Job 5 · Verse 12

Job 5:12

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
Job 5:12, King James Version

Job 5:12 in other translations

BSBHe thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
WEBHe frustrates the plans of the crafty, so that their hands can’t perform their enterprise.
ASVHe frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
YLTMaking void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.
DARBYHe disappointeth the devices of the crafty, and their hands carry not out the enterprise.
BBEWho makes the designs of the wise go wrong, so that they are unable to give effect to their purposes.
WebsterHe disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

What does Job 5:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. enterprise--literally, "realization." The Hebrew combines in the one word the two ideas, wisdom and happiness, "enduring existence" being the etymological and philosophical root of the combined notion [Umbreit].

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty - All these sayings refer to God's particular providence, by which he is ever working for the good, and counterworking the plots of the wicked. And as various as are the contingent, capricious, and malevolent acts of men, so varied are his providential interferences; disappointing the devices, snares, and plots of the crafty, so that their plans being confounded, and their machinery broken in pieces, their hands cannot perform their enterprises.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 5:6-16

Eliphaz reminds Job, that no affliction comes by chance, nor is to be placed to second causes. The difference between prosperity and adversity is not so exactly observed, as that between day and night, summer and winter; but it is according to the will and counsel of God. We must not attribute our afflictions to fortune, for they are from God; nor our sins to fate, for they are from ourselves. Man is born in sin…

Read the full comment on Job 5:6-16 →

Job 5:12 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.

מֵ֭פֵרMe.fer[who] frustratesH6565
מַחְשְׁב֣וֹתmach.she.Vot[the] plans ofH4284
עֲרוּמִ֑ים'a.ru.Mimcrafty [people]H6175
וְֽלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
תַעֲשֶׂ֥ינָהta.'a.Sei.nahthey will bring aboutH6213
יְ֝דֵיהֶ֗םye.dei.Hemhands theirH3027
תּוּשִׁיָּֽה\׃tu.shi.YahsuccessH8454

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

Cross references for Job 5:12

  • Psalms 33:10-11

    The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

  • Psalms 21:11

    For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

  • Isaiah 8:10

    Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

  • Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

  • Psalms 37:17

    For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.

  • Acts 12:11

    And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

  • Isaiah 37:36

    Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

  • Nehemiah 4:15

    And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.

  • Job 12:16-17

    With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

  • Acts 23:12-22

    And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. …

  • Isaiah 19:3

    And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
disappointeth.
12:16,17; Ne 4:15; Ps 33:10,11; 37:17; Pr 21:30; Isa 8:10; 19:3
their hands.
Ps 21:11; Isa 37:36; Ac 12:11; 23:12-22
their enterprise. or, anything.

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

Context

  • Job 5:11

    To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

  • Job 5:12

    He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

  • Job 5:13

    He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

Read all of Job 5

Job 5:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que frustra los pensamientos de los astutos, para que sus manos no hagan nada:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il dissipe les projets des hommes rusés, et leurs mains n’accomplissent pas leurs conseils.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der zunichte macht die Anschläge der Listigen, und ihre Hände führen den Plan nicht aus;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		qui dissipat cogitationes malignorum, ne possint implere manus eorum quod cœperant;