King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again].
Complete Jewish Bible:
He makes nations great and destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.
Berean Standard Bible:
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
American Standard Version:
He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
He increaseth{H7679} the nations{H1471}, and destroyeth{H6} them: he enlargeth{H7849} the nations{H1471}, and straiteneth{H5148} them again.
Cross-References (KJV):
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.
Psalms 107:38
- He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
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.
Exodus 1:20
- Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
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.
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.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 12:23
Job 12:23 is a verse from the Book of Job, which is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible and is one of the most ancient texts in the Jewish and Christian scriptures. The Book of Job deals with the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of divine justice. It recounts the story of Job, a righteous man who loses everything—his wealth, children, and health—as a result of a divine bet between God and the Adversary (Ha-Satan).
The verse itself reflects on the sovereignty of God over nations, highlighting His power to both expand and diminish their territories and influence. In the context of the book, this verse contributes to the broader discussion of God's omnipotence and the limitations of human understanding. Job, in his response to his friends, is affirming that God's ways are beyond human comprehension, and that God has the power to shape the destiny of peoples and nations according to His inscrutable will.
Historically, the Book of Job is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE), a period when the people of Judah were grappling with the loss of their nation and the destruction of their temple. The themes of national destruction and restoration would have resonated deeply with a people who had experienced such traumas. The verse serves as a reminder that despite the apparent chaos of human history, there is a divine hand guiding the rise and fall of empires.
In summary, Job 12:23 encapsulates the belief in God's absolute power over the fate of nations, a theme that would have been particularly poignant for a people facing the reality of their own nation's vulnerability. It underscores the idea that human history is under divine governance, and that God's purposes, though sometimes painful and puzzling, are ultimately just and righteous.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7679
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂגָא
Transliteration: sâgâʼ
Pronunciation: saw-gaw'
Description: ; a primitive root; to grow, i.e. (causatively) to enlarge, (figuratively) laud; increase, magnify. - Strong's Number: H1471
There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גּוֹי
Transliteration: gôwy
Pronunciation: go'-ee
Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H6
There are 14291 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָבַד
Transliteration: ʼâbad
Pronunciation: aw-bad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy); break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee. - Strong's Number: H7849
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁטַח
Transliteration: shâṭach
Pronunciation: shaw-takh'
Description: a primitive root; to expand; all abroad, enlarge, spread, stretch out. - Strong's Number: H5148
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָחָה
Transliteration: nâchâh
Pronunciation: naw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists); bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten.