Job 12:24

Job 12:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He 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.
• New International Version (NIV)He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.

Context of Job 12:24

22He uncovers mysteries [that are difficult to grasp and understand] out of the darkness And brings black gloom and the shadow of death into light. 23He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away [captive]. He removes intelligence and understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth And makes them wander and move blindly in a pathless waste. 25They grope in darkness without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.”

Job 12:24 word by word

מֵסִ֗יר לֵ֭ב רָאשֵׁ֣י עַם־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם בְּתֹ֣הוּ לֹא־דָֽרֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He taketh awayסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• the heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• of the chiefרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
• of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• and causeth them to wanderתָּעָהtâ‛âh · to go astrayH8582
• in a wildernessתֹּ֫הוּtôhû · formlessnessH8414
• no wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870

Cross-references for Job 12:24

• Job 12:20He deprives the trusted ones of speech And takes away the discernment and discretion of the aged.
• Job 17:4But You [Lord] have closed their hearts to understanding, Therefore You will not exalt them [by giving a verdict against me].
• Isaiah 6:9And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’
• Isaiah 19:1The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Egypt: Listen carefully, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
• Daniel 4:16Let his mind and nature be changed from a man’s And let an animal’s mind and nature be given to him, And let seven periods of time pass over him.
• Hosea 7:11Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart or good sense; They call to Egypt [for help], they go to Assyria.
• Psalms 107:4They wandered in the wilderness in a [solitary] desert region; And did not find a way to an inhabited city.
• Genesis 1:2The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

Commentaries on Job 12:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24He taketh away the heart of the chief - Suddenly deprives the leaders of great counsels, or mighty armies of courage; so that, panic-struck, they flee when none pursueth, or are confounded when about to enter on the accomplishment of important designs. And causeth them to wander in a wilderness - A plain allusion to the journeyings of the Israelites in the deserts of Arabia, on their way to the promised land. Their chief, Aaron, had his courage all taken…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24He taketh away the heart - The word heart here evidently means mind, intelligence, wisdom; see the notes at Job 12:3. Of the chief of the people - Hebrew “Heads of the people;” that is, of the rulers of the earth. The meaning is, that he leaves them to infatuated and distracted counsels. By withdrawing from them, he has power to frustrate their plans, and to leave them to an entire lack of wisdom; see the notes at Job 12:17. And causeth them to wander in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-25Verses 12-25 This is a noble discourse of Job concerning the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God, in ordering all the affairs of the children of men, according to the counsel of His own will, which none can resist. It were well if wise and good men, who differ about lesser things, would see how it is for their honour and comfort, and the good of others, to dwell most upon the great things in which they agree. Here are no complaints, or reflections. He…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24Compare Daniel 2:21. He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason: See Job 12:18; compare Daniel 4:23, 32–33. He… makes them wander in a trackless wasteland: This is like the "nobles" in Psalm 107:40 (see Job 12:21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. heart--intelligence. wander in a wilderness--figurative; not referring to any actual fact. This cannot be quoted to prove Job lived after Israel's wanderings in the desert. Psa 107:4, 40 quotes this passage.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 12:24

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Atheism
• Philosophy

In the dictionaries

• Deep
• Discover
• Wilderness
• Job, Book of
• Satan

Commentaries on Job 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings