Job 12

Job · Chapter 12

Job 12:24

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
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.He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.

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
[he is] removingמֵסִ֗ירme-SIRH5493G
departed

יָסוּר (ya.sur) those departing, revolting

[the] heart ofלֵ֭בlevH3820A
mind

בָּל (bal) mind, heart Aramaic of lev (לֵב "heart" H3820A)

[the] leaders ofרָאשֵׁ֣יra-SHEIH7218HNo entry
[the] people ofעַם־'am-H5971A
people

עַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

the earthהָאָ֑רֶץha-'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 …

and he made wander themוַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗םvai-yat-'EMH8582
to go astray

תָּעָה (ta.ah) 1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger 1a) (Qal) to err 1a1) to wander about (physically) 1a2) of intoxication 1a3) of sin (ethically) 1a4) wandering (of the mind) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard) 1b2) to be led astray (ethically) 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander 1c1) to cause to wander about (physically) 1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication) 1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)

in a wastelandבְּתֹ֣הוּbe-TO-huH8414
formlessness

תֹּ֫הוּ (to.hu) 1) formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness 1a) formlessness (of primeval earth) 1a1) nothingness, empty space 1b) that which is empty or unreal (of idols) (fig) 1c) wasteland, wilderness (of solitary places) 1d) place of chaos 1e) vanity

notלֹא־lo'-H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

a pathדָֽרֶךְ׃DA-rekhH1870K
way: conduct

דֶּ֫רֶךְ (de.rekh) : conduct/lifestyle 1) way, road, distance, journey, manner 1a) road, way, path 1b) journey 1c) direction 1d) manner, habit, way 1e) of course of life (fig.) 1f) of moral character (fig.)

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