Job 12

Job · Chapter 12

Job 12:15

1And Job answered and said,2No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?4I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.5He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.6The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.7But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.9Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?10In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?12With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.13With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.14Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.16With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.17He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.18He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.19He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.20He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.24He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
15Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
there!הֵ֤ןhenH2005
look!

הֵן (hen) interj 1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part 2) if Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)

he holds backיַעְצֹ֣רya'-TZORH6113
to restrain

עָצַר (a.tsar) 1) to restrain, retain, close up, shut, withhold, refrain, stay, detain 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to restrain, halt, stop 1a2) to retain 1b) (Niphal) to be restrained, be stayed, be under restraint

in the watersבַּמַּ֣יִםba-MA-yimH4325G
water

מַי (ma.yim) 1) water, waters 1a) water 1b) water of the feet, urine 1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

so they may be dryוְיִבָ֑שׁוּve-yi-VA-shuH3001
to wither

יָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) 1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture 1a2) to be dried up 1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to dry up, make dry 1c1a) to dry up (water) 1c1b) to make dry, wither 1c1c) to exhibit dryness

and he lets loose themוִֽ֝ישַׁלְּחֵ֗םvi-sha-le-CHEMH7971G
to send: depart

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send

and they may devastateוְיַ֖הַפְכוּve-YA-haf-khuH2015
to overturn

הָפַךְ (ha.phakh) 1) to turn, overthrow, overturn 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to overturn, overthrow 1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around 1a3) to change, transform 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back 1b2) to change oneself 1b3) to be perverse 1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against 1b5) to be reversed 1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown 1b7) to be upturned 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to transform oneself 1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way 1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone

[the] earthאָֽרֶץ׃'A-retzH0776G
land: country/planet

אֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.