Job 12:9

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

Who knoweth {H3045} not in all these that the hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} hath wrought {H6213} this?

every one of them knows that the hand of ADONAI has done this!

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,

Commentary

Context of Job 12:9

In Job 12, Job is responding to the arguments of his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who have been attempting to explain his suffering as a consequence of his sin. Job challenges their conventional wisdom, asserting that true understanding of God's ways is far deeper than their simplistic explanations. He points to the obvious evidence of God's power and sovereignty throughout creation, implying that this knowledge is so basic and evident that even animals possess it (Job 12:7-8). Verse 9 serves as a rhetorical question, emphasizing the undeniable truth of divine control over all things.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence: The core message of this verse is God's absolute power and control over all creation. The phrase "the hand of the LORD" signifies His active involvement, authority, and ability to bring about whatever He wills. It underscores that nothing in the universe happens outside of His sovereign will.
  • Universal Revelation: Job argues that God's power is not a hidden mystery but is plainly visible and universally knowable through the natural world. The order, complexity, and sheer power evident in creation speak volumes about its Creator. This aligns with other biblical passages that describe the heavens declaring the glory of God and His invisible attributes being clearly seen from what has been made (Romans 1:20).
  • Challenge to Human Presumption: By posing the question "Who knoweth not in all these...?", Job subtly rebukes his friends. He implies that their rigid theological framework fails to grasp this fundamental and widely acknowledged truth of God's unchallengeable power, suggesting that their wisdom is inferior to even the common understanding of nature.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the hand of the LORD" (Hebrew: יַד־יְהוָה, yad-Yahweh) is a powerful and common biblical idiom. It represents God's active power, direct intervention, and sovereign control. It's not merely a metaphor for His influence but points to His direct agency in bringing things to pass. The word "wrought" (Hebrew: עָשָׂה, 'asah) means to make, do, accomplish, or create. In this context, it highlights God as the ultimate artisan and orchestrator of all that exists and occurs.

Practical Application

Job 12:9 offers profound comfort and a call to humility for believers today. In times of uncertainty, suffering, or confusion, this verse reminds us that God is actively engaged and in complete control, even when His ways are beyond our full comprehension. Recognizing "the hand of the LORD" in all circumstances—the good and the bad—can foster a deeper trust in His ultimate plan and wisdom. It encourages us to look beyond immediate difficulties and find peace in His unchanging sovereignty, knowing that He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 41:20 (9 votes)

    That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

  • Jeremiah 27:5 (7 votes)

    I have made the earth, the man and the beast that [are] upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

  • Jeremiah 27:6 (7 votes)

    And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

  • Romans 11:36 (7 votes)

    For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen.

  • Daniel 9:17 (6 votes)

    Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

  • Acts 19:35 (6 votes)

    And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?

  • 1 Samuel 2:7 (5 votes)

    The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.