Bible · NudgeRead the passage
Job 12:7-10
“But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you. Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you. Who doesn’t know that in all these, Yahweh’s hand has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
In the King James Version
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
What was happening around this
Job is speaking to his friends: chapter 12 begins his reply after Zophar’s speech in chapter 11, within the first dialogue cycle (Job 3–14). He has just described himself as mocked and observed that robbers prosper (vv. 4–6), before the animal/creation appeal; vv. 11–13 continue by testing words and locating wisdom with God.
Source: James Limburg, “Commentary on Job 19:23–27a,” Working Preacher
The verses on either side
- I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
- In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
- The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their God in their hands.
- “But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
- Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
- Who doesn’t know that in all these, Yahweh’s hand has done this,
- in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
- Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
- With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
- “With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
Where this comes up