Job 11:12
For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
Job 11:12 in other translations
| BSB | But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! |
|---|---|
| WEB | An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt. |
| ASV | But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born as a wild ass’s colt. |
| YLT | And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born. |
| DARBY | Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born like the foal of a wild ass. |
| BBE | And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching. |
| Webster | For vain man would be wise, though man is born like a wild ass's colt. |
What does Job 11:12 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
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…
Job 11:12 in the original Hebrew
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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,
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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;
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. |