Job 21 · Verse 12

Job 21:12

They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Job 21:12, King James Version

Job 21:12 in other translations

BSBsinging to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.
WEBThey sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
ASVThey sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
YLTThey lift themselves up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.
DARBYThey shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
BBEThey make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
WebsterThey take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

What does Job 21:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. take--rather, "lift up the voice" (sing) to the note of [Umbreit]. timbrel--rather, "tambourine." organ--not the modern "organ," but the "pipe" (Ge 4:21). The first clause refers to stringed, the latter, to wind instruments; thus, with "the voice" all kinds of music are enumerated.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 They take the timbrel and harp - ישאו yisu, they rise up or lift themselves up, probably alluding to the rural exercise of dancing. תף toph, which we translate timbrel, means a sort of drum, such as the tom-tom of the Asiatics. כנור kinnor may mean something of the harp kind. עוגב ugab, organ, means nothing like the instrument now called the organ, though thus translated both by the Septuagint and Vulgate; it probably means the syrinx, composed of several unequal pipes, close at the bottom, which when blown into at the top, gives a very shrill and lively sound. To these instruments the youth are represented as dancing joyfully. Mr. Good translates: "They trip merrily to the sound of the pipe." And illustrates his translation with the following verse: - "Now pursuing, now retreating,Now in circling troops they meet; To brisk notes in cadence beating,Glance their many twinkling feet." The original is intended to convey the true notion of the gambols of the rustic nymphs and swains on festival occasions, and let it be observed that this is spoken of the children of those who say unto God, "Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him?" Job 21:14, Job 21:15. Is it any wonder that the children of such parents should be living to the flesh, and serving the lusts of the flesh? for neither they nor their parents know God, nor pray unto him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 21:7-16

Job says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way or other, he makes use of the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief reason is, because he will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make light of God and religion, as…

Read the full comment on Job 21:7-16 →

Job 21:12 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.

יִ֭שְׂאוּYis.'uthey liftH5375
כְּתֹ֣ףke.Tofaccording to tambourineH8596
וְכִנּ֑וֹרve.khi.Norand harpH3658
וְ֝יִשְׂמְח֗וּve.yis.me.Chuso they may rejoiceH8055
לְק֣וֹלle.Kolto [the] sound ofH6963
עוּגָֽב\׃'u.Gava fluteH5748

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

Cross references for Job 21:12

  • Amos 6:4-6

    That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

  • Genesis 4:21

    And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

  • Isaiah 5:12

    And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.

  • Genesis 31:27

    Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?

  • Isaiah 22:13

    And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ge 4:21; 31:27; Isa 5:12; 22:13; Am 6:4-6

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

Context

  • Job 21:11

    They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

  • Job 21:12

    They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

  • Job 21:13

    They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

Read all of Job 21

Job 21:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al son de tamboril y de cítara saltan, y se huelgan al son del órgano.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ils chantent au son du tambourin et de la harpe, et se réjouissent au son du chalumeau.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie erheben die Stimme bei Tamburin und Laute und sind fröhlich beim Klange der Schalmei.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tenent tympanum et citharam, et gaudent ad sonitum organi.