Job 12
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Youth should remember their Creator, Ecc 12:1. A description of old age and its infirmities, with the causes of death and dissolution, Ecc 12:2-9. How the Preacher taught the people knowledge, Ecc 12:9-11. General directions, and conclusion of the work, Ecc 12:12-14.
Open source ↗JOB'S REPLY TO ZOPHAR (Job 12:1-14:22) wisdom shall die with you--Ironical, as if all the wisdom in the world was concentrated in them and would expire when they expired. Wisdom makes "a people:" a foolish nation is "not a people" (Rom 10:19).
Open source ↗And Job answered and said. In reply to Zophar, and in defence of himself; what is recorded in this and the two following chapters. And Job answered and said. In reply to Zophar, and in defence of himself; what is recorded in this and the two following chapters. Job 12:2 job 12:2 job 12:2 job 12:2No doubt but ye are the people,.... Which is said not seriously, meaning that they were but of the common people, that are generally ignorant, and have but little knowledge, at least of things sublime, especially in matters of religion; wherefore, though they took upon them to be his teachers and dictators to him, and censors of him, they were not above the rank, but in the class of people of low and mean understandings; see Joh 7:49; this sense indeed agrees with what is after said, "who knoweth not such things as these?" but since Job compares himself with them, and asserts he is not inferior to them, it supposes them to have a degree of knowledge and understanding of things somewhat above the common people; wherefore these words are to be taken ironically, exposing their vanity and self-conceit: "ye are the people"; the only, and all the people in the world of importance and consequence for good sense and wisdom; the only wise and knowing folk, the men of reason and understanding; all the rest are but fools and asses, or like the wild ass's colt, as Zophar had said, and which Job took as pointing to him; so the word in the Arabic language (c) signifies the more excellent and better sort of people; or, ye are the only people of God, his covenant people, his servants; that are made acquainted with the secrets of wisdom, as none else are: and wisdom shall die with you; you have all the wisdom of the world, and when you die it will be all gone; there will be none left in the worl…
Open source ↗1 The Job began, and said: 2 Truly then ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you! 3 I also have a heart as well as you; I do not stand behind you; And to whom should not such things be known? The admission, which is strengthened by כּי אמנם, truly then (distinct from אמנם כּי, for truly, Job 36:4, similar to כּי הנּה, behold indeed, Psa 128:4), is intended as irony: ye are not merely single individuals, but the people = race of men (עם, as Isa 40:7; Isa 42:5), so that all human understanding is confined to you, and there is none other to be found; and when once you die, it will seem to have died out. The lxx correctly renders: μὴ ὑμεῖς ἐστὲ ἄνθρωποι μόνοι (according to the reading of the Cod. Alex.); he also has a heart like them, he is therefore not empty, נבוב, Job 11:12. Heart is, like Job 34:10, comp. נלבב, Job 11:12, equivalent to νοῦς διάνοια; Ewald's translation, "I also have a head even as you" ("brains" would better accord with the connection), is a western form of expression, and modern and unbiblical (vid., Division "Herz und Haupt," Psychol. iv. 12). He is not second to them; מן נפל, like Job 13:2, properly to slip from, to be below any one; מן is not the comparative (Ewald). Oetinger's translation is not bad: I cannot slink away at your presence. Who has not a knowledge of such things as those which they, by setting themselves up as defenders of God, have presented to him! אתּי היה is equivalent to ידעתּי, σύνοιδα, Isa 59:12.
Open source ↗The reproofs Job here gives to his friends, whether they were just or no, were very sharp, and may serve for a rebuke to all that are proud and scornful, and an exposure of their folly. I. He upbraids them with their conceitedness of themselves, and the good opinion they seemed to have of their own wisdom in comparison with him, than which nothing is more weak and unbecoming, nor better deserves to be ridiculed, as it is here. 1. He represents them as claiming the monopoly of wisdom, Job 12:2. He speaks ironically: "No doubt you are the people; you think yourselves fit to dictate and give law to all mankind, and your own judgment to be the standard by which every man's opinion must be measured and tried, as if nobody could discern between truth and falsehood, good and evil, but you only; and therefore every top-sail must lower to you, and, right or wrong, we must all say as you say, and you three must be the people, the majority, to have the casting vote." Note, It is a very foolish and sinful thing for any to think themselves wiser than all mankind besides, or to speak and act confidently and imperiously, as if they thought so. Nay, he goes further: "You not only think there are none, but that there will be none, as wise as you, and therefore that wisdom must die with you, that all the world must be fools when you are gone, and in the dark when your sun has set." Note, It is folly for us to think that there will be any great irreparable loss of us when we are gone, or that we can be ill spared, since God has the residue of the Spirit, and can raise up others, more fit than we are, to do his work. When wise men and good men die it is a comfort to think that wisdom and goodness shall not die with them. Some think Job here reflects upon Zophar's comparing him (as he thoug…
Open source ↗12:1–14:22 In his longest speech thus far, Job addresses not only Zophar’s remarks but the entire first round of speeches.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗אׇמְנָם (ʼomnâm, H551) — verily עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗גַּם (gam, H1571) — properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as… לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… כְּמוֹ (kᵉmôw, H3644) — a form of the prefix 'k-', but used separately as, thus, so
Open source ↗שְׂחוֹק (sᵉchôwq, H7814) — laughter (in merriment or defiance) רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… אֱלוֹהַּ (ʼĕlôwahh, H433) — a deity or the Deity עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… צַדִּיק (tsaddîyq, H6662) — just תָּמִים (tâmîym, H8549) — entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth
Open source ↗כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… מָעַד (mâʻad, H4571) — to waver רֶגֶל (regel, H7272) — a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda לַפִּיד (lappîyd, H3940) — a flambeau, lamp or flame בּוּז (bûwz, H937) — disrespect עַשְׁתּוּת (ʻashtûwth, H6248) — cogitation שַׁאֲנָן (shaʼănân, H7600) — secure; in a bad sense, haughty
Open source ↗אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) שָׁדַד (shâdad, H7703) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by… שָׁלָה (shâlâh, H7951) — to be tranquil, i.e. secure or successful רָגַז (râgaz, H7264) — to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear) אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) בַּטֻּחוֹת (baṭṭuchôwth, H987) — security יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), אֱלוֹהַּ (ʼĕlôwahh, H433) — a deity or the Deity בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗אוּלָם (ʼûwlâm, H199) — however or on the contrary שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to…
Open source ↗שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7878) — to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָרָה (yârâh, H3384) — properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an… דָּג (dâg, H1709) — a fish (often used collectively) יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… סָפַר (çâphar, H5608) — properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe,…
Open source ↗יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the…
Open source ↗אֹזֶן (ʼôzen, H241) — broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) בָּחַן (bâchan, H974) — to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate מִלָּה (millâh, H4405) — a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic חֵךְ (chêk, H2441) — properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of… טָעַם (ṭâʻam, H2938) — to taste; figuratively, to perceive אֹכֶל (ʼôkel, H400) — food
Open source ↗יָשִׁישׁ (yâshîysh, H3453) — an old man חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) אֹרֶךְ (ʼôrek, H753) — length יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… תָּבוּן (tâbûwn, H8394) — intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
Open source ↗חׇכְמָה (chokmâh, H2451) — wisdom (in a good sense) גְּבוּרָה (gᵉbûwrâh, H1369) — force (literally or figuratively); by implication, valor, victory עֵצָה (ʻêtsâh, H6098) — advice; by implication, plan; also prudence תָּבוּן (tâbûwn, H8394) — intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
Open source ↗הָרַס (hâraç, H2040) — to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) סָגַר (çâgar, H5462) — to shut up; figuratively, to surrender אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… פָּתַח (pâthach, H6605) — to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
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