Job 12 10

Job 12:10 kjv

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10 nkjv

In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?

Job 12:10 niv

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10 esv

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Job 12:10 nlt

For the life of every living thing is in his hand,
and the breath of every human being.

Job 12 verses

Job 12 10 Meaning

Job 12:10 declares God's absolute sovereignty over all living things. It asserts that life itself, from its very breath to its continued existence, is entirely in God's power and under His control. Every creature's being, and every person's life-giving breath, originates from and is sustained by the Creator alone. This statement underscores the profound truth that all life is a gift and a continuous work of divine will.

Job 12 10 Context

Job 12:10 is spoken by Job himself in response to his friends' rigid and conventional theology. In chapters 11 and 12, Zophar has just accused Job of being a presumptuous sinner who deserves his suffering, while praising God's incomprehensible wisdom (Job 11:7-9). Job, in chapter 12, asserts that he possesses as much understanding as his friends (Job 12:3). He then ironically rebukes their self-proclaimed wisdom, pointing out that even "the beasts will teach you, or the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the fish of the sea will declare to you" (Job 12:7-8) this fundamental truth about God's sovereignty. This leads to Job 12:10, where Job affirms God's absolute power and control over all life. He acknowledges God's complete dominion not to justify his friends' simplistic retribution theology, but to underscore the mystery of why such a powerful and wise God would allow suffering, especially in the case of a righteous man like himself. He highlights the common knowledge of God's power as a backdrop to the difficult questions he is grappling with concerning divine justice and human experience, particularly his suffering. In the ancient Near East, the idea that a particular god controlled certain domains or phenomena was common. Job's declaration here is a profound affirmation of monotheistic universality—one God controls all life, across all creatures and mankind, not just specific elements or groups.

Job 12 10 Word analysis

• In his hand:
  • Hebrew: B'yado (בְּיָדוֹ), from yad (יָד), meaning "hand" or "power."
  • Significance: This idiom denotes absolute control, authority, possession, and sovereignty. It emphasizes that life is not self-existent, accidental, or dependent on any other entity, but rests solely within God's domain. It implies direct action, complete oversight, and ultimate decision-making power.
• is the life:
  • Hebrew: chayyei (חַיֵּי), from chayyim (חַיִּים), which typically refers to life in its broadest sense—existence, vitality, welfare. Often plural, denoting the fullness of life.
  • Significance: It signifies biological existence, but also the dynamic, active principle of being. It's not just "life" but "the very essence of living." It is not static but continuous and maintained.
• of every creature:
  • Hebrew: kol-chai (כָל־חַי), literally "all living [things]."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the universality of God's life-giving power, encompassing all forms of animal life, from the smallest insect to the largest beast. It points to a sweeping, comprehensive dominion that leaves nothing outside His authority.
• and the breath:
  • Hebrew: v'ruach (וְרוּחַ), from ruach (רוּחַ).
  • Significance: Ruach is a rich term meaning "wind," "spirit," or "breath." In the context of life, it refers to the animating principle, the vital force that distinguishes the living from the dead. It is often connected to God's own Spirit (as in Gen 2:7, Ps 104:29-30), implying that the very act of breathing and being alive is a constant divine bestowal.
• of all mankind:
  • Hebrew: kol-ish (כָּל־אִישׁ), literally "all man" or "every man."
  • Significance: This distinguishes humanity within the broader category of "every creature." While God sustains all living things, the inclusion of "all mankind" specifically highlights human dependence on God for their existence, reflecting their unique creation in God's image.

Words-group analysis:

• "In his hand is the life...and the breath...": This coupling of "life" (chayyim) and "breath" (ruach) highlights God's holistic control over existence. "Life" points to being, while "breath" points to the vital mechanism and the very animating spirit that sustains that being. This indicates not just a one-time creation event but a continuous, active sustainment by God.
• "every creature and...all mankind": This dual expression shows the comprehensive nature of God's sovereignty. It encompasses the entirety of creation, from the smallest non-human creature to the pinnacle of creation, humanity. This emphasizes that no living being, great or small, human or animal, is independent of God's life-giving and life-sustaining power.

Job 12 10 Bonus section

The emphasis on nephesh (life) and ruach (breath/spirit) in this verse connects profoundly with ancient Israelite understanding of life as originating from God's own being. When God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" (Gen 2:7), He imparted not just biological animation but a spiritual vitality that linked humanity to their Creator. Thus, "in His hand is the life and the breath" points to an intimate and ongoing dependency; life isn't simply created and left to operate independently, but it is continuously upheld and permeated by God's sustaining presence. This idea counteracts any philosophical notion of deism, asserting instead God's active involvement in the very fabric of existence.

Job 12 10 Commentary

Job 12:10 serves as a foundational theological assertion in the midst of profound suffering and intellectual debate. Job uses this commonly accepted truth about God's sovereignty to pivot away from his friends' simplistic cause-and-effect explanations of suffering. By stating that God holds the very "life" and "breath" of all creatures and mankind, Job acknowledges God's absolute power. This is not a hesitant admission but a confident declaration of God's indisputable control over existence itself.

This verse reveals God as the sole Giver, Sustainer, and ultimate Arbiter of life and death. Life is not an inherent right or an autonomous function; it is a continuously bestowed gift from the Creator. The "breath" is not merely oxygen entering lungs but the very "spirit" or "wind" from God that animates and sustains every living thing. If God were to withdraw His hand, life would cease.

For Job, this truth intensifies the mystery of his suffering. If God is so utterly in control and wise, then the traditional explanations offered by his friends fall short. This verse is not about explaining why suffering exists, but about affirming the immense, unquestionable power of the One who allows it. It calls for awe and submission to a God whose ways are beyond human understanding, a theme explored further in the latter chapters of Job. It urges humanity to recognize their complete dependence on their Creator and to find trust even when divine actions are inscrutable.