Job 12:7,Job 12:9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 12:6-11

Job's friends all of them went upon this principle, that wicked people cannot prosper long in this world, but some remarkable judgment or other will suddenly light on them: Zophar had concluded with it, that the eyes of the wicked shall fail, Job 11:20. This principle Job here opposes, and maintains that God, in disposing men's outward affairs, acts as a sovereign, reserving the exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the future state. I. He asserts it as an undoubted truth that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 12:7

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee ,.... And so the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea, in this and Job 12:8 ; from those instructions may be learned, of instances taken, and examples given, which may illustrate and confirm the same things that had been treated of: either what had been just now confuted, that it is always well with good men, and ill with bad men; the reverse of which had been affirmed and proved, that good men are afflicted, and wicked men prosper;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:7

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee - Mr. Good's paraphrase here is very just: "Why tell ye me that the Almighty hath brought this calamity upon me? Every thing in nature, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the heaven, every inhabitant of earth and sea, and every thing that befalls them, are the work of his hands; and every thing feels and acknowledges him to be the universal Creator and Controller. It is the common doctrine of all nature; but to apply it as ye would apply... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:1-25

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:5-13

Job to Zophar: 2. The dogma of the friends demolished. I. BY THE FACTS OF EXPERIENCE . 1 . The adverse fortunes of the good. Exemplified in Job's own case, which showed 2 . The prosperous fortunes of the bad . Apt illustrations were at hand in the seemingly unchanging success which waited on the footsteps of those marauding caterans with which Arabia Deserta was overrun. (a) Robbers of men, violent and rapacious plunderers, who put might for right, "men of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee . Job here begins his review of all creation, to show that God has the absolute direction of it. The order of Job maintains that, if appeal were made to the animal creation, and they were asked their position with respect to God, they would with one voice proclaim him their absolute Ruler and Director. And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee . The instincts of birds, their periodical migrations, their inherited habits, are as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7-10

The testimony of the creature to the Divine government. Job again vindicates himself in presence of his accusing friends. He professes his knowledge to be as theirs, and he even points them to the lower animals to find wisdom from them. The very beasts of the earth, the fowls of the air, the fruitful field, the fishes in the deep, all tell the great truth—Jehovah reigns supreme. "In his hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind;" all proclaim the Almighty, all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7-10

Lessons of nature. I. NATURE REBUKES MAN 'S IGNORANCE . Job refers his friends to nature in a tone of reproach. They ought to have known what nature was proclaiming. There are two grounds for this rebuke. 1 . The wealth and fulness of nature ' s testimony to her Creator. Go where one may, nature is ready to speak for God. The beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, the creeping things on the ground, the fishes of the sea, all speak for the power and wisdom of their Maker.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7-12

The wisdom and tile power of God a truth universally known. It is not the peculiar possession of those fancied wise friends. It is a truth impressed on all nature and on the experience of man. I. APPEAL TO THE LIVING CREATURES . ( Job 12:7-10 .) The beasts, the birds of the air, the earth with all its living growths, the creatures of the sea,—all bear traces of his skill, all receive from him their life and sustenance, all are subject to his omnipresent power (comp. Psalms... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:7

But ask now the beasts - Rosenmuller supposes that this appeal to the inferior creation should be regarded as connected with Job 12:3, and that the intermediate verses are parenthetical. Zophar had spoken with considerable parade of the wisdom of God. He had said (Job 11:7 ff) that the knowledge of God was higher than the heavens, and had professed Job 12:6 to have himself exalted views of the Most High. In reply to this, Job says that the views which Zophar had expressed, were the most... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 12:6-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 12:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:5-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 12:7-12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 12:7

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