English Standard Version
Job 12:25
25They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They grope in the darkness without a light. He makes them stagger like drunkards.
Context of Job 12:25
23He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. 24He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
Read all of Job 12Job 12:25 word by word
יְמַֽשְׁשׁוּ־חֹ֥שֶׁךְ וְלֹא־א֑וֹר וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם כַּשִּׁכּֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 12:25
- Job 5:14They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.
- Genesis 19:11And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.
- Deuteronomy 28:29and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you.
- Isaiah 59:10We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men.
- Acts 13:11And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
- 1 John 2:11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
- Psalms 107:27they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.
- Isaiah 19:14The Lord has mingled within her a spirit of confusion, and they will make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, as a drunken man staggers in his vomit.
- Isaiah 24:20The earth staggers like a drunken man; it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries