New International Version
Job 12:20
20He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders.
Job 12:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He silences the trusted adviser and removes the insight of the elders.
Context of Job 12:20
18He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. 19He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established. He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. 21He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. 22He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.
Read all of Job 12Job 12:20 word by word
מֵסִ֣יר שָׂ֭פָה לְנֶאֱמָנִ֑ים וְטַ֖עַם זְקֵנִ֣ים יִקָּֽח׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 12:20
- Proverbs 10:21The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
- Proverbs 12:19Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
- Job 12:24He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he makes them wander in a trackless waste.
- Job 17:4You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph.
- Job 32:9It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
- Job 39:17for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.
- Isaiah 3:1See now, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
Commentaries on Job 12:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20He removeth away the speech of the trusty - The faithful counsellor and the eloquent orator avail nothing: Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat; "God infatuates those whom he is determined to destroy." The writer might have had his eyes on Isaiah 3:1-3, which the reader will do well to consult. The understanding of the aged - זקנים zekenim signifies the same here as our word elders or elder-men; which includes in itself the two ideas of seniority, or…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20He removeth away the speech of the trusty - Margin, “lip of the faithful.” “He takes away the lip,” that is, he takes away the power of giving safe counsel or good advice. The “trusty” or “faithful” here refer to those of age and experience, and on whose counsel men are accustomed to rely. The meaning here is, that their most sagacious anticipations are disappointed, their wisest schemes are foiled. They fail-in their calculations of the coarse of events…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
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. the trusty--rather, "those secure in their eloquence"; for example, the speakers in the gate (Is 3:3) [Beza]. understanding--literally, "taste," that is, insight or spiritual discernment, which experience gives the aged. The same Hebrew word is applied to Daniel's wisdom in interpretation (Da 2:14).Read the comment
Topics related to Job 12:20
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
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