Study notes

Job 12

Introducing JobWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

4:1–31:40 Section

Eliphaz and Bildad each spoke three times. Zophar spoke twice. All of their speeches are recorded as long poems.

Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar explained the reason why they thought Job was suffering. Throughout his life, Eliphaz had noticed that trouble came to foolish people. Suffering was how they were taught as well as punished for their sins. Eliphaz believed that this was a pattern for how things work in the world. He believed that it was happening in Job’s case.

Bildad had noticed that God didn’t bring judgement against people who hadn’t sinned. This was a lesson that people had taught for hundreds of years. Bildad believed it was a pattern for how things work in the world. So he thought that Job and his family were being punished for their sins.

Zophar was sure that ungodly people are always punished. He believed that this is how things had always been in the world. He was sure that God was bringing judgement on Job for sins Job had committed.

Job answered Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar each time after they spoke. Job was sad and angry because his friends said things that weren’t helpful. Many of the things they said were true. But the patterns they noticed in life didn’t apply to Job’s case. Job hadn’t sinned in secret. Job didn’t claim to have never sinned. But he knew that God wasn’t punishing him for his sins. Job knew that he had lived the way God wanted people to live. His friends didn’t understand him. They accused him falsely.

Job believed that God did understand him. Job believed that God knew that he wasn’t guilty of secret sins. Job wanted God to explain why his life had become so difficult. Job was very confused by God and angry at him. But Job continued to have respect for God and to avoid evil. He did this even though he was suffering terribly. This showed that Job had wisdom and understanding.

12:1

In his longest speech so far, Job responds to Zophar's comments and the entire first round of speeches.

12:7–8

ask the animals … the birds … the earth … the fish: Job believed the reason for his grief was obvious and that even creation would understand it (Proverbs 6:6). Later, God directed Job to the animal kingdom to show him that he did not understand (Job 38–40).

12:7–9

The change from you (plural in 12:2–3) to you (singular here) probably indicates that Job is speaking to Zophar.

12:9

the hand of the LORD: This is the only place in the dialogues where the Hebrew name, "Yahweh" (“the LORD”), appears (chapters 3–27; 29–37). For Job, the issue was not who caused his grief but why it happened.

12:12

Wisdom is found with the elderly: People often think wisdom comes with old age. Job's friends supported this idea but Job doubted it (8:8–10; 15:10; 32:6–9; 12:20).

12:17

He leads counselors away barefoot: In this metaphor, God removes leaders' abilities. It could also mean losing the symbols of office or becoming naked captives (12:18–19).

12:18

When God removes the royal robe of kings, he takes away their symbols of authority (compare 19:9). It can also mean "God loosens the bonds of kings," referring to the control they have imposed on others.

12:19

The priests lose their status or their priestly robes. They might even be naked captives (12:18).

12:21

  • Pours out contempt on nobles: Compare Psalm 107:40.

  • disarms the mighty (literally loosens the belt of): The strong are not ready for battle anymore.

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources