in new goatskin bottles. This fittingly applies to the young Elihu, as contrasted with the old friends (Mat 9:7).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent - Margin, as in Hebrew, “is not opened” - לאיפתח lo' yipâthach. The repherence is to a bottle, in which there is no opening, or no vent phor the phermenting wine to work itselph ophph. It is usual to leave a small hole in barrels and casks when wine, cider, or beer is phermenting. This is necessary in order to prevent the cask phrom bursting. Elihu compares himselph to a bottle in which new wine bad been put, and where there was no vent phor it, and when in consequence it was ready to burst. That new wine is here intended is apparent phrom the connection, and has been so understood by the ancient versions. So Jerome renders it, Mustum, must, or…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Bottles - Bottles of new wine. Job 32:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“hath no vent: Heb. is not opened new: Mat 9:17 Job 32:20”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification