Job 12:20

Job 12:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
• New International Version (NIV)He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders.

Context of Job 12:20

18He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter; 19He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty; He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders; 21He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty; 22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;

Job 12:20 word by word

מֵסִ֣יר שָׂ֭פָה לְנֶאֱמָנִ֑ים וְטַ֖עַם זְקֵנִ֣ים יִקָּֽח׃Read the interlinear

• awayסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
• eldersזָקֵןzâqên · old: elderH2205

Cross-references for Job 12:20

• Proverbs 10:21The lips of a righteous [man] feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.
• Proverbs 12:19The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
• Job 12:24He taketh away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste.
• Job 17:4For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt [them].
• Job 32:9It is not the great that are wise; neither do the aged understand judgment.
• Job 39:17For God hath deprived her of wisdom, and hath not furnished her with understanding.
• Isaiah 3:1For behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will take away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Commentaries on Job 12:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He removeth away the speech of the trusty - The faithful counsellor and the eloquent orator avail nothing: Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat; "God infatuates those whom he is determined to destroy." The writer might have had his eyes on Isaiah 3:1-3, which the reader will do well to consult. The understanding of the aged - זקנים zekenim signifies the same here as our word elders or elder-men; which includes in itself the two ideas of seniority, or…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He removeth away the speech of the trusty - Margin, “lip of the faithful.” “He takes away the lip,” that is, he takes away the power of giving safe counsel or good advice. The “trusty” or “faithful” here refer to those of age and experience, and on whose counsel men are accustomed to rely. The meaning here is, that their most sagacious anticipations are disappointed, their wisest schemes are foiled. They fail-in their calculations of the coarse of events…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
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. the trusty--rather, "those secure in their eloquence"; for example, the speakers in the gate (Is 3:3) [Beza]. understanding--literally, "taste," that is, insight or spiritual discernment, which experience gives the aged. The same Hebrew word is applied to Daniel's wisdom in interpretation (Da 2:14).Read the comment

Topics related to Job 12:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Atheism
• God
• Philosophy

In the dictionaries

• Age
• Deep
• Discover
• 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