Job 12:3

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:3

An understanding, Heb. a heart; which is oft put for the understanding, as Job 34:34; Jeremiah 5:21; Acts 8:22; i.e. God hath given me also the knowledge and ability to judge of these matters. I am not inferior to you in these things; which he speaketh, not in a way of vain-glorious boasting, but for the just and necessary vindication both of himself; and of that cause of God, which for the matter and substance of it he maintained rightly, as God himself attests, Job 42:7. Who knoweth not such... 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 12:1-5

Job 12:1-5But I have understanding as well as you. The effect of the friends’ speeches upon JobThe whole world, Job feels, is against him, and he is left forlorn and solitary, unpitied in his misery, unguided in his perplexity. And he may well feel so. All the religious thought of his day, all the traditions of the past, all the wisdom of the patriarchal Church, if I may use, as I surely may, the expression, is on one side. He, that solitary sufferer and doubter, is on the other. And this is... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Job 12:3

Job 12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? Ver. 3. But I have understanding as well as you ] Think not that you have engrossed all the knowledge, and that you have the monopoly of wisdom in your breasts; for surely I may come into the balance with you, and claim as great a share in understanding as yourselves. Zophar was pleased to call me hollow and heartless, Job 11:12 ; but I have a heart (so the Hebrew here hath... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Job 12:3

But I have: Job 13:2-Deuteronomy :, Proverbs 26:4, 2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 11:21-Isaiah : understanding: Heb. an heart I am not inferior to you: Heb. I fall not lower than you. who knoweth not such things as these. Heb. with whom are not such as these. Job 6:6, Job 6:7, Job 26:2, Job 26:3 Reciprocal: Job 6:13 - and is wisdom Job 11:12 - would Job 12:9 - Who Job 34:16 - General Job 37:19 - Teach Job 38:2 - General read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Job 12:3

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?But — In these things, which he speaks not in a way of boasting, but for the just vindication both of himself, and of that cause of God, which for the substance of it he maintained rightly, as God himself attests, chap42:7.Such things — The truth is, neither you nor I have any reason to be puffed up with our knowledge of these things: for the most barbarous nations know that God is... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:3

3. Understanding Or, a heart. With the ancient Hebrews the heart was the seat of the understanding, and the bowels the seat of the emotions. “He also has a heart like them; he is, therefore, not ‘ empty.’” Delitzsch. Job thus courteously replies to Zophar’s savage onslaught. See note on Job 11:12. Inferior to you Either in argument, or, perhaps, (ironically,) in the ability to bring forward proverbs. Who knoweth not, etc. Your wisdom is commonplace. Common sense should have taught... read more

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