Job 12:23

Job 12:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
• New International Version (NIV)He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.

Context of Job 12:23

21He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 22He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. 24He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. 25They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.

Job 12:23 word by word

מַשְׂגִּ֣יא לַ֭גּוֹיִם וַֽיְאַבְּדֵ֑ם שֹׁטֵ֥חַ לַ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם וַיַּנְחֵֽם׃Read the interlinear

• He increasethשָׂגָאώâgâ' · to grow greatH7679
• the nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• and destroyethאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
• them: he enlargethשָׁטַחshâţach · to spreadH7849
• and straitenethנָחָהnâchâh · to leadH5148

Cross-references for Job 12:23

• Exodus 1:7And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
• Psalms 107:38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
• Isaiah 9:3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
• Isaiah 26:15Thou hast increased the nation, O Yhwh, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
• Isaiah 27:6He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
• Isaiah 51:2Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
• Isaiah 60:22A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I Yhwh will hasten it in his time.
• Jeremiah 30:19And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
• Jeremiah 33:22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
• Zechariah 10:8I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.

Commentaries on Job 12:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23He increaseth the nations - Mr. Good translates, He letteth the nations grow licentious. Pride, fullness of bread, with extensive trade and commerce, produce luxury; and this is ever accompanied with profligacy of manners. When, then, the cup of this iniquity is full, God destroys the nation, by bringing or permitting to come against it a nation less pampered, more necessitous, and inured to toil. He enlargeth the nations - Often permits a nation to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them - He has entire control over them. The sources of prosperity are in his hand, and at his pleasure he can visit them with famine, pestilence, or war, and diminish their numbers and arrest their prosperity. Dr. Good renders this very improperly, “He letteth the nations grow licentious;” but the word שׂגא śâgâ' never has this sense. It means, to make great; to multiply; to increase. And straiteneth them again…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. 23-24Compare Daniel 2:21. He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason: See Job 12:18; compare Daniel 4:23, 32–33. He… makes them wander in a trackless wasteland: This is like the "nobles" in Psalm 107:40 (see Job 12:21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Is 9:3; Psa 107:38, 39, which Psalm quotes this chapter elsewhere. (See on Job 12:21). straiteneth--literally, "leadeth in," that is, "reduces."Read the comment

Topics related to Job 12:23

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Atheism
• Blessing
• Philosophy

In the dictionaries

• Deep
• Discover
• Providence
• Increase
• Job, Book of
• 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