Job 12 · Verse 21

Job 12:21

He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
Job 12:21, King James Version

Job 12:21 in other translations

BSBHe pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
WEBHe pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
ASVHe poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the belt of the strong.
YLTPouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
DARBYHe poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;
BBEHe puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
WebsterHe poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

What does Job 12:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
21. Psa 107:40 quotes, in its first clause, this verse and, in its second, Job 12:24. weakeneth the strength--literally, "looseth the girdle"; Orientals wear flowing garments; when active strength is to be put forth, they gird up their garments with a girdle. Hence here--"He destroyeth their power" in the eyes of the people.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 He poureth contempt upon princes - נדיבים nedibim, "those of royal extraction;" widely different from the כהנים cohanim mentioned Job 12:19. Weakeneth the strength of the mighty - אפיקים aphikim, the compact; the well-strung together; the nervous and sinewy. Perhaps there is a reference here to the crocodile, as the same term is applied, Job 40:13, to the compactness of his bones: and as רפה מזיח rippah meziach, which we translate weakeneth the strength, signifies more properly looseth the girdle, as the margin has properly rendered it, the reference seems still more pointed; for it is known that "the crocodile, from the shoulders to the extremity of the tail, is covered with large square scales, disposed like parallel girdles, fifty-two in number. In the middle of each girdle are four protuberances, which become higher as they approach the end of the tail, and compose four rows." See the quotation in Parkhurst, under the word אפק drow eh aphak. What is human strength against this? We may say as the Lord said, Job 40:19 : He that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. He alone can loose the girdles of this mighty one.

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 12:21 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.

שׁוֹפֵ֣ךְsho.Fekh[he is] pouringH8210
בּ֭וּזbuzcontemptH937
עַל\־'al-onH5921
נְדִיבִ֑יםne.di.Vimnoble [people]H5081
וּמְזִ֖יחַu.me.Zi.achand [the] belt ofH4206
אֲפִיקִ֣ים'a.fi.Kimstrong peopleH650
רִפָּֽה\׃ri.Pahhe loosensH7503

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

Cross references for Job 12:21

  • Psalms 107:40

    He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

  • 1 Kings 21:23-24

    And of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.

  • Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  • Acts 12:23

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  • Exodus 16:24

    And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.

  • Daniel 4:32-33

    And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

  • Isaiah 23:9

    The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

  • Daniel 2:21-22

    And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

  • Isaiah 24:21-22

    And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

  • Isaiah 37:38

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esar–haddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • Isaiah 22:21

    And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

  • Matthew 2:12-13

    And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
poureth.
Ex 8:2; 16:24; 1Ki 21:23,24; 2Ki 9:26,34-37; Ps 107:40; Isa 23:9
Isa 24:21,22; 37:38; Da 2:21,22; 4:32,33; Mt 2:12,13; Ac 12:23
weakened the strength of the mighty. or, looseth the girdleof the strong.
Isa 5:27; 11:5; 22:21; Eph 6:10,14

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Job 12:22

    He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Read all of Job 12

Job 12:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El derrama menosprecio sobre los príncipes, y enflaquece la fuerza de los esforzados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il verse le mépris sur les nobles, et relâche la ceinture des forts;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Verachtung schüttet er auf Edle, und den Gürtel der Starken macht er schlaff.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Effundit despectionem super principes, eos qui oppressi fuerant relevans.