Job 36:12
in Job 36But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
KJV
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
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This verse in Job 36
Commentary
9 notes on this verseIf they shall hear and observe Him, they shall fulfil their days in good, and their years in glory; but if they shall not hear, they shall pass away by the sword, and shall be consumed with folly. By 'good,' is designated right conduct, but by 'glory,' heavenly recompense. They, then, who study to obey the Divine commands, fulfil their days in good, and their years in glory. Because they pass the course of this life in right deeds, and perfect their consummation by a blessed retribution.
This site's exposition
God is mighty, but He despises no one
on Job 36:5-12
After “He opens their ears to correction” the obedient “end their days in prosperity”. Barnes calls this a chastening theory, correction meant to be heard, set against the friends' retribution. Delitzsch notes one pattern covering the righteous of verse 7 and men “bound with chains” in verse 8.
This site's exposition
they perish by the sword
The Hebrew word for sword, shelach, means anything sent, a spear or an arrow, says Albert Barnes. Adam Clarke renders it as passing by a dart. Those who refuse to obey die without knowledge, the reverse of verse 11.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
"But if they do not listen," if they do not obey this interior inspiration to do penance, "they will pass away by the sword," because they will be led to prison to be killed by the sword, "and they will be consumed," destroyed "in their …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Those that die without knowledge die without grace and are undone for ever. He brings ruin upon hypocrites, the secret enemies of his kingdom (such as Elihu described,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
), who, though they were numbered among the righteous whom Elihu had spoken of before, yet did not obey God, but, being children of disobedience and darkness, become children of wrath and perdition; these are the hypocrites in heart, who heap up wrath,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
But if they obey not,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
But if they obey not - This also is a general rule, from which, in the course of Providence, there are only few, and those only apparent, deviations. Instead of they shall perish by the sword, the meaning of the Hebrew בשלח יעברו beshelach yaaboru, is, “By a dart they shall pass by.” They shall be in continual dangers, and often fall before they have lived out half their days. Mr. Good translates: They pass by as an arrow. The Vulgate: Transibunt per gladium. “They shall pass away by the sword.”
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But if they obey not - If those who are afflicted do not turn to God, and yield him obedience, they must expect that he will continue their calamities until they are cut off. They shall perish by the sword - Margin, as in Hebrew “pass away.” The word rendered “sword” (שׁלח shelach) means properly “anything sent” - as a spear or an arrow - “a missile” - and then an instrument of war in general. It may be applied to any weapon that is used to produce death. The idea here is, that the man who was afflicted on account of the sins which he had committed, and who did not repent of them and turn to God, would be cut off. God would not withdraw his hand unless he acknowledged his offences. As he had undertaken the work of discipline, he could not consistently do it, for it would be in fact “yielding” the point to him whom he chastised. This “may” be the case now, and the statement here made by Elihu may involve a principle which will explain the cause of the death of many persons, even of the professedly pious. They are devoted to gain or amusement; they seek the honors of the world for their families or themselves, and in fact they make no advances in piety, and are doing nothing for the cause of religion. God lays his hand upon them at first gently. They lose their health, or a part of their property. But the discipline is not effectual. He then lays his band on them with more severity, and takes from them an endeared child. Still, all is ineffectual. The sorrow of the affliction passes away, and they mingle again in the frivolous and busy scenes of life as worldly as ever, and exert no influence in favor of religion. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
But the wicked of heart who are wicked—they bring about wrath; when suffering comes upon them, they curse and blaspheme,
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לֹ֣א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִ֭שְׁמְעוּ | yishmeu | they will hear | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| בְּשֶׁ֣לַח | beshelach | by a missile | H7973 → | |
| יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ | yaavoru | they will pass away | H5674 → | 556 times |
| וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּ | veyigveu | and they may expire | H1478 → | 24 times |
| כִּבְלִי־ | kivli- | like not | H1097 → | 58 times |
| דָֽעַת׃ | daat | knowledge | H1847 → | 92 times |
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
לֹ֣אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִ֭שְׁמְעוּthey will hear
yishmeuH8085 →1159 times
בְּשֶׁ֣לַחby a missile
beshelachH7973 →
יַעֲבֹ֑רוּthey will pass away
yaavoruH5674 →556 times
וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּand they may expire
veyigveuH1478 →24 times
כִּבְלִי־like not
kivli-H1097 →58 times
דָֽעַת׃knowledge
daatH1847 →92 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
Isaiah 3:11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 8:13
Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
- James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Psalms 120:3–4
What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?
- Psalms 28:4
Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.
- Isaiah 65:20
No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails…
- Ecclesiastes 8:13
Through
Job 4:21Are not their tent cords pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’
it leads to
- Luke 16:22–23
One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.
- Psalms 39:11
You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah
- Job 8:22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
- Luke 16:22–23
About Job
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); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XXVI; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.