Job 5:13 — Word Study
WLCלֹכֵ֣ד חֲכָמִ֣ים בְּעָרְמָ֑ם וַעֲצַ֖ת נִפְתָּלִ֣ים נִמְהָֽרָה׃
BSAHe catcheslâkad [takes, traps] the wisechâkâm [intelligent, skilled, cunning] and sweeps awaymâhar■ [carries headlong, cuts off suddenly] the plansʻêtsâh [counsel, advice, purposes] of the cunningpâthal [twisted, wicked, froward, those who use clever thinking to achieve their goals]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹכֵ֣ד | [who] catches | Verb, Qal, participle (active) masculine singular |
| חֲכָמִ֣ים | wise [people] | Adj |
| בְּעָרְמָ֑ם | when are crafty they | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common, suffix |
| וַעֲצַ֖ת | and [the] counsel of | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct |
| נִפְתָּלִ֣ים | tortuous [people] | Verb, Niphal, participle (active) masculine plural |
| נִמְהָֽרָה׃ | it is hasty | Verb, Niphal, perfect third person feminine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning. |
| KJV | He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. |
| ASV | He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. |
| YLT | Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened, |
| WEB | He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong. |
| BBE | He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly. |
Where they part company is נִמְהָֽרָה — see How Translations Differ.
The structure includes a main clause with two subordinate phrases, emphasizing God's action against human schemes.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbלָכַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 5:13
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Wisdom of Godgenerated
Job 5:13 shows that God has the power to outsmart human wisdom. Job emphasizes that those who think they are clever or wise can be caught in their own traps. This theme continues throughout the chapter, illustrating the contrast between divine wisdom and human folly, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Samuel 15:31–34 | Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” |
| 2 | 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 died and was buried in his father’s tomb. |
| 3 | Esther 6:4–11 | “Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him. |
| 4 | Esther 7:10 | So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided. |
| 5 | Esther 9:25 | But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 12 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — לֹכֵ֣ד, lo.Khedgenerated
The word לָכַד (lakad) is a verb meaning to capture or seize, often implying a sense of control or entrapment. In this verse, it indicates God's ability to catch the wise in their own cleverness, highlighting the futility of human schemes against divine insight.
The participle form here suggests ongoing action: God continually catches the wise, emphasizing His active role in thwarting human plans. This reflects a broader biblical theme where human wisdom is often portrayed as inadequate in the face of God's omniscience.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses catches for לֹכֵ֣ד, and this is consistent across translations like the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb לֹכֵ֣ד governs the entire verse, indicating God's action of catching the wise. The structure includes a subject noun phrase (חֲכָמִ֣ים), a prepositional phrase describing the manner of their craftiness, and a second clause that elaborates on the plans of the cunning.
The sentence's design emphasizes God's authority over human wisdom and plans, with the main verb leading the thought and the subsequent phrases providing context and detail.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates לֹכֵ֣ד as καταλαμβάνει (katalambanei), meaning 'seizes' or 'captures'. This choice emphasizes God's active role in intercepting human wisdom.
For נִמְהָֽרָה, the LXX uses ἐχέστησεν (echestēsen), which suggests a sudden or violent action, aligning with the idea of God abruptly disrupting plans.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 5:13 explains that God catches wise people in their own cleverness and disrupts the plans of those who are cunning. This shows that human wisdom is not invincible and can be outsmarted by divine wisdom.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that those who think they are clever can be trapped by their own schemes, showing that human wisdom is limited.
It highlights the theme of God's sovereignty and the inadequacy of human understanding in the face of divine wisdom.
Yes, many stories, such as those of Absalom in 2 Samuel 15:31 and Haman in Esther 7:10, show how plans can backfire.
We learn that relying solely on human wisdom can lead to downfall and that true understanding comes from recognizing God's greater wisdom.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I rely too much on my own understanding rather than seeking God's wisdom?
- Can I recall a time when my plans did not succeed, and how did that lead me to trust God more?
- How can I discern between wise counsel and cunning advice in my decision-making?
- What steps can I take to ensure that I am seeking God's guidance in my plans?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, illustrating how human wisdom can be at odds with God's decrees.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. For oftentimes, some that are puffed up with human wisdom, when they see that the decrees of God are contrary to their inclinations,Early Church Fathers on Job 5 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 5:13 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe taketh the wise in their own craftiness,.... As beasts are taken in a pit, or birds in a snare or net, or with birdlime; so these crafty men, who are wise in their own opinion, and really so in
Read John Gill on Job 5 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. He taketh - Paul (1 Corinthians 3:19) quoted this clause with the formula establishing its inspiration, It is written.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 5 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe wise in their own craftiness; wicked men, who are wise to do evil, and wise in the opinion of the world, he not only deceiveth in their hopes and counsels, but turns them against themselves; as we see in Ahithophel, Haman, &c. The froward, or perverse, or wrestlers; such as wind and turn every way, as wrestlers do, and will leave no means untried to accomplish their counsels. Is carried headlong, i.e. is tumbled down and broken, and that by their own precipitation and haste. Their malice cannot have the patience to proceed wisely and leisurely against God’ s church and people, but makes them eager and venturous, and so to make more haste than good speed in their wicked designs.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 5 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 5:13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.Ver. 13. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness] Those wise to do evil, worldly wise, mere Machiavellians; for though the Florentine secretary was not born of some thousands of years after Eliphaz spoke this, yet the devil was well nigh as great a master then as now, and had his crafty cubs, students, and great proficients in that wisdom which St James affirmeth to be from beneath, and not from above (like the wings of the ostrich, it may help a man to outrun others upon earth, but helps not at all towards heaven); and further describeth it to be earthly, sensual, devilish. Earthly…
Read John Trapp on Job 5 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(13) He taketh the wise.—St. Paul quotes the former half of this verse in his warning to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:19): “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” The word rendered “froward” means crooked, perverse, or tortuous. The name Naphtali is derived from the same root (Genesis 30:8).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 5 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 13. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness] So counterworks them as to cause their feet to be taken in their own snares, and their evil dealings to fall on their own pate. Such frequent proofs has God given of his especial interference in behalf of the innocent, who have been the objects of the plots and evil designs of the wicked, by turning those evil devices against their framers, that he who digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it himself has become a universal adage, and has passed, either in so many words or in sense, into all the languages of all the people of the earth. Lucretius expresses it strongly: Circumretit enim vis atque injuria quemque, Atque, unde exorta…
Read AdamClarke on Job 5 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges13. in their own craftiness] Quoted by St Paul, 1 Corinthians 3:19. This is the only quotation from the Book of Job in the New Testament, though Romans 11:35 seems a reminiscence of Job 41:11. Philippians 1:19 contains language similar to ch. Job 13:16. carried headlong] lit. hastened, i. e. precipitated before it be ripe, and so frustrated.
Read Cambridge on Job 5 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe taketh the wise in their own craftiness - This passage is quoted by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:19, with the usual formula in referring to the Old Testament, γέγραπταιγάρ gegraptai gar,
Read Albert Barnes on Job 5 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.
Tyndale line
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
He taketh the wise in their craftinesse, and the counsel of the wicked is made foolish.
Strictly literal
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the wily is carried headlong:
Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,
Capturing the wise in their subtlety, || And the counsel of wrestling ones was hurried,
Who catcheth the wise in their own craftiness; and the advise of the perverse is hastened on headlong;
He traps wise people in their own crafty actions; the plans of twisted people are hurried to their end.
From the Latin
Who catcheth the wise in their craftiness, and disappointeth the counsel of the wicked:
Simplified
He traps the wise in their own clever thinking, and the schemes of twisted people are cut short.
He takes the wise in their secret designs, and the purposes of the twisted are cut off suddenly.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in content, with five of the six words matched. The Septuagint's word order differs, but the essential message remains consistent, emphasizing God's intervention in human affairs.
לֹכֵ֣ד חֲכָמִ֣ים בְּעָרְמָ֑ם וַעֲצַ֖ת נִפְתָּלִ֣ים נִמְהָֽרָה׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 5:13
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לָכַד (lakad) means to capture, seize, or take, often by lot. It can refer to catching in a net or trap, as well as figuratively to describe things sticking together. The verb appears in various forms, including Qal (to capture), Niphal (to be captured), and Hithpael (to grasp each other).
לָכַד 121 vb. capture, seize, take (by lot)
Qal
capture, seize
fig. of entrapping men
of taking by lot
Niph.
be captured in war
of men, be caught
be taken by lot
Hithp. they grasp each other, and cannot be separated
base
H3920 לָכַד capture, seize, take (by lot)
3920 lakad law-kad'
a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit);
generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot);
figuratively, to cohere:--X at all, catch (self), be frozen,
be holden, stick together, take.
לָכַד (la.khad) — to capture.
1) to capture, take, seize
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to capture, seize
1a2) to capture (of men) (fig.)
1a3) to take (by lot)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be captured
1b2) to be caught (of men in trap, snare) (fig.)
1c) (Hithpael) to grasp each other
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) masculine singularHVqrmsa
The Hebrew word חָכָם (*chakam*) means 'wise' and encompasses various aspects of wisdom, including skillfulness in technical work, shrewdness, and ethical understanding. It can refer to a class of learned individuals, including those involved in astrology and magic. The word is derived from a related term, חָכַם (*chakam*), which also relates to intelligence and craftiness.
חָכָם adj. wise
skilful in technical work
wise in the administration of affairs
shrewd, crafty, cunning
pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
prudent
wise, ethically and religiously
base
H2450 חָכָם wise . skilful in technical work
. wise in the administration of affairs
. shrewd, crafty, cunning
. pl. class of learned and shrewd men, incl. astrologers, magicians and the like
. prudent
. wise, ethically and religiously
2450 chakam khaw-kawm'
from 2449; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or
artful):--cunning (man), subtil, ((un-)), wise((hearted),
man).
see HEBREW for 02449
חָכָם (cha.kham) — wise.
1) wise, wise (man)
1a) skilful (in technical work)
1b) wise (in administration)
1c) shrewd, crafty, cunning, wily, subtle
1d) learned, shrewd (class of men)
1e) prudent
1f) wise (ethically and religiously)
Adj — AdjHAampa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
The Hebrew word עָרֹם (*aram*) is a primitive root meaning to be bare, but it is primarily used to convey the sense of being shrewd or crafty, often with a negative connotation. It covers meanings such as being subtle, prudent, or taking crafty counsel. The entries indicate that it can be used in both the Qal and Hiphil forms, with the latter emphasizing the act of becoming shrewd.
[עָרֹם] vb. be shrewd, crafty
Qal he is exceedingly crafty
Hiph. be crafty; be or become shrewd
base
H6191 עָרֹם be shrewd, crafty
6191 `aram aw-ram'
a primitive root; properly, to be (or make) bare; but used
only in the derivative sense (through the idea perhaps of
smoothness) to be cunning (usually in a bad sense):--X very,
beware, take crafty (counsel), be prudent, deal subtilly.
עָרֹם (a.ram) — be shrewd.
1) to be subtle, be shrewd, be crafty, beware, take crafty counsel, be prudent
1a) (Qal) to be crafty, be subtle
1b) (Hiphil) to be crafty, be or become shrewd
HR/Vqcc/Sp3mp — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct common · suffixHR/Vqcc/Sp3mp
עֵצָה (`etsah) refers to counsel or advice, and can also imply a plan or purpose. It is derived from a root meaning to advise or provide guidance. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts related to providing counsel or making decisions.
עֵצָה n.f. counsel, advice
base
H6098 עֵצָה counsel, advice
6098 `etsah ay-tsaw'
from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also
prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.
see HEBREW for 03289
עֵצָה (e.tsah) — counsel.
counsel, advice, purpose
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular constructHC/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
פָּתַל (pathal) means to twist or struggle, with a focus on being tortuous or morally froward. It can describe both literal twisting and figurative wrestling, as noted in various contexts. The entries highlight its usage in different forms, such as the Niphal and Hithpael, but do not present any significant disagreements among the lexicons.
[פָּתַל] vb. twist
Niph. I have wrestled (lit. twisted myself) with; the plan of the tortuous; anything tortuous and twisted
Hithp. with the twisted thou dost deal tortuously
base
H6617 פָּתַל twist . I have wrestled (lit. twisted myself) with; the plan of the tortuous; anything tortuous and twisted
. with the twisted thou dost deal tortuously
6617 pathal paw-thal'
a primitive root; to twine, i.e. (literally) to struggle or
(figuratively) be (morally) tortuous:--(shew self) froward,
shew self unsavoury, wrestle.
פָּתַל (pa.tal) — to twist.
1) to twist
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be twisted
1a2) to wrestle
1b) (Hithpael) to be twisted
V-Niphal — Verb · Niphal · participle (active) masculine pluralHVNrmpa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
מָהַר (mahar) primarily means to hasten or hurry, conveying a sense of urgency or quickness. It can describe being anxious or impetuous, as well as the act of preparing or bringing something quickly. Additionally, it has a secondary meaning related to acquiring something by payment. The lexicons agree on these definitions without notable disagreement.
[מָהַר] vb. hasten
Niph. be hurried = anxious, disturbed; hasty, precipitate; impetuous
Pi.
hasten, make haste = go or come quickly
hasten vb.
trans. hasten, = prepare quickly; = bring quickly; = do quickly
base
מָהַר vb. denom. acquire by paying purchase-price
base
H4116a [מָהַר] hasten . be hurried = anxious, disturbed; hasty, precipitate; impetuous
. . hasten, make haste = go or come quickly
. hasten vb.
. trans. hasten, = prepare quickly; = bring quickly; = do quickly
H4116b מָהַר vb. denom. acquire by paying purchase-price
4116 mahar maw-har'
a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e.
(by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often
used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly:--be carried
headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily),
(be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) X quickly, rash, X shortly,
(be so) X soon, make speed, X speedily, X straightway, X
suddenly, swift.
מָהַר (ma.har) — to hasten.
1)(Qal) to hasten
1a) (Niphal) to be hurried, be anxious
1a) hasty, precipitate, impetuous
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to hasten, make haste
1b2) hasten (used as adverb with another verb)
1b3) to hasten, prepare quickly, do quickly, bring quickly
מָהַר (ma.har) — to buy.
acquire by paying purchase-price
V-Niphal-Perf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · perfect third person feminine singularHVNp3fs