Job 12:17
in Job 12He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh he fools.
KJV
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
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This verse in Job 12
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled - Plundered or captive. That is, the counsels of wise and great men do not avail against God. Statesmen who promised themselves victory as the result of their plans he disappoints, and leads away into captivity. The object of this is to show that God is superior over all, and also that people are not dealt with in exact accordance with their character and rank. God is a sovereign, and he shows his sovereignty when defeating the counsels and purposes of the wisest of men, and overturning the plans of the mighty.
This site's exposition
He leads counselors away barefoot
on Job 12:17-19
"He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges" begins a list of the offices society trusts, each brought low in turn. Priests and "the established" fall, no office too high to reach, an answer to the friends' confidence that God's rule follows a ladder of reward.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he shows that there is counsel in God by those things which appear in human affairs. On this point, consider that as God knows both the principles and conditions of speculative sciences and their order to one another, and he still does not acquire …
He knoweth both the deceiver and deceived, He bringeth counsellors to a foolish end, and the judges to dulness. Whereas every man that strives to deceive his neighbour is wicked, and 'Truth' saith to the wicked, I never knew you, depart from Me ye that work iniquity; in what sense is it said here, that 'the Lord knoweth the deceiver?'
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The counsel of Ahithophel, one in whom this scripture was remarkably fulfilled, became foolishness, and he, according to his name, the brother of a fool. 13 , The princes of Zoan have become fools; they have seduced Egypt, even those that are the stay of the tribes thereof.
I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. 5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Spoiled - The wise counsellors or statesmen, by whom the affairs of kings and kingdoms are ordered, he leadeth away as captives in triumph, being spoiled either of that wisdom which they had, or seemed to have; or of that power and dignity which they had enjoyed.
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled - The events of war are also in his hand. It is he who gives victory; through him even the counsellors - the great men and chief men, are often led into captivity, and found among the spoils. And maketh the judges fools - He infatuates the judges. Does this refer to the foolish conduct of some of the Israelitish judges, such as Samson?
The words behind it
5 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מוֹלִ֣יךְ | molikh | [he is] leading away | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| יוֹעֲצִ֣ים | yoatzim | counselors | H3289 → | 79 times |
| שׁוֹלָ֑ל | sholal | barefoot | H7758 → | |
| וְֽשֹׁפְטִ֥ים | veshofetim | and judges | H8199 → | 202 times |
| יְהוֹלֵֽל׃ | yeholel | he makes look foolish | H1984 → | 165 times |
מוֹלִ֣יךְ[he is] leading away
molikhH1980 →1546 times
יוֹעֲצִ֣יםcounselors
yoatzimH3289 →79 times
שׁוֹלָ֑לbarefoot
sholalH7758 →
וְֽשֹׁפְטִ֥יםand judges
veshofetimH8199 →202 times
יְהוֹלֵֽל׃he makes look foolish
yeholelH1984 →165 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Samuel 15:31Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 17:14
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in…
- 2 Samuel 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he…
- Psalms 41:9
Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
- James 3:15
Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- 2 Samuel 17:14
Through
Isaiah 29:14Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”
it leads to
- Habakkuk 1:5
“Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
- 1 Corinthians 1:19–24
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
- Habakkuk 1:5
Through
2 Samuel 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he…
it leads to
- Matthew 27:5
So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
- Matthew 27:5
Through
Job 9:24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
it leads to
- Job 10:3
Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?
- Job 10:3
About Job
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XI; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.