Job 12 · Verse 4

Job 12:4

I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
Job 12:4, King James Version

Job 12:4 in other translations

BSBI am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
WEBI am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
ASVI am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
YLTA laughter to his friend I am: ‘He calleth to God, and He answereth him,' A laughter is the perfect righteous one.
DARBYI am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright man.
BBEIt seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
WebsterI am as one mocked by his neighbor, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is derided.

What does Job 12:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. The unfounded accusations of Job's friends were a "mockery" of him. He alludes to Zophar's word, "mockest" (Job 11:3). neighbour, who calleth, &c.--rather, "I who call upon God that he may answer me favorably" [Umbreit].

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 I am as one mocked of his neighbor - Though I am invoking God for help and salvation, yet my friends mock me in this most solemn and sacred work. But God answereth me. The just upright man is laughed to scorn - This is a very difficult verse, on which no two critics seem to be agreed. Mr. Good translates the fourth and fifth verses thus: - "Thus brother is become a laughing-stock to his companions, While calling upon God that he would succor him. The just, the perfect man, is a laughing-stock to the proud, A derision amidst the sunshine of the prosperous, While ready to slip with his foot. For a vindication of this version, I must refer to his notes. Coverdale gives at least a good sense. Thus he that calleth upon God, and whom God heareth, is mocked of his neighboure: the godly and innocent man is laughed to scorne. Godlynesse is a light despysed in the hertes of the rich; and is set for them to stomble upon. The fifth verse is thus rendered by Mr. Parkhurst: "A torch of contempt, or contemptible link, (see Isa 7:4; Isa 40:2, Isa 40:3), לעשתות leashtoth, to the splendours of the prosperous (is he who is) ready (נכון nachon, Job 15:23; Job 18:12; Psa 38:17) to slip with his foot." The general sense is tolerably plain; but to emendations and conjectures there is no end.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 12:1-5

Job upbraids his friends with the good opinion they had of their own wisdom compared with his. We are apt to call reproofs reproaches, and to think ourselves mocked when advised and admonished; this is our folly; yet here was colour for this charge. He suspected the true cause of their conduct to be, that they despised him who was fallen into poverty. It is the way of the world. Even the just, upright man, if he…

Read the full comment on Job 12:1-5 →

Job 12:4 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.

שְׂחֹ֤קse.Choka laughingstockH7814
לְרֵעֵ֨הוּ\׀le.re.'E.huto friend hisH7453
אֶֽהְיֶ֗ה'eh.YehI amH1961
קֹרֵ֣אko.Re'[one who] calledH7121
לֶ֭אֱלוֹהַּLe.'e.lo.ahto GodH433
וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑הוּvai.ya.'a.Ne.huand he answered himH6030
שְׂ֝ח֗וֹקSe.Chok[is] a laughingstockH7814
צַדִּ֥יקtza.Dika righteous [person]H6662
תָּמִֽים\׃ta.Mima blameless [person]H8549

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

Cross references for Job 12:4

  • Job 30:1

    But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

  • Job 21:3

    Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

  • Psalms 91:15

    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

  • Job 17:6

    He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

  • Psalms 22:7-8

    All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

  • Job 16:10

    They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

  • Job 17:2

    Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

  • Jeremiah 33:3

    Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

  • Proverbs 14:2

    He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

  • Job 16:20

    My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

  • Acts 17:32

    And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

  • Micah 7:7

    Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
one mocked.
11:3; 16:10; 17:2,6; 21:3; 30:1; Ps 22:7,8; 35:16; Mt 27:29
Heb 11:36
calleth.
16:20; Ps 91:15; Jer 33:3; Mic 7:7
the just.
Pr 14:2; Mr 5:40; Lu 16:14; Ac 17:32

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

Context

  • Job 12:3

    But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

  • Job 12:4

    I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

  • Job 12:5

    He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.

Read all of Job 12

Job 12:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo soy uno de quien su amigo se mofa, que invoca á Dios, y él le responde: con todo, el justo y perfecto es escarnecido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je suis un homme qui est la risée de ses amis, criant à ✝Dieu, et à qui il répondra; – le juste parfait est un objet de risée!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich muß einer sein, der seinem Freunde zum Gespött ist, der zu Gott ruft, und er antwortet ihm; der Gerechte, Vollkommene ist zum Gespött!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui deridetur ab amico suo, sicut ego, invocabit Deum, et exaudiet eum: deridetur enim justi simplicitas.