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 reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light. 23He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them. He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. 25They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.

Job 12:24 word by word

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

• He deprivesסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• the earth’sאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• leadersרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
• ·עַם‛am · peopleH5971
• of reasonלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• and makes them wanderתָּעָהtâ‛âh · to go astrayH8582
• in a tracklessלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• in a tracklessדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
• wastelandתֹּ֫הוּtôhû · formlessnessH8414

Cross-references for Job 12:24

• Job 12:20He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
• Job 17:4You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.
• Isaiah 6:9And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
• Isaiah 19:1This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will melt within them.
• Daniel 4:16Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.
• Hosea 7:11So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove— calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.
• Psalms 107:4Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no path to a city in which to dwell.
• Genesis 1:2Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface 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