Job 12

The original text is written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 25 verses.

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=36-37}}

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $\backslash mathfrak\{G\}$^A; 5th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}

The structure of the book is as follows:{{sfn|Wilson|2015|pp=17–23}}

• The Prologue (chapters 1–2)
• The Dialogue (chapters 3–31)
• The Verdicts (32:1–42:6)
• The Epilogue (42:7–17)

Within the structure, chapter 12 is grouped into the Dialogue section with the following outline:{{sfn|Wilson|2015|pp=18–21}}

• Job's Self-Curse and Self-Lament (3:1–26)
• Round One (4:1–14:22)
• Eliphaz (4:1–5:27)
• Job (6:1–7:21)
• Bildad (8:1–22)
• Job (9:1–10:22)
• Zophar (11:1–20)
• Job (12:1–14:22)
• The Wicked Prosper but I Am Suffering (12:1–6)
• God's Hand in Creation (12:7–12)
• God's Active Control of the World (12:13–25)
• Job's Stance (13:1–3)
• Job's Rebuke of His Friends (13:4–12)
• Addressing the Friends (13:13–19)
• Addressing God (13:20–28)
• The Brevity of Human Life (14:1–6)
• The Lack of Hope for Humans (14:7–12)
• Job's Imaginative Exploration of Hope (14:13–17)
• The Lack of Hope – Again (14:18–22)
• Round Two (15:1–21:34)
• Round Three (22:1–27:23)
• Interlude – A Poem on Wisdom (28:1–28)
• Job's Summing Up (29:1–31:40)

The Dialogue section is composed in the format of poetry with distinctive syntax and grammar.{{sfn|Crenshaw|2007|p=335}} Chapters 12 to 14 contain Job's closing speech of the first round, where he directly addresses his friends (12:2–3; 13:2, 4–12).{{sfn|Wilson|2015|p=79}}

File:Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps - Job and His Friends - 39.48 - Minneapolis Institute of Arts.jpg and his friends", by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps (c. 1852 ).]]

Job points out that some who are wicked are prospering, regardless how the righteous is rewarded or is suffering, and that the life of the nature all are in God's hand (verse 9).{{sfn|Wilson|2015|pp=79–80}} Job suggests his friends to look behind the 'age-old traditions' and 'past-dogmas' to 'the God who is both the source of all wisdom' and the one in control of all creation (verse 12).{{sfn|Wilson|2015|p=80}}

:[Job said:] "Who among all these does not know

::that the hand of the Lord has done this,"{{bibleref2|Job|12:9|MEV}} MEV

• "The LORD": translated from the Hebrew YHWH, which is the only reference to this name outside the narrative frame (Prologue and Epilogue) or the YHWH speeches (Job 38–41).{{sfn|Walton|2012|p=177}} Three manuscripts of Kennicott and two of de Rossi have the word “God” instead.Note [b] on Job 12:9 in NET Bible

:In whose hand is the life of all living things

:and the breath of every human being? {{bibleref2|Job|12:10|LEB}} LEB

This section follows Job's statements in verse 12 (which can also be read as rhetorical questions) to declare the wisdom and might of God (verse 13) whose sovereign activity can be observed in all areas and situations of life (verses 14–25).{{sfn|Wilson|2015|pp=81–82}}

:[Job said:] "He increases the nations and destroys them;

::He enlarges the nations and guides them."{{bibleref2|Job|12:23|MEV}} MEV

• "Increases": from the Hebrew verb {{lang|he|מַשְׂגִּיא}}, masgiʾ (“makes great”) is a common Aramaic word, but only found in Hebrew text in Job 8:11, 12:23 and 36:24. Some Hebrew manuscripts have a reading derived from {{lang|he|שָׁגָה}}, shagah (“leading astray”), whereas the Greek Septuagint does not have the line.Note [a] on Job 12:23 in NET Bible

Job uses the rise and fall of nations, which does not seem to be governed by any moral principle, as an example of God’s arbitrary power,Note [c] on Job 12:23 in NET Bible which is spelled out in detail in Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2) how no group of humans can thwart the purpose of God Almighty.{{sfn|Estes|2013|p=77}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• Divine Providence
• Righteousness

}}

• Related Bible parts: Job 9, Job 16, Job 42

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last = Alter |first = Robert |title = The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes: A Translation with Commentary |publisher = W.W. Norton & Co |year = 2010 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=TujOn209Ts8C| isbn = 978-0393080735}}
• {{Cite book|last= Coogan|first = Michael David| authorlink= Michael D. Coogan |title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48 |editor-last1=Coogan |editor-first1=Michael David |editor-first2=Marc Zvi |editor-last2= Brettler |editor-first3=Carol Ann |editor-last3= Newsom |editor-first4= Pheme |editor-last4= Perkins |edition= Augmented 3rd |publisher = Oxford University Press |year =2007 |isbn = 9780195288810 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ}}
• {{Cite book|last= Crenshaw | first= James L. | chapter = 17. Job | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 331–355 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
• {{Cite book|last= Estes | first = Daniel J. | title= Job | series= Teach the Text Commentary Series |editor-first1= John H. |editor-last1=Walton |editor-first2= Mark L. |editor-last2=Strauss | place= United States |publisher =Baker Publishing Group | year= 2013 |isbn = 9781441242778 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=SpFRU1n-oUMC }}
• {{Cite book |last = Farmer |first = Kathleen A. |chapter = The Wisdom Books |editor1-last = McKenzie |editor1-first = Steven L. |editor2-last = Graham |editor2-first = Matt Patrick |title = The Hebrew Bible Today: An Introduction to Critical Issues |publisher = Westminster John Knox Press |year = 1998 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=owwhpmIVgSAC |isbn = 978-0-66425652-4}}
• {{cite book|last= Halley| first= Henry H.| authorlink= Henry Hampton Halley| title= Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary |edition=24th (revised)|publisher= Zondervan Publishing House |date= 1965 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zsG4oLToI7oC | isbn= 0-310-25720-4}}
• {{Cite book | last1 = Kugler | first1 = Robert | last2 = Hartin | first2 = Patrick J. | title = An Introduction to the Bible | publisher = Eerdmans | year = 2009 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=L8WbXbPjxpoC | isbn = 978-0-8028-4636-5 }}
• {{Cite book | last1 =Walton | first1 = John H.| title = Job | place= United States | publisher = Zondervan |year= 2012 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=vNQ9CvY0NccC | isbn = 9780310492009 }}
• {{Cite book | last1 =Wilson | first1 = Lindsay | title = Job | place= United States | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company |year= 2015 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_IpyCgAAQBAJ | isbn = 9781467443289 }}
• {{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year= 1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes | isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}

• Jewish translations:
• [https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16414 Iyov - Job - Chapter 12 (Judaica Press)] translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
• [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=Job+12 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=22&chapter=12&version=9 Book of Job Chapter 12]. Various versions
• {{librivox book | title=Book of Job}} Various versions

{{Book of Job}}

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