Job 12:13

KJV

With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

KJV (with Strong's)

With him is wisdom {H2451} and strength {H1369}, he hath counsel {H6098} and understanding {H8394}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"With God are wisdom and power; he has [good] counsel and understanding.

Berean Standard Bible

Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

American Standard Version

WithGodis wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 12:13, a profound declaration within Job's impassioned discourse, asserts the inherent and complete attributes of God, emphasizing His perfect wisdom, unchallengeable strength, deliberate counsel, and infinite understanding. This verse serves as a foundational statement of divine sovereignty, contrasting God's absolute perfection with the limited human perspective and the flawed theological assumptions presented by Job's friends. It underscores that God's ways are beyond full human comprehension, yet His character is the ultimate source of all truth and power, providing a bedrock for faith amidst life's most perplexing trials.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 12:13 is situated within Job's eloquent and often sarcastic rebuttal to his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who have consistently maintained that Job's immense suffering is a direct consequence of his sin. Chapters 12-14 represent Job's most comprehensive defense of his integrity and his profound struggle with divine justice. He acknowledges God's absolute power and sovereignty, even as he grapples with the apparent injustice of his own situation. Job challenges the simplistic cause-and-effect theology of his friends, asserting that God's actions are often inscrutable and not always aligned with human notions of fairness. He reminds them that God's power extends over all creation, even over the lives of every creature, as stated in [Job 12:10](/job/12-10 "Job 12:10 - God's Sovereignty Over All Life"), and that the wisdom of the world is foolishness compared to God's. Verse 13, therefore, is a direct and emphatic statement of God's inherent perfection, serving as a theological anchor in Job's argument against the limited and often erroneous counsel of his companions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a location generally believed to be outside of Israel, perhaps in Edom or northern Arabia. This suggests a wisdom tradition that predates or exists alongside the Mosaic Law, focusing on universal truths about God, humanity, and suffering rather than specific covenantal obligations. The cultural context reflects a patriarchal society where elders and friends offered counsel, often rooted in conventional wisdom that linked prosperity to righteousness and suffering to sin. This "retribution theology" was prevalent in the ancient Near East, not just among the Israelites, and Job's friends represent this dominant worldview. Job's challenge to this simplistic framework was radical, implying that God's justice operates on a plane far beyond human understanding or formulaic application. The dialogue reflects a deep engagement with the fundamental questions of divine governance and human suffering that transcended specific national or religious boundaries of the time.
* **Key Themes:** Job 12:13 encapsulates several overarching themes central to the Book of Job and biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully asserts **Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence**, emphasizing that God's rule is absolute and His power unchallengeable, a theme echoed in [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "Isaiah 46:10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning") where God declares the end from the beginning. Secondly, it highlights **Divine Wisdom and Inscrutability**, positing that God's wisdom and understanding are boundless and often beyond human comprehension, directly challenging the idea that humans can fully grasp God's ways or motives, as seen in [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33 - The Depth of God's Wisdom"). Thirdly, the verse underscores the theme of **Human Limitation and Humility**, contrasting God's infinite attributes with the finite knowledge and flawed counsel of humanity. This calls for a posture of humility and trust, rather than demanding answers or presuming to understand God's complex purposes. Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **God's Righteousness and Justice**, implying that even when His actions seem inexplicable to humans, they are always rooted in perfect counsel and understanding, ensuring His ultimate justice, a concept foundational to the entire book.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wisdom (Hebrew, _chokmah'_):** This term (חָכְמָה) goes beyond mere intellectual knowledge; it signifies practical skill, discernment, and the ability to apply knowledge effectively and righteously. In a divine context, it refers to God's perfect, inherent capacity to order creation, govern the universe, and execute His will with optimal effectiveness and moral rectitude. It is the attribute by which God knows the best means to achieve the best ends.
* **Strength (Hebrew, _gevurah'_):** The Hebrew word (גְּבוּרָה) denotes power, might, and valor. When applied to God, it speaks of His omnipotence – His absolute, inherent ability to accomplish anything consistent with His nature. This strength ensures that His plans are unchallengeable, His decrees are irresistible, and His will is always brought to fruition, regardless of any opposition or perceived obstacle.
* **Counsel (Hebrew, _etsah'_):** This term (עֵצָה) refers to deliberate plans, strategic advice, and divine purpose. It highlights God's intentionality and foresight in all His actions. God does not act impulsively or reactively; rather, His every deed flows from a perfectly conceived, eternal plan. This counsel is infallible and ultimately works towards His sovereign purposes, even when the immediate outcomes are inscrutable to human observers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"With him [is] wisdom and strength":** This opening clause immediately establishes God's inherent possession of two fundamental attributes: perfect wisdom and absolute power. The preposition "with him" (עִמּוֹ, 'immo) emphasizes that these qualities are not acquired or external but are intrinsic to God's very being. His wisdom ensures His actions are always right and effective, while His strength guarantees their accomplishment. This pairing highlights God's perfect capacity to conceive and execute His will.
* **"he hath counsel and understanding":** This second clause further elaborates on God's cognitive and volitional perfection. "Counsel" speaks to His deliberate and purposeful planning, indicating that all His deeds are part of an overarching, eternal design. "Understanding" refers to His deep insight, discernment, and comprehensive grasp of all things. It is the perfect intelligence that informs His counsel and guides His wisdom, ensuring that His plans are not only powerful but also perfectly conceived and righteous. Together, these clauses paint a picture of a God who is both infinitely capable and infinitely intelligent in His governance of the cosmos.

#### Literary Devices
Job 12:13 primarily employs **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, to amplify its theological assertion. The verse presents two balanced clauses: "With him [is] wisdom and strength" and "he hath counsel and understanding." This structure creates a sense of completeness and reinforces the idea that these attributes are intrinsically linked and comprehensively present in God. The use of **Merism** can also be observed, where "wisdom and strength" alongside "counsel and understanding" together encompass the full spectrum of divine intellectual and executive power. This rhetorical device suggests that God possesses *all* aspects of these qualities, leaving no room for deficiency. Furthermore, the verse functions as an **Assertion** or **Declaration**, a direct statement of truth intended to counter the flawed arguments of Job's friends, serving as a foundational theological premise within Job's defense.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 12:13 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God, connecting directly to the broader biblical understanding of divine attributes. It establishes God as the ultimate source of all wisdom, power, and purposeful design, challenging any human attempt to fully comprehend or constrain His actions within finite frameworks. This verse underscores the concept of divine aseity – God's self-existence and independence from all creation – as His wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding are inherent, not acquired. It calls believers to a posture of humble trust in God's sovereign plan, even when circumstances are perplexing, affirming that His character is the ultimate bedrock for faith. The truth presented here provides a crucial counterpoint to the human tendency to judge God based on limited experience or to assume a full grasp of His intricate purposes.

* [Proverbs 2:6](/proverbs/2-6 "Proverbs 2:6 - The Lord Gives Wisdom")
* [Isaiah 40:28](/isaiah/40-28 "Isaiah 40:28 - God's Understanding is Unsearchable")
* [Romans 11:33](/romans/11-33 "Romans 11:33-34 - The Depth of God's Wisdom and Knowledge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world often characterized by chaos, uncertainty, and suffering, Job 12:13 offers a profound anchor for the soul. It invites us to shift our gaze from our limited circumstances and understanding to the infinite wisdom and unshakeable strength of God. When life's trials seem inexplicable, or when we are tempted to question God's goodness or presence, this verse reminds us that His counsel is perfect and His understanding boundless. It cultivates humility, urging us to acknowledge that our finite minds cannot fully grasp the depths of His ways, and therefore, we must trust His character even when we cannot trace His hand. This trust liberates us from the burden of needing to understand everything, allowing us to rest in the assurance that a perfectly wise and powerful God is sovereignly orchestrating all things for His ultimate purposes, which are always good. It calls us to surrender our anxieties, knowing that the One who holds all wisdom and strength is actively working, even in the midst of our deepest pain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's infinite wisdom and strength impact your perspective on personal suffering or global crises?**
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own understanding rather than trusting God's perfect counsel?**
* **How can the truth of God's unsearchable understanding lead you to greater humility and peace in your daily walk?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereign plan, even when it seems counter-intuitive or difficult?**

### FAQ
**Why does Job emphasize God's attributes in this context?**

Answer: Job emphasizes God's attributes of wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding in Job 12:13 primarily to refute the simplistic and often harsh theology of his friends. His friends argued that Job's suffering was a direct result of his sin, implying that God's justice operates on a straightforward, predictable retribution principle. Job, however, asserts that God's ways are far more complex and inscrutable than human logic can grasp. By highlighting God's infinite wisdom and power, Job underscores that God's actions are not always comprehensible to humans, and His sovereignty extends beyond our limited understanding of cause and effect. He acknowledges God's absolute control over all things, as seen in [Job 12:10](/job/12-10 "Job 12:10 - God's Control Over All Life"), even as he struggles with the apparent injustice of his own situation. This emphasis serves to humble his friends and to affirm God's transcendence.

**How does Job 12:13 relate to the problem of evil and suffering?**

Answer: Job 12:13 doesn't directly solve the problem of evil and suffering, but it provides a crucial theological framework for approaching it. By declaring God's perfect wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding, the verse insists that God is not capricious, weak, or ignorant in the face of suffering. Instead, it posits that even when suffering seems inexplicable or unjust from a human perspective, it occurs within the context of God's perfect and sovereign plan. This doesn't mean God *causes* all suffering directly, but that He is ultimately in control and His purposes, though often hidden, are always wise and good. It calls believers to trust God's character even when His actions are mysterious, reinforcing the idea that His ways are higher than ours, as [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways Are Higher") declares.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 12:13, with its profound declaration of God's inherent wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is revealed as the very **Wisdom of God** incarnate, through whom all things were created and by whom all things are sustained, as affirmed in [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer"). In Christ, God's perfect counsel and understanding are made manifest, for He is the "Word" who was "with God" and "was God" ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God")), embodying divine thought and purpose. The **strength** of God, so powerfully declared in Job, is demonstrated in Christ's triumph over sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection, a power that now works in believers ([Ephesians 1:19-20](/ephesians/1-19 "Ephesians 1:19-20 - The Power of God in Christ")). The "counsel" of God, His eternal plan for redemption, is perfectly executed through Christ's atoning sacrifice, providing the only way for humanity to be reconciled to a holy God ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Thus, what Job dimly perceived and declared about God's attributes in the midst of his suffering, Christians fully apprehend in the face of Jesus Christ, who is the "power of God and the wisdom of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God")), the ultimate revelation of the divine character.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 36:5

¶ Behold, God [is] mighty, and despiseth not [any: he is] mighty in strength [and] wisdom.

Job 9:4

[He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened [himself] against him, and hath prospered?

Proverbs 2:6

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:7

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

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:

Job 28:20

¶ Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding?