Job 12:7-10

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 12:8

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee ,.... Or ask "a sprig of the earth" F14 שיח לארץ "virgultum terrae", Pagninus, Schmidt; so Drusius and Michaelis. , any shrub, or tree, or whatsoever grows out of it, and they will all unite in this doctrine, that they are raised and preserved by the power of God, and are so many instances of his wisdom, power, and goodness: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee ; as mute as they are, they will proclaim this truth, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 12:9

Who knoweth not in all these ,.... Or "by" or "from all these" F15 בכל אלה "ex omnibus istis", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt, Schultens, Michaelis; "per omnia haec", Cocceius; so Broughton. creatures; what man is there so stupid and senseless, that does not discern, or cannot learn, even from irrational creatures, the above things, even what Zophar had discoursed concerning God and his perfections, his power, wisdom and providence? for, by the things that are made, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 12:10

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing ,.... Of every animal, of every brute creature, as distinct from man, in the next clause: the life of everyone of them is from him, and it is continued by him as long as he pleases, nor can it be taken away without his leave; two sparrows, which are not worth more than a farthing, not one of them falls to the ground, or dies without the knowledge and will of God, Matthew 10:29 ; of the soul or spirit of beasts, see Ecclesiastes 3:21 ; ... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 12:10

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing - חי כל נפש nephesh col chai , "the soul of all life." And the breath of all mankind - בשר כל ורוח veruach col besar , "and the spirit or breath of all flesh." Does not the first refer to the immortal soul, the principle of all intellectual life; and the latter to the breath, respiration, the grand means by which animal existence is continued? See Job 10:1 . 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

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