Job 12:20

He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

He removeth away {H5493} the speech {H8193} of the trusty {H539}, and taketh away {H3947} the understanding {H2940} of the aged {H2205}.

Those who are trusted he deprives of speech, and he removes the discernment of the aged.

He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.

He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.

Job 12:20 (KJV) states, "He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged." This verse is a powerful declaration by Job about God's absolute sovereignty and His ability to humble even the most esteemed and wise among humanity.

Context

This verse is part of Job's response to his three friends, particularly Zophar, who have been asserting that Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of his sin. In chapters 12-14, Job challenges their simplistic theology, arguing that God's ways are far more complex and inscrutable than they understand. He emphasizes God's unsearchable works and wonders, illustrating divine power over all creation and human affairs. Verse 20 is part of a longer passage (Job 12:13-25) where Job lists numerous examples of God's overwhelming might, demonstrating that God can reverse human fortunes, confound the wise, and overturn established order at will.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The verse underscores God's ultimate control over all things, including human intellect, eloquence, and perceived wisdom. He is not bound by human expectations or societal structures.
  • Limitations of Human Wisdom: Job highlights that even those considered "trusty" (reliable, eloquent, or faithful) and "aged" (elders, traditionally repositories of wisdom and experience) are entirely dependent on God. Their wisdom, counsel, or authority can be stripped away by Him.
  • Humbling of the Exalted: God has the power to silence the eloquent and confuse the wise, demonstrating that true wisdom and power reside only with Him, not in human status or accumulated knowledge. This serves as a stark reminder that God's "foolishness" is wiser than human wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "trusty" in the KJV translates the Hebrew word נֶאֱמָנִים (*ne'emanim*), which can refer to those who are faithful, reliable, or hold positions of trust and authority, often implying wise counselors or eloquent speakers.
  • "Aged" comes from זְקֵנִים (*zeqenim*), referring to elders. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, elders were highly respected for their accumulated wisdom, experience, and sound judgment.
  • The verbs "removeth away" and "taketh away" emphasize God's active role in stripping these attributes, illustrating His direct and unchallengeable intervention in human affairs.

Practical Application

Job 12:20 offers profound insights for believers today. It reminds us that human wisdom, experience, and eloquence, while valuable, are ultimately limited and subject to God's will. It encourages humility, especially among those who hold positions of influence or are considered wise. When faced with situations that defy human understanding or when trusted counsel fails, this verse points us back to God's supreme wisdom and unfathomable ways. It's a call to trust in divine providence even when circumstances seem chaotic or unjust, acknowledging that God works in ways beyond our comprehension.

For further context on God's power and wisdom as described by Job, see Job 12:13.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 32:9

    Great men are not [always] wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

  • Job 17:4

    For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].

  • Job 12:24

    He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness [where there is] no way.

  • Proverbs 10:21

    The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

  • Isaiah 3:1

    ¶ For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

  • Isaiah 3:3

    The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

  • Job 39:17

    Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

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