Job 12:13

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Job 12:13 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

King James Version KJV

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

American Standard Version ASV

With God is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

Bible in Basic English BBE

With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.

Free Bible Version FBV

God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

With him is wisedome and strength: he hath counsell and vnderstanding.

Young's Literal Translation YLT

With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.

World English Bible WEB

“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.

Noah Webster Bible WBS

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

Translation for Translators T4T

but God is wise and very powerful; he has good sense and understands everything.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Job 12:13

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Job 12:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB עִ֭מּ/וֹ חָכְמָ֣ה וּ/גְבוּרָ֑ה ל֝֗/וֹ עֵצָ֥ה וּ/תְבוּנָֽה

עִ֭מּ/וֹ ʻim H5973 with Prep | Suff

חָכְמָ֣ה chokmâh H2451 wisdom N-fs

וּ/גְבוּרָ֑ה gᵉbûwrâh H1369 might Conj | N-fs

ל֝֗/וֹ Prep | Suff

עֵצָ֥ה ʻêtsâh H6098 counsel N-fs

וּ/תְבוּנָֽה tâbûwn H8394 understanding Conj | N-fs

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 12:13

עִ֭מּ/וֹ ʻim H5973 "with" Prep | Suff

This Hebrew word means with or together, like when God is with his people in Exodus 33:14-15. It's used to describe accompaniment or association, and can also mean against or beside. The word is used to convey a sense of relationship or proximity between people or things.

Definition: 1) with 1a) with 1b) against 1c) toward 1d) as long as

Usage: Occurs in 919 OT verses. KJV: accompanying, against, and, as ([idiom] long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-) to, with(-al). See also: Genesis 3:6; Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 29:11.

חָכְמָ֣ה chokmâh H2451 "wisdom" N-fs

Wisdom refers to skill, prudence, or good judgment in areas like war, administration, or religion, as seen in the book of Proverbs.

Definition: 1) wisdom 1a) skill (in war) 1b) wisdom (in administration) 1c) shrewdness, wisdom 1d) wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs) 1e) wisdom (ethical and religious)

Usage: Occurs in 141 OT verses. KJV: skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. See also: Exodus 28:3; Proverbs 5:1; Psalms 37:30.

וּ/גְבוּרָ֑ה gᵉbûwrâh H1369 "might" Conj | N-fs

This word means strength, might, or power, like God's mighty power in Psalm 111:6. It can describe a person's bravery or the strength of an action, as in the mighty deeds of God in Psalm 145:11.

Definition: 1) strength, might 1a) strength 1b) might, valour, bravery 1c) might, mighty deeds (of God) Aramaic equivalent: ge.vu.rah (גְּבוּרָה "might" H1370)

Usage: Occurs in 61 OT verses. KJV: force, mastery, might, mighty (act, power), power, strength. See also: Exodus 32:18; Psalms 71:18; Psalms 20:7.

ל֝֗/וֹ "" Prep | Suff

עֵצָ֥ה ʻêtsâh H6098 "counsel" N-fs

This Hebrew word means counsel or advice, implying a plan or purpose. It is used in the Bible when describing wise decision-making.

Definition: counsel, advice, purpose

Usage: Occurs in 85 OT verses. KJV: advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose. See also: Deuteronomy 32:28; Psalms 107:11; Psalms 1:1.

וּ/תְבוּנָֽה tâbûwn H8394 "understanding" Conj | N-fs

Tabún means understanding or intelligence, implying skill or insight. It is translated as discretion, reason, or wisdom in the KJV Bible, referring to the act or faculty of understanding.

Definition: 1) understanding, intelligence 1a) the act of understanding 1a1) skill 1b) the faculty of understanding 1b1) intelligence, understanding, insight 1c) the object of knowledge 1d) teacher (personification)

Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom. See also: Exodus 31:3; Proverbs 8:1; Psalms 49:4.

Study Notes — Job 12:13

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Job 12:13 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Job 12:13
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 12:13
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 12:13
Trapp's Commentary on Job 12:13
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 12:13
Cambridge Bible on Job 12:13
Barnes' Notes on Job 12:13
Whedon's Commentary on Job 12:13
Sermons on Job 12:13

Context — Job Presents His Case

11Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food? 12Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

13Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

14What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released. 15If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Job 9:4	God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
2	Job 36:5	Indeed, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding.
3	Proverbs 2:6–7	For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
4	Job 28:20–28	From where then does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’ But God understands its way, and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters, when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt, then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out. And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
5	James 1:5	Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6	Proverbs 8:14	Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
7	Daniel 2:20	and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.
8	Ephesians 1:11	In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
9	Psalms 147:5	Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
10	Job 11:6	and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

Job 12:13 Summary

This verse means that God is the one who has all the wisdom and strength that we need, and that we should look to Him for guidance and help. It's like what it says in Jeremiah 29:11, that God has plans to prosper us and give us hope, but we need to trust in Him and seek His wisdom. By recognizing that wisdom and strength belong to God, we can humble ourselves and rely on Him, rather than trying to figure everything out on our own, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6. This brings us peace and confidence, knowing that God is in control and that He cares about us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean that wisdom and strength belong to God?

It means that God is the ultimate source of all wisdom and strength, and that He is the one who possesses these qualities in their fullest and most perfect form, as seen in Psalm 147:5, which says that God's understanding is infinite.

How does this verse relate to our everyday lives?

This verse reminds us that we are not self-sufficient, but rather that we need to rely on God for wisdom and strength, as stated in Proverbs 3:5-6, which instructs us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our own understanding.

What is the significance of counsel and understanding being attributed to God?

It emphasizes that God's wisdom and guidance are available to us, and that we should seek His counsel and understanding in all aspects of our lives, as encouraged in James 1:5, which promises that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it in faith.

How does this verse compare to other biblical teachings on wisdom and strength?

This verse is consistent with other biblical teachings that emphasize God's sovereignty and wisdom, such as Isaiah 40:28, which says that God's understanding is beyond human comprehension, and that He gives strength to the weary.

Reflection Questions

What are some areas in my life where I need to seek God's wisdom and strength, and how can I practically do that?
How does recognizing that wisdom and strength belong to God affect my daily decisions and actions?
In what ways can I trust in God's counsel and understanding, even when I don't fully understand the circumstances?
What are some ways that I can acknowledge and honor God's sovereignty in my life, as a response to the truth of this verse?

Gill's Exposition on Job 12:13

With him [is] wisdom and strength,.... Not with the ancient and long lived man, but with God, who has made the whole universe, and in whose hand and at whose dispose all creatures are, Job 12:9; with

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 12:13

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 12:13

With him, i.e. with God; the relative being put for the antecedent, which is easily and necessarily understood out of the scope of the place, and all the following verses. Wisdom; perfect wisdom is only in him, and all wisdom in the world cometh from him, who giveth to old or young as it pleaseth him. The ancient are not wise without his gift and grace, and with that a younger man may be wiser than the ancients, as David was, . Counsel and understanding; counsel, i.e. practical wisdom to guide all the affairs of the world; and understanding, or a speculative knowledge of all persons and things.

Trapp's Commentary on Job 12:13

Job 12:13 With him [is] wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.Ver. 13. With him is wisdom and strength, &c.] Wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding, are all concentred in the Ancient of days; complete he is in all excellence and perfection, all which meet in him, and continue always in the highest degree. The mighty God "fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding," Isaiah 40:28. He is also no less good than great and wise; good, original, universal, all sufficient, and satisfactory, proportionate, and fitting for our soul; which, as it was made by him, and for him, so it is never at quiet till it resteth in him. See Job 9:4. He hath counsel and understanding] Counsel he hath, but without consultation; wisdom, but without experience; knowledge, but without discourse; decree, but without deliberation: Loquimur de Deo, &c., We speak of God, saith one, not as we ought, but as we are able. And these things we speak of God, saith Augustine, because we find not what better to speak of him. But Job hath a mind to say the utmost that may be said.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 12:13

Verse 13. With him is wisdom and strength] But all these things come from GOD; he is the Fountain of wisdom and the Source of power. He alone can give us unerring counsel, and understanding to comprehend and act profitably by it. See on Job 12:16.

Cambridge Bible on Job 12:13

13. With him is wisdom and strength] i. e. with God, him being emphatic. There is no antithesis however between His wisdom and that of the aged referred to Job 12:12. The passage that follows to the end of the chapter describes God’s power and wisdom as their operations had been observed by men, though naturally the picture receives its colour from the state of Job’s mind. “Strength” is rather might or power to execute what wisdom devises. These attributes of God’s confound and bring to nought everything bearing the same name among men.

Barnes' Notes on Job 12:13

With him is wisdom - Margin, correctly, “God.” However much wisdom there may seem to be with aged men, yes the true wisdom - that which was supreme and worthy of the name - was to be found in God alone.

Whedon's Commentary on Job 12:13

Section Second — THE WISDOM OF GOD, TO AND POWER, THE DIVINE MORAL IN AN MAZE, Job 12:13-25.First double strophe. Job 12:13-18.a.

Sermons on Job 12:13

	Sermon	Description
	Attributes of God (Series 2): The Infinite Wisdom of God by A.W. Tozer	In this sermon, the preacher discusses how God, in His wisdom, has allowed the world to be under occupation by foreign soldiers. The preacher uses the book of Romans to explain tha
	Attributes of God - Immutability, Faithfulness, Wisdom and Love by William MacDonald	In this sermon, the speaker marvels at the complexity and design of the human body, particularly the eyes and the brain. He questions how understanding is placed in the mind of man
	Distress of Job - Part 2 by W.F. Anderson	The video is a sermon on the book of Job in the Bible. It begins by describing the structure of the book, with a prologue and three cycles of speeches between Job and his friends.
	Christian, Are You Refusing God? by Tim Conway	This sermon emphasizes the importance of not refusing God's voice, drawing parallels between the consequences faced by those who rejected God's warnings in the past and the greater
	Of the Names of God. by John Gill	John Gill explores the significance of the names of God, emphasizing that understanding these names is essential for knowing God Himself. He explains that God's names reflect His n
	Lessons From the Recent Earthquake by Samuel Davies	Samuel Davies preaches about the recent earthquake, drawing lessons from the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. He emphasizes the majesty and power of God, the sinfulness of the worl
	Of the Blessedness of God. by John Gill	John Gill expounds on the blessedness of God, emphasizing that God's nature is inherently blessed, eternal, and self-sufficient. He argues that God's happiness is independent of ex