Job 12:25

Job 12:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
• New International Version (NIV)They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
• New King James Version (NKJV)They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Context of Job 12:25

23He makes nations great, and He destroys them; He enlarges nations, and leads them away [captive]. 24He removes intelligence and understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth And makes them wander and move blindly in a pathless waste. They grope in darkness without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.”

Job 12:25 word by word

יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ־חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־א֑וֹר וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם כַּשִּׁכּֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They gropeמָשַׁשׁmâshash · to feelH4959
• in the darkחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• without lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• and he maketh them to staggerתָּעָהtâ‛âh · to go astrayH8582
• drunkenשִׁכֹּרshikkôr shikkôr · drunkenH7910

Cross-references for Job 12:25

• Job 5:14In the daytime they meet in darkness, And at noon they grope as in the night.
• Genesis 19:11They struck (punished) the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, from the young men to the old men, so that they exhausted themselves trying to find the doorway.
• Deuteronomy 28:29and you will be groping at noon [in broad daylight], just as the blind grope in the darkness, and nothing you do will prosper; but you will only be oppressed and exploited and robbed continually, with no one to save you.
• Isaiah 59:10We grope for a wall like the blind, We grope like those who have no eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; Among those who are healthy we are like dead men.
• Acts 13:11Now, watch! The hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, [so blind that you will be] unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately a mist and darkness fell upon him, and he groped around, seeking people to lead him by the hand.
• 1 John 2:11But the one who habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in [spiritual] darkness and is walking in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
• Psalms 107:27They staggered and trembled like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end [all their wisdom was useless].
• Isaiah 19:14The Lord has mixed a spirit of distortion within her; Her leaders have caused Egypt to stagger in all that she does, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
• Isaiah 24:20The earth reels back and forth like a drunkard And sways like a shack; Its transgression lies heavily upon it, And it will fall and not rise again.

Commentaries on Job 12:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25They grope in the dark - The writer seems to have had his eye on those words of Moses, Deuteronomy 28:28, Deuteronomy 28:29; : The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart; and thou shalt Grope At Noonday, as the Blind Gropeth In Darkness. And this also may refer to the unaccountable errors, transgressions, and judicial blindness of the Israelites in their journeying to the promised land: but it will apply also to the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25They grope in the dark - They are like persons who attempt to feel their way along in the dark; compare the notes at Isaiah 59:10. And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man - Margin, “wander.” Their unstable and perplexed counsels are like the reelings of a drunken man; see Isaiah 19:14, note; Isaiah 24:20, note. This closes the chapter, and with it the controversy in regard to the ability to adduce pertinent and striking proverbial expressions…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. 25Lack of wise advice might have caused the kings to stagger like drunkards (12:17; see Isaiah 19:14). This happened because they experienced God's punishment (Psalm 75:8; Jeremiah 25:15–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. De 28:29; Psa 107:27 again quote Job, but in a different connection.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 12:25

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Atheism

In the dictionaries

• Deep
• Discover
• Drunkenness
• 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