Job 12 · Verse 20

Job 12:20

He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
Job 12:20, King James Version

Job 12:20 in other translations

BSBHe deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
WEBHe removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
ASVHe removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.
YLTTurning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
DARBYHe depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;
BBEHe makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
WebsterHe removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

What does Job 12:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. the trusty--rather, "those secure in their eloquence"; for example, the speakers in the gate (Is 3:3) [Beza]. understanding--literally, "taste," that is, insight or spiritual discernment, which experience gives the aged. The same Hebrew word is applied to Daniel's wisdom in interpretation (Da 2:14).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty - The faithful counsellor and the eloquent orator avail nothing: Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat; "God infatuates those whom he is determined to destroy." The writer might have had his eyes on Isa 3:1-3, which the reader will do well to consult. The understanding of the aged - זקנים zekenim signifies the same here as our word elders or elder-men; which includes in itself the two ideas of seniority, or considerably advanced age, and official authority. These can do no more to save a state which God designs to destroy, notwithstanding their great political wisdom and knowledge, than the child who can neither reason nor speak.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 12:12-25

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…

Read the full comment on Job 12:12-25 →

Job 12:20 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.

מֵסִ֣ירme.Sir[he is] removingH5493
שָׂ֭פָהSa.faha lipH8193
לְנֶאֱמָנִ֑יםle.ne.'e.ma.Nimof trusted [ones]H539
וְטַ֖עַםve.Ta.'amand [the] discernment ofH2940
זְקֵנִ֣יםze.ke.NimeldersH2205
יִקָּֽח\׃yi.Kachhe takes awayH3947

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

Cross references for Job 12:20

  • Job 32:9

    Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

  • Job 17:4

    For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

  • Job 12:24

    He 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.

  • Proverbs 10:21

    The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

  • Job 39:17

    Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

  • Proverbs 12:19

    The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

  • Proverbs 12:22

    Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

  • Isaiah 3:1-3

    For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the speech of the trusty. Heb. the lip of the faithful.
Pr 10:21; 12:19,22
taketh.
24; 17:4; 32:9; 39:17; Isa 3:1-3

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

Context

  • Job 12:19

    He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

  • Job 12:20

    He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

  • Job 12:21

    He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

Read all of Job 12

Job 12:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El impide el labio á los que dicen verdad, y quita á los ancianos el consejo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il ôte la parole à ceux dont la parole est sûre, et enlève le discernement aux anciens;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Zuverlässigen entzieht er die Sprache, und Alten benimmt er das Urteil.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		commutans labium veracium, et doctrinam senum auferens.