Job 12:9-10 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:10

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing . A brief summary of what had been said in Job 12:7 , Job 12:8 , to which is now appended the further statement, that in God's hand—wholly dependent on him—is the entire race of mankind also. And the breath of all mankind ; literally, and the spirit of all flesh of man. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:9

Who knoweth not in all these - Who cannot see in all these the proofs of the same divine and sovereign agency? Who cannot see the hand of the same God and the same great principles of administration? The meaning of Job is, that the position which he defends is so plain, that it may be learned from the very earth and the lowest orders of animals which God has made.That the hand of the Lord hath wrought this - In this place the original word is יהוה yehovâh. On the meaning of the word see the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:10

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing - Margin, “Life.” The margin is the more correct rendering. The idea is, that all are under the control of God. He gives life, and health, and happiness when he pleases, and when he chooses he takes them away. His sovereignty is manifested, says Job, in the inferior creation, or among the beasts of the field, the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of heaven.And the breath of all mankind - Margin, “Flesh of man.” The margin is in accordance with the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 12:9

Job 12:9. Who knoweth not in all these Or, by all these brute creatures; that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this That God, by his power and wisdom, hath created and ordered all that is in them, or that is done by and among them. Job meant in these verses to express his firm opinion that all animate and inanimate nature clearly bore testimony to the creating power and overruling providence of God: see Nehemiah 9:6. This is the only time that we meet with the name Jehovah in all the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 12:10

Job 12:10. In whose hand is the soul That is, the life, or the principle of life; of every living thing That is, of all irrational animals, of which he spake, Job 12:7, opposed to man in the last words of this verse. He means, in whose absolute power it is to give life or to take it away, when and how it seemeth good to him; and the breath of all mankind Or, the spirit, as the word רוח , ruach, here used, commonly means; that is, the immortal soul, which is no less a creature, and... 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 12:9

the hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 12:10

soul = life. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . breath = spirit. Hebrew. ruach. mankind = flesh of man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 12:9

Job 12:9. Who knoweth not, &c.?— Who knoweth not among all these, that it is the hand of Jehovah which hath made them all? From the word Jehovah's being used in this place, some would infer that the book of Job must be at least posterior to the time of Moses, and written by a Jew: a very weak argument! as there seems no doubt that the name Jehovah was well known to Abraham and the patriarchs; nor was it made known to Moses by God, as a new name which he chose for himself, but as a name... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 12:9

9. In all these cases, says Job, the agency must be referred to Jehovah, though they may seem to man to imply imperfection (Job 12:6; Job 9:24). This is the only undisputed passage of the poetical part in which the name "Jehovah" occurs; in the historical parts it occurs frequently. read more