Job 12:20
in Job 12He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.
KJV
He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
⋯
This verse in Job 12
Commentary
10 notes on this verseWho changeth the lip of the truthful, and taketh away the instruction of the aged. When the priest does not do the good that he tells, even the very word of his lips is withdrawn from him, that he may not dare to speak what he does not practise; as where it is said by the Prophet, But unto the wicked God saith, 'What hast thou to do, to declare My statutes, or that thou takest My covenant in thy mouth? Whence also he beseeches, saying, And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth.
This site's exposition
He deprives the trusted of speech
on Job 12:20-22
"He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders" carries the survey to the men a household relies on for counsel. Verse 22, "He reveals the deep things of darkness", pairs the humbling of the mighty with God's mastery over what is hidden.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Philosophers excel in the consideration of the truth. He says regarding these, "He alters the truth from their lips," i.e. the lips of those who are eager to speak the truth. For God sometimes darkens the mind of those men by taking away his grace …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
The aged, who were most depended on for advice, fail those that depended on them. We read of an old and yet foolish king, Eccl. iv. (2.) Those that were high and in authority are strangely brought down, impoverished, and enslaved, and it is God that humbles them (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
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
): He removeth away the speech of the trusty, so that they cannot speak as they intended and as they used to do, with freedom and clearness, but blunder, and falter, and make nothing of it. Or they cannot speak what they intended, but the contrary, as Balaam, who blessed those whom he was called to curse.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
He removeth away the speech of the trusty,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
He removeth away the speech of the trusty - The faithful counsellor and the eloquent orator avail nothing: Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat; “God infatuates those whom he is determined to destroy.” The writer might have had his eyes on Isa 3:1-3, which the reader will do well to consult. The understanding of the aged - זקנים zekenim signifies the same here as our word elders or elder-men; which includes in itself the two ideas of seniority, or considerably advanced age, and official authority.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the trusty--rather, "those secure in their eloquence"; for example, the speakers in the gate (Isa 3:3) [BEZA]. understanding--literally, "taste," that is, insight or spiritual discernment, which experience gives the aged. The same Hebrew word is applied to Daniel's wisdom in interpretation (Da 2:14).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He removeth away the speech of the trusty - Margin, “lip of the faithful.” “He takes away the lip,” that is, he takes away the power of giving safe counsel or good advice. The “trusty” or “faithful” here refer to those of age and experience, and on whose counsel men are accustomed to rely. The meaning here is, that their most sagacious anticipations are disappointed, their wisest schemes are foiled. They fail-in their calculations of the coarse of events, and the arrangements of Providence are such that they could not anticipate what was to occur. The understanding of the aged - To whom the young were accustomed to look up with deference and respect. The meaning here is, that they who were accustomed to give wise and sound advice, if left by God, give vain and foolish counsels.
The words behind it
6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מֵסִ֣יר | mesir | [he is] removing | H5493 → | 299 times |
| שָׂ֭פָה | safah | a lip | H8193 → | 176 times |
| לְנֶאֱמָנִ֑ים | leneemanim | of trusted [ones] | H539 → | 106 times |
| וְטַ֖עַם | vetaam | and [the] discernment of | H2940 → | |
| זְקֵנִ֣ים | zekenim | elders | H2205 → | 178 times |
| יִקָּֽח׃ | yikach | he takes away | H3947 → | 966 times |
מֵסִ֣יר[he is] removing
mesirH5493 →299 times
שָׂ֭פָהa lip
safahH8193 →176 times
לְנֶאֱמָנִ֑יםof trusted [ones]
leneemanimH539 →106 times
וְטַ֖עַםand [the] discernment of
vetaamH2940 →
זְקֵנִ֣יםelders
zekenimH2205 →178 times
יִקָּֽח׃he takes away
yikachH3947 →966 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
Proverbs 12:22Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
it leads to
- Psalms 5:6
You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
- Proverbs 6:16–17
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Proverbs 11:20
The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
- Revelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- Jeremiah 9:24
But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,”…
- Psalms 5:6
Through
Job 32:9It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.
it leads to
- Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ecclesiastes 4:13
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
- Matthew 11:25
Through
Job 12:24He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
it leads to
- Psalms 107:40
He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
- Psalms 107:40
About Job
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.