Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 12 opens Job's response to Zophar (chapters 12–14) — beginning with sarcastic-mockery of his friends ('no doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you,' v. 2) and developing a doxology to divine-sovereignty (vv. 13–25) that paradoxically-shows God's-power-as-unsettling rather than-comforting.
Notable Variants
12:2 'wisdom will die with you' sarcastic-rebuke; 12:13 'with him are wisdom and might' divine-attributes; 12:22 'he uncovers the deeps out of darkness' → 1 Cor 4:5 's bringing 'hidden things of darkness to light.'
Structural Notes
MT Job 12 = LXX Job 12. 25 verses.
Then Job answered and said:
'Then Job answered and said' tracks MT.
No doubt you are the only people that matter, and wisdom will die when you do!
'No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!' tracks MT. SARCASTIC-MOCKERY — Job's bitter-rejoinder to friends' wisdom-pretensions.
I have a mind just like yours. I am not inferior to you. Who does not know things like these?
'But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?' tracks MT.
I have become a joke to my friends — a man who called on God, and God answered him! The righteous, blameless man is now a laughingstock.
'I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called to God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock' tracks MT. JOB-AS-LAUGHINGSTOCK. Christological-typology — Christ-as-laughingstock at the cross.
Those at ease have contempt for misfortune — 'A shove to those whose feet already slip!'
'In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for those whose feet slip' tracks MT.
The tents of destroyers are at peace; those who provoke God feel secure — those into whose hand God has delivered everything.
'The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand' tracks MT.
But ask the animals — they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky — they will tell you.
'But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you' tracks MT. ASK-THE-BEASTS-AND-BIRDS — natural-revelation. Romans 1:19–20 ('what can be known about God is plain to them … perceived through the things that have been made') extends.
Or speak to the earth — it will teach you. Let the fish of the sea inform you.
'Or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you' tracks MT.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
'Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?' tracks MT.
In his hand is the life of every living creature and the breath of every human being.
'In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind' tracks MT. LIFE-IN-HIS-HAND. Acts 17:25 ('he himself gives to all mankind life and breath') Christologically extends. Daniel 5:23 ('the God in whose hand is your breath') parallels.
Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
'Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?' tracks MT.
With the aged comes wisdom, and with length of days, understanding.
'Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days' tracks MT. WISDOM-WITH-AGED — proverbial. The book ultimately challenges this assumption when Elihu (chapter 32) speaks despite-being-young.
With God are wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belong to him.
'With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding' tracks MT. The DOXOLOGY-OF-DIVINE-SOVEREIGNTY begins (vv. 13–25). Romans 11:33–36 ('to him be glory forever') family.
If he tears down, no one can rebuild. If he imprisons a man, no one can open the door.
'If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open' tracks MT. Revelation 3:7 ('the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens') Christologically extends.
If he holds back the waters, they dry up. If he releases them, they overturn the earth.
'If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land' tracks MT.
With him are strength and true wisdom. Both the deceived and the deceiver belong to him.
'With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his' tracks MT.
He leads counselors away stripped bare and turns judges into fools.
'He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools' tracks MT.
He strips the authority of kings and binds a prisoner's loincloth around their waist.
'He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips' tracks MT.
He leads priests away stripped bare and overthrows those long established.
'He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty' tracks MT.
He removes the speech of trusted advisors and takes away the discernment of elders.
'He deprives of speech those who are trusted and takes away the discernment of the elders' tracks MT.
He pours contempt on the noble and loosens the belt of the strong.
'He pours contempt on princes and loosens the belt of the strong' tracks MT. Ps 107:40 echo. Magnificat-theology (Luke 1:52).
He uncovers deep things out of darkness and brings death-shadow into the light.
'He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light' tracks MT. UNCOVERS-DEEPS-FROM-DARKNESS. 1 Corinthians 4:5 ('the Lord … will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness'), Eph 5:13 ('what is exposed by the light is visible') extend Christologically.
He makes nations great, then destroys them. He expands nations, then scatters them.
'He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away' tracks MT.
He strips the understanding from leaders of nations and makes them wander in trackless wasteland.
'He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste' tracks MT.
They grope in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
'They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man' tracks MT.