New English Translation
Job 11:12
12But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.
Job 11:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
- New International Version (NIV)But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!
- New King James Version (NKJV)For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.
Context of Job 11:12
10If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him? 11For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being. 13“As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you stretch out your hands toward him, 14if iniquity is in your hand – put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents.
Read all of Job 11Job 11:12 word by word
וְאִ֣ישׁ נָ֭בוּב יִלָּבֵ֑ב וְעַ֥יִר פֶּ֝֗רֶא אָדָ֥ם יִוָּלֵֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 11:12
- Psalms 62:9Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.
- Psalms 73:22I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you.
- Psalms 92:6The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.
- Ecclesiastes 3:18I also thought to myself, “It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.
- Romans 1:22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
- James 2:20But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?
- Job 5:13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.
- Job 12:2“Without a doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
- Job 28:28And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
- Proverbs 30:2Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding;
- Romans 12:16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.
- James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
- Job 15:14What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
- Psalms 51:5Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.
- Ephesians 2:3among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
Commentaries on Job 11:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12For vain man would be wise - The original is difficult and uncertain, ילבב נבוב ואיש veish nabub yillabeb, "And shall the hollow man assume courage," or "pride himself?" Or, as Mr. Good rather paraphrases it, Will he then accept the hollow-hearted person? The Chaldee gives two renderings: An eloquent man shall become wiser in his heart, and the colt of the wild ass is born as the son of man. Or, The wise man shall ponder it; and the refractory youth, who…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12For vain man - Margin, “empty.” נבוב nâbûb according to Gesenius, from the root נבב nâbab to bore through, and then to be hollow; metaphorical, “empty,” “foolish.” The Septuagint, strangely enough, renders this,” but man floats about with words.” The Hebrew here means, manifestly, hollow, empty; then insincere and hypocritical. Zophar refers to a hollow-hearted man, who, though he was in fact like a wild ass‘s colt, attempted to appear mild and gentle…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-12Verses 7-12 Zophar speaks well concerning God and his greatness and glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly. See here what man is; and let him be humbled. God sees this concerning vain man, that he would be wise, would be thought so, though he is born like a wild ass's colt, so unteachable and untameable. Man is a vain creature; empty, so the word is. Yet he is a proud creature, and self-conceited. He would be wise, would be thought so, though he…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. vain--hollow. would be--"wants to consider himself wise"; opposed to God's "wisdom" (see on Job 11:11); refuses to see sin, where God sees it (Ro 1:22). wild ass's colt--a proverb for untamed wildness (Job 39:5, 8; Jr 2:24; Ge 16:12; Hebrew, "a wild-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient to his Lord, whereas he is, from his birth, unsubdued in spirit.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 11:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 11
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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