Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 31:27

27. And my heart hath been secretly enticed , or my mouth hath kissed my hand :

In my inward thoughts or affections, whilest I made open profession of my adherence to God and to the true religion.

Or, seduced or deceivea, by its plausible and glorious appearance, which might easily cheat a credulous and inconsiderate person to believe that there was something of a Divinity in them, and so induce him to worship it. This emphatical expression seems to be used with design to teach the World this necessary and useful truth▪ that no mistake or errour of mind would excuse the practice of Idolatry.

Heb. and, which seems more proper here, because the secret errour of the Mind, without some such visible action and evidence as here follows, had not been punishable by the Judges.

In token of Worship, whereof this was a sign, whether given to men, as Gen. 41. 40. Psalm 2. 12. or to Idols, 1 Kings 19. 18. Hos. 13. 2. And when the Idols were out of the reach of Idolaters that they could not kiss them, they used to kiss their hands, and, as it were, to throw kisses at them; of which we have many examples in Heathen Writers: Of which see my Latine Synopsis on this place.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] hand [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1 word] ▪