God’s Word Translation
Job 12:21
21He pours contempt on influential people and unbuckles the belt of the mighty.
Job 12:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
- New International Version (NIV)He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He pours contempt on princes, And disarms the mighty.
Context of Job 12:21
19He leads priests away barefoot and misleads those who serve in a temple. 20He makes trusted advisers unable to speak and takes away the good judgment of respected leaders. He pours contempt on influential people and unbuckles the belt of the mighty. 22He uncovers mysteries ⌞hidden⌟ in the darkness and brings gloom into the light. 23He makes nations important and then destroys them. He makes nations large and leads them away.
Read all of Job 12Job 12:21 word by word
שׁוֹפֵ֣ךְ בּ֭וּז עַל־נְדִיבִ֑ים וּמְזִ֖יחַ אֲפִיקִ֣ים רִפָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 12:21
- Exodus 8:2If you refuse to let them go, I will bring a plague of frogs on your whole country.
- Exodus 16:24So they saved it until the next morning as Moses had commanded, but it didn’t smell or have worms in it.
- 1 Kings 21:23Then the Lord also spoke ⌞through Elijah⌟ about Jezebel: “The dogs will eat Jezebel inside the walls of Jezreel.
- 2 Kings 9:26‘Just as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, I will pay you back in this field,’ declares the Lord. Now take him and throw him into the field as the Lord predicted.”
- Psalms 107:40He poured contempt on their influential people and made them stumble around in a pathless desert.
- Isaiah 23:9The Lord of Armies planned this in order to dishonor all arrogant people and to humiliate all the honored people of the world.
- Isaiah 24:21On that day the Lord will punish heaven’s armies in heaven and earth’s kings on earth.
- Isaiah 37:38While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, assassinated him and escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king.
- Daniel 2:21He changes times and periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight.
- Daniel 4:32You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes.”
- Matthew 2:12God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they left for their country by another road.
- Acts 12:23Immediately, an angel from the Lord killed Herod for not giving glory to God. Herod was eaten by maggots, and he died.
- Isaiah 5:27None of them grow tired or stumble. None of them slumber or sleep. The belts on their waists aren’t loose or their sandal straps broken.
- Isaiah 11:5Justice will be the belt around his waist. Faithfulness will be the belt around his hips.
- Isaiah 22:21I will dress him in your linen robe and fasten it with your belt. I will give him your authority, and he will be like a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the nation of Judah.
- Ephesians 6:10Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength.
Commentaries on Job 12:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He poureth contempt upon princes - נדיבים nedibim, "those of royal extraction;" widely different from the כהנים cohanim mentioned Job 12:19. Weakeneth the strength of the mighty - אפיקים aphikim, the compact; the well-strung together; the nervous and sinewy. Perhaps there is a reference here to the crocodile, as the same term is applied, Job 40:13, to the compactness of his bones: and as מזיח רפה rippah meziach, which we translate weakeneth the strength…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21He poureth contempt upon princes - He has power to hurl them from their thrones, and to overwhelm them with disgrace. And weakeneth the strength of the mighty - Margin, as in Hebrew “looseth the girdle of the strong.” The Orientals wore loose flowing robes, which were secured by a girdle around the loins. When they labored, ran, or traveled, their robes were girded up. But this is common everywhere. Wrestlers, leapers, and runners, put a girdle around…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. 21Pours out contempt on nobles: Compare Psalm 107:40. disarms the mighty (literally loosens the belt of): The strong are not ready for battle anymore.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Psa 107:40 quotes, in its first clause, this verse and, in its second, Job 12:24. weakeneth the strength--literally, "looseth the girdle"; Orientals wear flowing garments; when active strength is to be put forth, they gird up their garments with a girdle. Hence here--"He destroyeth their power" in the eyes of the people.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 12:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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