Job 12:13-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:16

With him is strength and wisdom ; rather (as in the Revised Version), with him is strength and effectual working. God has not only the wisdom to design the course of events ( Job 12:13 ), but the power and ability to carry out all that he designs. The deceived and the deceiver are his . Not only does God rule the course of external nature, but also the doings of men. "Shall there be evil in a city, and shall not he have done it?" ( Amos 3:6 ) He allows some to deceive, and others to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:16-22

Instances of the overruling wisdom of God. I. THE DECEIVER AND THE DECEIVED ARE HIS . ( Job 12:16 .) He can cause the spirit of the faithless prophet to be a lying spirit ( 1 Kings 22:1-53 .), to be deceived in his oracles, and incur destruction ( Ezekiel 14:9 ). II. So THE JUDGES ARE MADE FOOLS . ( Job 12:17 .) In short, God hath made from time to time the wisdom of this world foolishness ( 1 Corinthians 1:1-31 .), that no flesh might glory in his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:17

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled . The wise of the earth cannot resist or escape him; he frustrates their designs and overthrows them, and, as it were, leads them away captive. And maketh the judges fools; rather, and judges maketh he fools . There is no article, and no particular judges are referred to (comp. Isaiah 44:25 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:18

He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle . This may either mean that God at his pleasure both looses kings from captivity, and also binds them with a cord and causes them to be carried away captive; or that he looses the authority which kings have over their subjects, and then lets them be carried away captive by their enemies. The latter is perhaps the more probable sense. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:19

He leadeth princes away spoiled ; rather, priests ( כהנים ), as in the Revised Version. This is the only mention of "priests" in the Book of Job, and a priest-caste, such as that of Egypt or of Israel, can scarcely be meant. The priests are placed among the mighty, on a par with kings (verse 18), princes (verse 21), and "the strong" (verse 21). This context makes us naturally think of those priest-kings whom we hear of in the olden times, such as were Melchizedek ( Genesis 19:18-20 )... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:20

He removeth away the speech of the trusty . God deprives trusted statesmen of their eloquence, destroys their reputation and their authority. And taketh away the understanding of the aged . He turns wise and aged men into fools and drivellers, weakening their judgments and reducing them to imbecility. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:21

He poureth contempt upon princes ; literally, upon the munificent. But the word has often the more generic sense of "princes," "great men" (see 1 Samuel 2:8 ; Proverbs 25:7 , etc.). And weakeneth the strength of the mighty ; literally, looseth the belt of the strong. But our version sufficiently expresses the meaning. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:22

He discovereth deep things out of darkness . By "deep things" are probably meant the "deeply laid schemes" which wicked men concoct in darkness (or secrecy). These God often "discovers," or causes to be laid bare. English history can point to such a case in the discovery of the famous "Gunpowder Plot" in the second year of King James I. And bringeth out to light the shadow of death . There is nothing secret which God cannot, if he choose, reveal; nor is there anything hid which he cannot... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:22

Deep things out of darkness. I. HOW GOD DISCOVERS DEEP THINGS OUT OF DARKNESS . He has means of knowledge which are sealed to us, a key which unlocks the most secret chamber, an eye that can see down to the most hidden depths. He sees the skeleton in the cupboard. The mask of the hypocrite can never deceive him. 1 . God sees inwardly. Man looks on the outward countenance, God on the heart ( 1 Samuel 16:7 ). His indwelling Spirit sees as far as it influences, and it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:13

With him is wisdom - Margin, correctly, “God.” However much wisdom there may seem to be with aged men, yes the true wisdom - that which was supreme and worthy of the name - was to be found in God alone. The object of Job was to lead the thoughts up to God, and to bring his friends to a contemplation of the wisdom which he manifests in his works. Accordingly he goes on in the remainder of this chapter to state some of the illustrations of wisdom and power which God had exhibited, and... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:16-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:13

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