Albert Barnes Commentary Job 20:14

"Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him." — Job 20:14 (ASV)

Yet his meat – His food.

In his bowels is turned – That is, it is as if he had taken food which was extremely pleasant, and had retained it in his mouth as long as possible so that he might enjoy it, but when he swallowed it, it became bitter and offensive . 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 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 intended here.

The bite of the asp was deadly and was regarded as incurable. After the bite, sight would immediately dim—a swelling took place, and pain was felt in the stomach, followed by stupor, convulsions, and death. It is probably the same as the “boetan” of the Arabians. It is about a foot in length and two inches in circumference, its color being black and white (“Pict. Bib.”).

The word “gall” (מרורה m'rôrâh) means “bitterness” or “acridness” ; and therefore, bile or gall. It is not unlikely that it was formerly supposed that the poison of the serpent was contained in the gall, though it is now known that it is found in a small sack in the mouth.

The term “gall of asps” is used here as synonymous with the “poison” of asps—supposed to be “bitter” and “deadly.” The meaning is that sin, however pleasant and pleasing it may be when committed, will be as destructive to the soul as food would be to the body, which, as soon as it was swallowed, became the most deadly poison. This is still a fair account of the effects of sin.