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Job 12:15

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Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

Behold, he withholdeth {H6113} the waters {H4325}, and they dry up {H3001}: also he sendeth them out {H7971}, and they overturn {H2015} the earth {H776}.

When he holds back water, there is drought; when he sends it out, it overruns the land.

If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.

Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.

Commentary

Job 12:15 is a profound declaration by Job concerning God's absolute and unchallengeable power over the natural world. In his dialogue with his friends, Job asserts God's ultimate sovereignty, demonstrating that the Creator's control extends to every aspect of existence, from the smallest detail to the most cataclysmic events.

Context

This verse comes from Job's eloquent and powerful discourse in response to his friends' accusations and simplistic theology. After Zophar's harsh words, Job takes the floor, not to defend his innocence directly, but to affirm God's majestic power and wisdom, which far transcends human understanding. He argues that God's actions are not always predictable or explainable by human logic, challenging the idea that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin. Job 12:15 highlights God's dominion over the elements, setting the stage for his broader argument about divine wisdom and human limitations, a theme explored further in God's eventual response from the whirlwind.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Power: The verse powerfully illustrates God's complete control over nature. He is not merely a creator but an active sustainer and orchestrator of all natural phenomena. This includes both life-giving provision and destructive forces.
  • Control Over Water: Water, essential for life, is presented as entirely subject to God's will. He can "withhold the waters," leading to drought and desolation, or "send them out," causing devastating floods that "overturn the earth." This highlights human dependence on God for basic survival.
  • Incomprehensible Wisdom: Job's emphasis on God's power serves to underscore that God's ways are higher than human ways, and His wisdom is beyond full human comprehension. The ability to both sustain and destroy at will speaks to a wisdom that defies simple categorization or explanation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse convey strong imagery:

  • "withholdeth" (Hebrew: 'atzar - עָצַר): This word implies a deliberate act of restraining, shutting up, or holding back. It's not a passive absence of water but an active withholding by God.
  • "sendeth them out" (Hebrew: shalach - שָׁלַח): This term means to send forth, let go, or unleash. It describes a deliberate release of water, leading to its destructive power.
  • "overturn the earth" (Hebrew: haphak - הָפַךְ): This vivid verb means to overthrow, overturn, or turn upside down. It paints a picture of complete disruption and devastation, reminiscent of the great flood in Genesis.

Practical Application

Job 12:15 offers several enduring lessons for believers today:

  1. Awe and Reverence: This verse should inspire profound awe and reverence for the Creator. Recognizing God's immense power over the natural world fosters a deeper sense of humility and worship.
  2. Trust Amidst Adversity: In times of natural disaster, drought, or abundance, this verse reminds us that God is sovereign. While His ways are often mysterious, we are called to trust in His ultimate control and wise purposes, even when circumstances are challenging.
  3. Dependence on God: It underscores humanity's fundamental dependence on God for all things, especially for life-sustaining elements like water. We are not self-sufficient but rely entirely on His provision and grace.
  4. Beyond Simplistic Explanations: Like Job, we are reminded not to fall into simplistic explanations for suffering or prosperity. God's intricate workings in the world are often beyond our full grasp, calling for faith rather than complete understanding.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 17:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

  • Job 12:10 (2 votes)

    In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

  • Luke 4:25 (2 votes)

    But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

  • James 5:17 (2 votes)

    Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

  • James 5:18 (2 votes)

    And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

  • Genesis 6:17 (2 votes)

    And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein [is] the breath of life, from under heaven; [and] every thing that [is] in the earth shall die.

  • Revelation 11:6 (2 votes)

    These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.