My foot hath held his steps Either the steps or ways in which God himself walks; the paths of justice, mercy, and holiness, wherein Job had made it his care to walk with, or after God, as the phrase is, Genesis 5:24; or, which is the same thing, the steps or paths which God hath appointed men to walk in. These, Job says, his foot had held, that is, he had made a free and fixed choice of them; had taken fast hold of them; had been strongly and firmly resolved and settled to walk in them. Neither have I gone back Turned aside to any crooked or sinful path, or course of life. I have esteemed the word of his mouth Hebrew, צפנתי, tzaphanti; abscondi, reposui, I have hid, or laid it up, as men do their best treasures, or what they most love and value. The expression signifies a high esteem for it, a hearty affection to it, and a diligent care to preserve it. More than my necessary food Or, my appointed, or daily portion; that food or provision which is necessary for the support of my life, (as the same word is used Genesis 47:22.; Proverbs 30:8; and Proverbs 31:15,) and which is more prized and desired than all the riches of the world. There is, however, nothing in the Hebrew for the word food, which our translators have supplied, the term חקי, chokki, meaning simply statutum, vel, præscriptum mihi, what is appointed or prescribed to me. Chappelow, therefore, renders the whole verse thus: “As to the commandment of his lips, I have made no digression: according to what is prescribed me, I have kept the words of his mouth.”
Related Commentaries of Job 23:11
Job 23:11-12
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemedb the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.