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 can make nations become great. He can also destroy them. He can make their land become bigger. He can also send their people away to other places. 24He stops the world's leaders from understanding things properly. He sends them to travel through empty deserts. They try to walk in the dark, without any light. He causes them to walk like drunk men.

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 middle of the day, it becomes dark for those people. At midday, they see no better than blind people.
• Genesis 19:11Then they caused all the men outside to become blind. The young men of the city and the old men all became blind. As a result, they could not find the door of the house, even though they tried for some time.
• Deuteronomy 28:29Even at midday, you will not see your way. You will be in the dark, like a blind person. You will not be able to go anywhere, whatever you do. Every day, people will be cruel to you. People will rob you. No one will be there to save you.
• Isaiah 59:10Like blind people, we touch the wall to find our way. It seems that we have no eyes to see with. Even at midday, we trip and we fall down, as if it was dark. We are like dead people who live among strong people.
• Acts 13:11The Lord will now punish you. You will become blind for a time. You will not even see the light of the sun.’ When Paul said that, immediately something like a dark cloud covered Elymas's eyes. He could not find his own way. He needed someone to lead him by the hand.
• 1 John 2:11But if someone hates other believers, he is still living in a bad way. He is like someone who is walking in the dark. He cannot see where he is going. He is like a blind person. He cannot understand God's true message.
• Psalms 107:27Like drunk people, they could not stand or walk properly. They did not know what to do!
• Isaiah 19:14The Lord has sent among the people in Egypt a spirit that confuses them. They go the wrong way in everything that they do. They are like drunk people who have been sick. They cannot walk in a straight line.
• Isaiah 24:20The earth is like a drunk man. It cannot walk in a straight line. It moves in all directions, like a tent in a storm. The people's sins are like a heavy weight on the earth. It cannot carry them and it will fall. It will never be able to get up 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