Job 12:4

Job 12:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
• New International Version (NIV)“I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I am one mocked by his friends, Who called on God, and He answered him, The just and blameless who is ridiculed.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.

Context of Job 12:4

2"No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. 3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock. 5In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip. 6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.

Job 12:4 word by word

שְׂחֹ֤ק לְרֵעֵ֨הוּ׀ אֶֽהְיֶ֗ה קֹרֵ֣א לֶ֭אֱלוֹהַּ וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ שְׂ֝ח֗וֹק צַדִּ֥יק תָּמִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• one mockedשְׂחֹקώechôq ώechôq · laughterH7814
• of his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• who callethקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
• upon Godאֱלֹהַּ'ĕlôahh 'ĕlôahh · godH433
• and he answerethעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• him: the justצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
• uprightתָּמִיםtâmîym · unblemished: blamelessH8549

Cross-references for Job 12:4

• Job 11:3Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
• Job 16:10Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.
• Job 17:2Surely there are mockers about me, and my eye dwells on their provocation.
• Job 21:3Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
• Job 30:1"But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
• Psalms 22:7All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
• Psalms 35:16like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.
• Matthew 27:29and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
• Hebrews 11:36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
• Job 16:20My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
• Psalms 91:15When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
• Jeremiah 33:3Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
• Micah 7:7But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
• Proverbs 14:2Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
• Mark 5:40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.
• Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

Commentaries on Job 12:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I am as one mocked of his neighbor - Though I am invoking God for help and salvation, yet my friends mock me in this most solemn and sacred work. But God answereth me. The just upright man is laughed to scorn - This is a very difficult verse, on which no two critics seem to be agreed. Mr. Good translates the fourth and fifth verses thus: - "Thus brother is become a laughing-stock to his companions, While calling upon God that he would succor him. The…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4I am as one mocked of his neighbour - There has been considerable variety in the interpretation of this verse. The general sense is, that Job felt himself to be a mere laughing-stock for his neighbors. They treated him as if he were not worth regarding. They had no sympathy for him in his sorrows, and they showed no respect for his opinions. Dr. Good understands this and the following verses as a part of the controversy in which Job proposes to show his…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. The unfounded accusations of Job's friends were a "mockery" of him. He alludes to Zophar's word, "mockest" (Job 11:3). neighbour, who calleth, &c.--rather, "I who call upon God that he may answer me favorably" [Umbreit].Read the comment

Topics related to Job 12:4

• Persecution
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• God
• Deep
• Discover
• Laughing-Stock
• Laughter
• Mock; Mocker; Mocking
• Scorn
• 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