Job 9 · Verse 12

Job 9:12

Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Job 9:12, King James Version

Job 9:12 in other translations

BSBIf He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
WEBBehold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
ASVBehold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
YLTLo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, ‘What dost Thou?'
DARBYBehold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
BBEIf he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
WebsterBehold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest thou?

What does Job 9:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. If "He taketh away," as in my case all that was dear to me, still a mortal cannot call Him to account. He only takes His own. He is an absolute King (Ec 8:4; Da 4:35).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 He taketh away - He never gives, but he is ever lending: and while the gift is useful or is improved, he permits it to remain; but when it becomes useless or is misused, he recalls it. Who can hinder him? - Literally, Who can cause him to restore it? What doest thou? - He is supreme, and will give account of none of his matters. He is infinitely wise, and cannot mistake. He is infinitely kind, and can do nothing cruel. He is infinitely good, and can do nothing wrong. No one, therefore, should question either his motives or his operations.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 9:1-13

In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the justice of God, when he denied himself to be a hypocrite; for how should man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of sins more than could be counted; and if God should contend with him in judgment, he could not justify one out of a thousand, of all the thoughts, words, and actions of his life; therefore he deserved worse than all his present sufferings…

Read the full comment on Job 9:1-13 →

Job 9:12 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.

הֵ֣ןhenthere!H2005
יַ֭חְתֹּףYach.tofhe will snatch awayH2862
מִ֣יmiwho?H4310
יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּye.shi.Ve.nuwill he turn back himH7725
מִֽי\־mi-who?H4310
יֹאמַ֥רyo.Marwill he sayH559
אֵ֝לָ֗יו'e.Lavto himH413
מַֽה\־mah-what?H4100
תַּעֲשֶֽׂה\׃ta.'a.Sehare you doingH6213

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

Cross references for Job 9:12

  • Job 11:10

    If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

  • Isaiah 45:9

    Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

  • Job 23:13

    But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

  • Romans 11:34

    For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

  • Daniel 4:35

    And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

  • Job 34:29

    When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:

  • Matthew 20:15

    Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

  • Job 33:13

    Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

  • Jeremiah 18:6

    O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

  • Matthew 11:26

    Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

  • Ephesians 1:11

    In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

  • Romans 9:18-20

    Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he taketh.
23:13; 34:29; Da 4:35; Eph 1:11
hinder him. Heb. turn him away.
11:10
What.
33:13; Isa 45:9; Jer 18:6; Mt 11:26; 20:15; Ro 9:18-20; 11:34

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

Context

  • Job 9:11

    Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

  • Job 9:12

    Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

  • Job 9:13

    If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

Read all of Job 9

Job 9:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		He aquí, arrebatará; ¿quién le hará restituir? ¿Quién le dirá, Qué haces?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Voici, il ravit; qui l’en détournera? Qui lui dira: Que fais-tu?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Siehe, er rafft dahin, und wer will ihm wehren? wer zu ihm sagen: Was tust du?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si repente interroget, quis respondebit ei? vel quis dicere potest: Cur ita facis?