Job 5 12

Job 5:12 kjv

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

Job 5:12 nkjv

He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.

Job 5:12 niv

He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

Job 5:12 esv

He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

Job 5:12 nlt

He frustrates the plans of schemers
so the work of their hands will not succeed.

Job 5 verses

Job 5 12 Meaning

Job 5:12 declares God's active power in thwarting the deceitful plans of the wicked. He renders ineffective the schemes designed by the cunning, ensuring their self-devised undertakings fail to reach their intended fulfillment. This verse highlights divine sovereignty over human machinations, underscoring the futility of opposition to God's will and purpose.

Job 5 12 Context

Job 5:12 is spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's three friends, during their first round of discussions. Eliphaz presents what he perceives as a divine truth about God's justice: God intervenes in human affairs, especially against the wicked and those who rely on their own cunning rather than seeking Him. Within chapter 5, Eliphaz urges Job to acknowledge God's omnipotence and wisdom (v. 8-11), suggesting that God is active in the world, bringing down the proud and elevating the lowly. He follows this statement with descriptions of God's beneficial interventions for the righteous (v. 13-27), implicitly asserting that Job's suffering must stem from his own sin or folly, since God delivers the innocent. This verse, therefore, serves as part of Eliphaz's theological framework that God justly frustrates the wicked, a framework he misapplies to Job’s blameless situation. Historically, such proverbs would have been understood in a society where the pursuit of power often involved subtle and deceptive schemes. The statement acts as a counter-narrative, asserting that ultimate control resides not with cunning rulers or clever plotters, but with God.

Job 5 12 Word analysis

• He frustrates: The Hebrew verb is hēpêr (הֵפֵר), the Hiphil form of pārar (פָּרַר). Pārar means to break, destroy, frustrate, nullify, or make void. The Hiphil conjugation indicates active causation, meaning "He causes to break," "He brings to nothing," or "He utterly abolishes." This highlights God's direct and intentional intervention, actively bringing human designs to naught. It demonstrates His absolute sovereignty and power to overrule human will.

• the devices: The Hebrew word is mêzimmāh (מְזִמָּה). It comes from the root zāmam (זָמַם), meaning to plot or purpose. Mêzimmāh refers to a scheme, plot, evil device, or malicious intent. It often implies a carefully calculated and often wicked design. Its use here indicates the calculated and purposeful nature of the "crafty's" actions, emphasizing their deliberate malice or self-serving ambition.

• of the crafty: The Hebrew is `arummîm (עֲרוּמִים), the plural form of `ārûm (עָרוּם). This term can signify either positive prudence, shrewdness, or discretion (e.g., Prov 12:16, where it's wisdom in foresight) or, as in this context, negative cunning, slyness, and deceit (e.g., Gen 3:1, referring to the serpent). When paired with "devices" (mêzimmāh), it strongly connotes those who use their cleverness for manipulative or self-serving ends, often at the expense of others or in defiance of divine principles. It speaks of a human intelligence misdirected, relying on its own ingenuity apart from God.

• So that their hands cannot perform: The Hebrew uses lō’ ta`ăśeh (לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה), literally "not do" or "not make." The phrase emphasizes the absolute impotence and lack of efficacy. "Their hands" (yadêm) is a metonymy for their ability, power, or agency to act and achieve. It signifies that even with meticulous planning, their capacity for execution is completely paralyzed by God's intervention.

• their enterprise: The Hebrew word is tûšîyyāh (תּוּשִׁיָּה). This term has a broad range of meanings: effective counsel, sound wisdom, purpose, understanding, ability, or achievement. In the context of Job, it appears both positively (e.g., Job 6:13, where it refers to help or success; 11:6, deep wisdom) and, as here, negatively as the desired outcome or completion of the "crafty's" plots. It represents the successful outcome they strive for through their cunning.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "He frustrates the devices": This phrase highlights God's active, opposing power against evil machinations. It reveals a divine characteristic: not merely passive allowance, but forceful nullification of human malevolence or self-reliant schemes. God steps in to prevent wicked plans from achieving their destructive ends.
  • "the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise": This part describes the targets and the complete ineffectiveness resulting from God's intervention. It illustrates the profound irony that those who pride themselves on their cleverness and foresight are utterly disabled in their most determined efforts. Their boasted ability and careful planning come to naught, demonstrating that ultimate success or failure rests not with human cleverness, but with God's sovereign will.

Job 5 12 Bonus section

• Polemics against Ancient Near Eastern Beliefs: In many ancient cultures, gods could be appeased, manipulated, or influenced by human actions, omens, or rituals. This verse directly counters such notions by asserting God's absolute autonomy and His proactive thwarting of human cunning, demonstrating He cannot be outwitted or forced into action by any human "device." It refutes the idea that human ingenuity or occult practices can achieve anything against the will of the Almighty.
• Eliphaz's Application and Misapplication: While the statement itself holds profound theological truth about God's sovereignty, Eliphaz's broader speech (Job 4-5) serves to accuse Job, implying his suffering is due to hidden sin. He uses a general truth about God's justice against the "crafty" and implicitly suggests Job fits this description, thus misapplying a sound principle to an individual's specific, unique situation. This highlights the danger of rigidly applying theological truths without genuine understanding of an individual's context.
• Divine Wisdom vs. Human Cunning: The verse juxtaposes divine wisdom and power (God who frustrates) against human cleverness (`arummîm), showing that the latter, when used for wicked or self-serving purposes, is ultimately powerless. It implies that true, effective wisdom is found in aligning oneself with God's will, not in crafting independent plans.

Job 5 12 Commentary

Job 5:12 underscores the sovereign power of God over all human endeavors. It is a powerful declaration that God is not merely a distant observer but an active intervener in human affairs, specifically targeting and dismantling the schemes of those who rely on their own cunning and manipulation rather than on righteousness or divine wisdom. This divine frustration of "crafty devices" reveals the ultimate futility of any human plot or plan conceived in opposition to, or apart from, God's will. Their meticulously laid "enterprise"—their intended outcome or achievement—is rendered entirely impotual by divine intervention. The verse serves as a potent reminder that while humanity may scheme and plan, ultimate control and the determination of all outcomes rest with the Almighty, emphasizing that no human wit can circumvent His divine purposes or justice.