Job 11 · Verse 12

Job 11:12

For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
Job 11:12, King James Version

Job 11:12 in other translations

BSBBut a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
WEBAn empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.
ASVBut vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt.
YLTAnd empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.
DARBYYet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born like the foal of a wild ass.
BBEAnd so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.
WebsterFor vain man would be wise, though man is born like a wild ass's colt.

What does Job 11:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 For vain man would be wise - The original is difficult and uncertain, ואיש נבוב ילבב 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 at last becomes prudent, shall make a great man. Coverdale - A vayne body exalteth him self; and the son of man is like a wylde asse's foale. Houbigant translates thus: - A man who hath understanding will become prudent; but he who is as the wild ass hath no heart, i.e., sense. According to this critic, the meaning is this: - A man of sense, should he at any time transgress, will learn wisdom from it; but a man of a brutish mind, uncultivated and unreflecting, will plunge yet deeper into iniquity. Though man be born like a wild ass's colt - Is translated by Mr. Good, Or shall the wild ass colt assume the man? This is making a sense, but such as I fear the original will never allow. There is no end to the translations of this verse, and conjectures relative to its meaning. I shall conclude with the Vulgate - Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tanquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat, "Vain man is puffed up with pride; and he supposes himself to be born free like the wild ass's colt." Man is full of self-conceit; and imagines himself born to act as he pleases, to roam at large, to be under no control, and to be accountable to none for his actions.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 11:7-12

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…

Read the full comment on Job 11:7-12 →

Job 11:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאִ֣ישׁve.'Ishand a personH376
נָ֭בוּבNa.vuvhollowH5014
יִלָּבֵ֑בyi.la.Vevhe will become intelligentH3823
וְעַ֥יִרve.'A.yirand a male donkey ofH5895
פֶּ֝֗רֶאPe.re'a wild donkeyH6501
אָדָ֥ם'a.Dama human beingH120
יִוָּלֵֽד\׃yi.va.Ledit will be bornH3205

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 11:12

  • Job 39:5-8

    Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

  • James 2:20

    But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

  • Psalms 73:22

    So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

  • Jeremiah 2:24

    A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

  • James 3:13-17

    Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. …

  • Ecclesiastes 3:18

    I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

  • Psalms 62:9-10

    Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

  • Job 6:5

    Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

  • Psalms 51:5

    Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

  • Job 12:2-3

    No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

  • Job 15:14

    What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

  • Romans 1:22

    Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
For vain. Heb. For empty.
Ps 62:9,10; 73:22; 92:6; Ec 3:18; Ro 1:22; Jas 2:20
would.
5:13; 12:2,3; 28:28; Pr 30:2-4; Ro 12:16; 1Co 3:18-20; Jas 3:13-17
man be.
15:14; Ps 51:5; Eph 2:3
a wild.
6:5; 39:5-8; Jer 2:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 11:11

    For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

  • Job 11:12

    For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

  • Job 11:13

    If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

Read all of Job 11

Job 11:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
El hombre vano se hará entendido, aunque nazca como el pollino del asno montés.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et l’homme stupide s’enhardit, quoique l’homme naisse comme le poulain de l’âne sauvage.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Auch ein Hohlköpfiger gewinnt Verstand, wenn auch der Mensch als ein Wildeselsfüllen geboren wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Vir vanus in superbiam erigitur, et tamquam pullum onagri se liberum natum putat.