Job 12:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:21

He poureth contempt upon princes - He has power to hurl them from their thrones, and to overwhelm them with disgrace.And weakeneth the strength of the mighty - Margin, as in Hebrew “looseth the girdle of the strong.” The Orientals wore loose flowing robes, which were secured by a girdle around the loins. When they labored, ran, or traveled, their robes were girded up. But this is common everywhere. Wrestlers, leapers, and runners, put a girdle around them, and are able thus to accomplish much... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 12:21-22

Job 12:21-22. He poureth contempt upon princes That is, he makes them contemptible to their subjects and others; and weakeneth the strength of the mighty The word מזיח , meziach, here rendered strength, occurs also Psalms 109:19, where it is translated girdle. The clause might here have been rendered, He looseth the girdle of the mighty, a phrase which signifies weakness, Isaiah 5:27; as the girding of the girdle denotes strength and power, Isaiah 22:21; Isaiah 45:5. Both these... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 12:1-25

Job’s reply to Zophar (12:1-14:22)The reply from Job opens with a sarcastic comment on the supposed wisdom of the three friends. They have merely been repeating general truths that everybody knows (12:1-3). They do not have the troubles Job has, and they make no attempt to understand how Job feels. A good person suffers while wicked people live in peace and security (4-6).Job does not argue with the fact that all life is in God’s hands. What worries him is the interpretation of that fact... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 12:21

weakeneth = looseneth. strength = girdle. Occurs only here and Psalms 109:19 and Isaiah 23:10 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 12:21

Job 12:21. And weakeneth the strength of the mighty— The girdle being an ornament, the loosing it implies disgrace. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 12:21

21. :- quotes, in its first clause, this verse and, in its second, Job 12:24. weakeneth the strength—literally, "looseth the girdle"; Orientals wear flowing garments; when active strength is to be put forth, they gird up their garments with a girdle. Hence here—"He destroyeth their power" in the eyes of the people. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 12:1-22

6. Job’s first reply to Zophar chs. 12-14In these chapters Job again rebutted his friends and their view of God. He also challenged God and brooded over death. Half of this section is dialogue with his friends (Job 12:1 to Job 13:19) and half is prayer to God (Job 13:20 to Job 14:22). Job could not agree with his friends’ conclusion, but neither could he explain why God was dealing with him as He was. He could only conclude that God was not just. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:1-25

Job’s Third Speech (Job 12-14)The friends have said God is wise and mighty. Job replies, ’I know that as well as you. You infer that He is also righteous, but experience shows that His power and wisdom are directed to unrighteous ends.’ But it is with God rather than with them that he wishes to argue, and come what may he will utter all he feels. He challenges God to name his sins, presses man’s hopeless destiny as a reason for God’s pity, longs that God might shelter him out of reach of His... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 12:1-25

Job 12:2 Speaking in Fors Clavigera (lx.) of the need of acquainting ourselves with the opinions of older thinkers, Ruskin satirically observes: 'For though a man of superior sagacity may be pardoned for thinking, with the friends of Job, that Wisdom will die with him, it can only be through neglect of the existing opportunities of general culture that he remains distinctly under the impression that she was born with him'. Job 12:4 'She saw there something that she had not,' says Meredith of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 12:1-25

XII.BEYOND FACT AND FEAR TO GODJob 12:1-25; Job 13:1-28; Job 14:1-22Job SPEAKSZOPHAR excites in Job’s mind great irritation, which must not be set down altogether to the fact that he is the third to speak. In some respects he has made the best attack from the old position, pressing most upon the conscience of Job. He has also used a curt positive tone in setting out the method and principle of Divine government and the judgment he has formed of his friend’s state. Job is accordingly the more... read more

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