Job 12:21

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Job 12:1-25

Job's last reply in this first cycle is to the whole argument, as well as to Zophar's application of it. From beginning to end, it thrills with sarcasm, while it maintains its denial of personal guilt. In the first movement he treated with contempt his friends' interpretation of God, claiming to know more of Him than they did. In this there are two movements, in the first of which (1-6), he dealt with his friends; in the second (7-25), he turned to the subject of the wisdom and power of God... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:1-25

Job 12:1-Lamentations : . Eliphaz had appealed to revelation, Bildad to the wisdom of the ancients, Zophar assumes that he himself is the oracle of God’ s wisdom. Job answers this assumption. Firstly Zophar is not the only wise man in the world, and secondly, as to this wisdom of God, which explains everything, Job has himself studied the ways of God, and whatever wisdom there may be in them there is certainly also the most arbitrary exercise of Divine power.The friends take themselves to be... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:21

He poureth contempt upon princes, i.e. he makes them contemptible to their subjects and others. Weakeneth, Heb. he looseth the girdle; which phrase signifies weakness, as Isaiah 5:27; as the girding of the girdle notes strength and power, as Isaiah 22:21; Isaiah 45:5; both these phrases being taken from the quality of their garments, which being loose and long, did disenable a man for travel or work. read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Job 12:1-25

JOB’S REPLY TO ZOPHARI. Defends himself against the charge of ignorance implied in Zophar’s speech (Job 12:2-3).His defence is:—1. Ironical (Job 12:2). “No doubt but ye are the people; and wisdom shall die with you;” the wisdom of mankind is collected in your person, and when you die wisdom must perish at the same time. Times when it may be proper to use the language of irony and sarcasm. Its proper use to put error and pretension to shame. So Elijah to the worshippers of Baal: “Cry aloud for... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Job 12:1-25

Chapter 12So Job answered him and said, No doubt but you are the people, and wisdom is going to die with you ( Job 12:1-2 ).He's about had it with these guys who think they know all the answers, and they're not really ministering or reaching him at all. Now, it's very frustrating to try to explain yourself to people and have people in a mindset where they are determined they know all the answers about you, and yet they don't understand it at all. Oh, how frustrating that is. To talk with people... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Job 12:1-25

Job 12:6 . The tabernacles of robbers prosper. Or as it might be rendered, a placid tranquility gladdens the tabernacles of robbers; referring to the Arabs, who plunder the merchants. This and the following are invincible arguments. Job 12:12 . With the ancient is wisdom. The Hebrews have three words which they use to express degrees of age in old men. Zaken, a man above sixty years of age; Sheb, a man above seventy; Ishish, a man upwards of eighty. Ishish being used here, we may... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Job 12:13-25

Job 12:13-25Behold, He breaketh down.Job’s maximsPerhaps Job uses this lofty language concerning God for two reasons.1. To show that he could speak as grandly of the Eternal as his friends had spoken.2. To show that he had as correct and extensive a view of God’s agency as they had. He gives them here at least six different ideas of God’s agency.I. That it is active both in the mental and the moral world.II. That it is destructive as well as restorative. “Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Job 12:21

Job 12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. Ver. 21. He poureth contempt upon princes ] Or nobles, or gentlemen, which are, or should be, free, bounteous, munificent benefactors ( ευεργεται ): if they be not Nedibim, but Nebalim, liberal, but churlish (see these opposed, Isa 32:5 ), it is just in God to pour contempt, to lay abundance of shame and scorn upon them, as sordid penny fathers, ignoble Euelios, poor-spirited men, the base brood, or rather... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Job 12:21

poureth: Exodus 8:2, Exodus 16:24, 1 Kings 21:23, 1 Kings 21:24, 2 Kings 9:26, 2 Kings 9:34-Haggai :, Psalms 107:40, Isaiah 23:9, Isaiah 24:21, Isaiah 24:22, Isaiah 37:38, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:22, Daniel 4:32, Daniel 4:33, Matthew 2:12, Matthew 2:13, Acts 12:23 weakeneth the strength of the mighty: or, looseth the girdle of the strong, Isaiah 5:27, Isaiah 11:5, Isaiah 22:21, Ephesians 6:10, Ephesians 6:14 Reciprocal: Job 30:11 - loosed Job 34:19 - princes Isaiah 23:10 - no more Isaiah 40:23... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:21

21. Weakeneth the strength, etc. Literally, Looseth the girdle of the strong; a proverbial phrase, says Umbreit, “for destroying their power, that is, in the eyes of the people.” The garments of the Orientals were long and flowing, and were consequently in the way when active service was demanded. The girdle served to bind them up; and hence, to unloose the girdle typified inaction or effeminacy. God promised to unloose the loins of kings before Cyrus, (Isaiah 45:1,) that is. to render... read more

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