Job 12 · Verse 23

Job 12:23

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.

Job 12:23, King James Version

Job 12:23 in other translations

BSB	He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
WEB	He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
ASV	He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.
YLT	Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
DARBY	He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
BBE	Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
Webster	He increaseth nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth nations, and straiteneth them again.

What does Job 12:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

23. Is 9:3; Psa 107:38, 39, which Psalm quotes this chapter elsewhere. (See on Job 12:21). straiteneth--literally, "leadeth in," that is, "reduces."

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 23 He increaseth the nations - Mr. Good translates, He letteth the nations grow licentious. Pride, fullness of bread, with extensive trade and commerce, produce luxury; and this is ever accompanied with profligacy of manners. When, then, the cup of this iniquity is full, God destroys the nation, by bringing or permitting to come against it a nation less pampered, more necessitous, and inured to toil. He enlargeth the nations - Often permits a nation to acquire an accession of territory, and afterwards shuts them up within their ancient boundaries, and often contracts even those. All these things seem to occur as natural events, and the consequences of state intrigues, and such like causes; but when Divine inspiration comes to pronounce upon them, they are shown to be the consequence of God's acting in his judgment and mercy; for it is by him that kings reign; it is he who putteth down one and raiseth up another.

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 12:23 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.

מַשְׂגִּ֣יאmas.Gi'[he is] making greatH7679

לַ֭גּוֹיִםLa.go.yim<to> the nationsH1471

וַֽיְאַבְּדֵ֑םvay.'a.be.Demand he destroyed themH6

שֹׁטֵ֥חַsho.Te.ach[he is] spreading outH7849

לַ֝גּוֹיִ֗םla.go.Yim<to> the nationsH1471

וַיַּנְחֵֽם\׃vai.yan.Chemand he led themH5148

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

Cross references for Job 12:23

Isaiah 9:3
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Isaiah 26:15
Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 60:22
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.
Psalms 107:38
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
Jeremiah 33:22
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
Isaiah 27:6
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
Exodus 1:20
Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Jeremiah 30:19
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Exodus 1:7
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
Isaiah 51:2
Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
Zechariah 10:8
I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

increaseth.
Ex 1:7,20; Ps 107:38; Isa 9:3; 26:15; 27:6; 51:2; 60:22; Jer 30:19
Jer 33:22; Zec 10:8
straiteneth them again. Heb. leadeth in.

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

Context

Job 12:22
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Job 12:23
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
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.

Read all of Job 12

Job 12:23 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	El multiplica las gentes, y él las destruye: él esparce las gentes, y las torna á recoger.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Il agrandit les nations, et les détruit; il étend les limites des nations, et les ramène.
German Elberfelder 1871	Er vergrößert Nationen, und er vernichtet sie; er breitet Nationen aus, und er führt sie hinweg.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Qui multiplicat gentes, et perdit eas, et subversas in integrum restituit.