Texts in Conversation
Job describes his inner compulsion to speak as being like wine ready to burst from a wineskin, an image of words unable to be contained. Sirach uses a similar idiom when warning about speech, urging restraint in revealing secrets.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Job 32:18
Hebrew Bible
16 And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more, 17 I too will answer my part; I too will explain what I know. 18 For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me. 19 Inside I am like wine that has no outlet, like new wineskins ready to burst! 20 I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.
Date: 500–401 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Sirach 19:10
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
8 Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it. Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it. 9 For if he has heard you and observed you, when the time comes, he will hate you. 10 Have you heard something? Let it die with you. Be brave: it will not make you burst! 11 A fool will labor in pain with a word, as a woman in labor with a child. 12 As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh, so is gossip in a fool.
Date: 195–180 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Both collections have similar structure. They start out with a wisdom poem that speaks of the source of wisdom, which is the Lord (Sirach 1:1-10; 24:1-34), and the application of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord (Sirach 1:11–2:17; 25:1-11). Notably, in the introductions to both collections similar language, such as “the depth of the abyss” (Sirach 1:3; 24:5), wisdom as a tree spreading its branches (Sirach 1:20; 24:16), wisdom as coming from the Lord (Sirach 1:1; 24:3), and wisdom being created first by God (Sirach 1:4; 24:9), is employed. In Sirach there are various types of wisdom sayings—for example, on friendship (Sirach 6:5-17; 22:19-27; 37:1-6), wealth and poverty (Sirach 13:15-4; 13:25—14:10; 31:1-11), speech and tongue (Sirach 19:4-17; 20:1-8, 18-26; 23:7-15; 27:11-21; 28:12-26; 32:3-13), death and life (Sirach 14:11-19; 38:16-23; 41:1-4), relationship with women (Sirach 9:1-9), relationship with parents (Sirach 3:1-16), relationship with the needy (Sirach 3:30—4:10), pride and humility (Sirach 3:17-29; 9:12-13; 10:26—11:6), generosity (Sirach 18:15-18), leadership (Sirach 9:1710:18), food (Sirach 30:18-25; 31:12—32:2; 37:27-31), slaves (Sirach 33:24-31), sacrifice and offering (Sirach 34:21—35:13), prayers (Sirach 35:14-20), children (Sirach 30:1-17; 42:9-14), sickness and health (Sirach 38:1-15), character (Sirach 27:4-10; 27:30—28:11), dreams and divination (Sirach 34:1-11), giving (Sirach 29:1-28) and hard work (Sirach 40:28-30). They are placed in the context of the fear of the Lord. This means that these sayings can no longer be treated as traditional teachings but rather must be applied in light of this new context ..."
Tremper Longman and Peter Enns, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings (Inter-Varsity, 2008), 723.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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