Job 12:15
Job 12:15 in Multiple Translations
If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
Beholde, he withholdeth the waters, and they drie vp: but when he sendeth them out, they destroy the earth.
Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
If he withhold the waters, all things shall be dried up: and if he send them out, they shall overturn the earth.
When he prevents rain from falling, everything dries up. When he causes a lot of rain to fall, the result is that there are floods.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 12:15
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 12:15 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הֵ֤ן
יַעְצֹ֣ר
בַּ/מַּ֣יִם
וְ/יִבָ֑שׁוּ
וִֽ֝/ישַׁלְּחֵ֗/ם
וְ/יַ֖הַפְכוּ
אָֽרֶץ
הֵ֤ן
hên
H2005
look!
Part
יַעְצֹ֣ר
ʻâtsâr
H6113
to restrain
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
בַּ/מַּ֣יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
Prep | N-mp
וְ/יִבָ֑שׁוּ
yâbêsh
H3001
to wither
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וִֽ֝/ישַׁלְּחֵ֗/ם
shâlach
H7971
to send
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff
וְ/יַ֖הַפְכוּ
hâphak
H2015
to overturn
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
אָֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Job 12:15
הֵ֤ן
hên
H2005
"look!"
Part
An expression meaning look or behold, used to get someone's attention, like in the prophet Isaiah's writings. It can also express surprise or introduce a hypothetical situation.
Definition: interj 1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part 2) if Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)
Usage: Occurs in 311 OT verses. KJV: behold, if, lo, though. See also: Genesis 3:22; Job 2:6; Psalms 51:7.
יַעְצֹ֣ר
ʻâtsâr
H6113
"to restrain"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to restrain or hold back, often used in the context of controlling one's actions or emotions. In the book of Psalms, it describes God's power to restrain evil. The word can also mean to assemble or rule over something.
Definition: 1) to restrain, retain, close up, shut, withhold, refrain, stay, detain 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to restrain, halt, stop 1a2) to retain 1b) (Niphal) to be restrained, be stayed, be under restraint
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain, [idiom] reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self). See also: Genesis 16:2; 1 Chronicles 12:1; Psalms 106:30.
בַּ/מַּ֣יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
Prep | N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
וְ/יִבָ֑שׁוּ
yâbêsh
H3001
"to wither"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to wither or dry up, like a plant without water. It can also mean to be ashamed or disappointed. The Bible uses it to describe things that have lost their freshness or vitality.
Definition: 1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture 1a2) to be dried up 1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to dry up, make dry 1c1a) to dry up (water) 1c1b) to make dry, wither 1c1c) to exhibit dryness
Usage: Occurs in 62 OT verses. KJV: be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up), (do) shame(-fully), [idiom] utterly, wither (away). See also: Genesis 8:7; Jeremiah 6:15; Psalms 22:16.
וִֽ֝/ישַׁלְּחֵ֗/ם
shâlach
H7971
"to send"
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-3ms | Suff
To send or depart is the meaning of this Hebrew word, which has various applications in the Bible. It can describe sending someone or something away, or letting something go.
Definition: : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send
Usage: Occurs in 790 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 9:27; Joshua 14:11.
וְ/יַ֖הַפְכוּ
hâphak
H2015
"to overturn"
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To overturn means to turn something around or change it completely, often implying a reversal or transformation. This can be seen in the Bible when something is turned upside down or changed radically.
Definition: 1) to turn, overthrow, overturn 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to overturn, overthrow 1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around 1a3) to change, transform 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back 1b2) to change oneself 1b3) to be perverse 1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against 1b5) to be reversed 1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown 1b7) to be upturned 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to transform oneself 1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way 1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way). See also: Genesis 3:24; Job 30:15; Psalms 30:12.
אָֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
Study Notes — Job 12:15
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 12:15 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 12:15
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 12:15
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 12:15
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 12:15
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 12:15
- Cambridge Bible on Job 12:15
- Barnes' Notes on Job 12:15
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 12:15
- Sermons on Job 12:15
Context — Job Presents His Case
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.
16True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His. 17He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Kings 17:1 | Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!” |
| 2 | Amos 5:8 | He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth— the LORD is His name— |
| 3 | Genesis 6:13 | Then God said to Noah, “The end of all living creatures has come before Me, because through them the earth is full of violence. Now behold, I will destroy both them and the earth. |
| 4 | Genesis 6:17 | And behold, I will bring floodwaters upon the earth to destroy every creature under the heavens that has the breath of life. Everything on the earth will perish. |
| 5 | Nahum 1:4 | He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. |
| 6 | Job 12:10 | The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind. |
| 7 | Genesis 7:11–2 | — |
| 8 | Jeremiah 14:22 | Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things. |
| 9 | Psalms 104:7–9 | At Your rebuke the waters fled; at the sound of Your thunder they hurried away— the mountains rose and the valleys sank to the place You assigned for them— You set a boundary they cannot cross, that they may never again cover the earth. |
| 10 | Revelation 11:6 | These witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish. |
Job 12:15 Summary
This verse, Job 12:15, reminds us that God is in control of everything, even the weather. If He wants, He can make it rain or stop the rain, and this shows His great power and wisdom, as also seen in Jeremiah 10:13. It's like when we turn on or off a faucet - God has the power to turn on or off the forces of nature. This should help us trust in God's sovereignty, even when things seem out of control, and remember that He is always working for our good, as promised in Romans 8:28.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for God to 'hold back the waters' in Job 12:15?
This phrase is likely referring to God's control over the forces of nature, including rainfall, floods, and droughts, as seen in Psalm 107:33-35, where God is described as the one who turns rivers into deserts and water springs into dry ground.
Is God responsible for natural disasters like floods and droughts?
According to the Bible, God is sovereign over all of creation, including the weather, as stated in Job 37:6-13 and Jeremiah 10:13, which describe God's control over the weather and the seasons.
How does this verse relate to God's power and wisdom?
This verse highlights God's absolute control over the natural world, demonstrating His power and wisdom, as also seen in Psalm 104:1-35, which describes God's wisdom and power in creating and sustaining the universe.
What can we learn from God's control over the waters in this verse?
We can learn that God is all-powerful and in control of all aspects of creation, and that we should trust in His sovereignty, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6, which advises us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond to God's control over the forces of nature in my own life, especially in times of uncertainty or disaster?
- What are some ways I can trust in God's sovereignty, even when I don't understand the circumstances around me?
- How does this verse challenge or comfort me in my current situation, and what does it reveal about God's character?
- In what ways can I acknowledge and submit to God's power and wisdom in my daily life, as described in Romans 11:33-36?
Gill's Exposition on Job 12:15
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up,.... Or "lays a restraint in" or "on the waters" (s); either in the ocean, as he did at the creation, when he gathered the waters that were upon the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 12:15
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 12:15
He withholdeth the waters; which are reserved in the clouds, that they may not fall upon the earth. They dry up, i.e. the waters upon the earth, ponds, and springs, and brooks, and rivers.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 12:15
Job 12:15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.Ver. 15. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up] He not only, when he pleaseth, imprisoneth men, but waters also, that they cannot get out of the clouds, those bottles of rain, those airy sponges, vessels as thin as the liquor that is contained in them; it is from the power of God that they dissolve not upon us at once, and overwhelm us. Bartholinus reports that in the year of grace 1551 a great number of men and cattle were drowned by the sudden breaking of a cloud; various vineyards, stone walls, strong houses, were destroyed and ruined. At sea, sometimes, ships are by the same means sunk; seamen call it a water spout. Again, it is by the anger and judgments of God that the clouds are sometimes so closed up, that they yield no more water than iron or adamant. "If I shut up heaven," saith he, "that there be no rain," 2 Chronicles 7:13 Deuteronomy 28:23-24. God threateneth, as a punishment of men’ s sins, that the heavens over their heads shall be brass, and the earth under them shall be iron; that the rain of their land shall be made powder and dust; from heaven shall it come down upon them, &c., by exceeding great drought, grains of dust shall ascend into the air with the wind, and come down as the drops of rain in a shower when it is kindly weather. Thus it was in Ahab’ s days, 1 Kings 18:1; And they dry up] The rivers, fruits of the earth, roots of trees, all dry up, languish, and perish; fevers also, and other acute diseases, abound. Also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth] They did so with an accent in the general deluge, and in Deucalion’ s flood in Thessaly, besides many other great tracts and parts of the earth overturned by water. Pliny and Seneca give us sundry instances of towns and countries laid waste by water (Plin.
Nat. Hist., lib. ii. cap. 90, 92; Sen. Nat. Quaest., lib. vi. cap. 23). What great damage was lately done about Amsterdam by water, and what breaking down of bridges, mills, and other houses, by excessive rain and floods thereupon, besides marring of grounds and rotting of cattle in many places among us, needeth not here to be related.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 12:15
Verse 15. He withholdeth the waters] This is, I think, an allusion to the third day's work of the creation, Genesis 1:9: And God said, Let the waters be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear. Thus the earth was drained, and the waters collected into seas, and bound to their particular places. Also he sendeth them out] Here is also an allusion to the flood, for when he broke up the fountains of the great deep, then the earth was overturned.
Cambridge Bible on Job 12:15
15. withholdeth the waters] In droughts. The second half of the verse refers to floods and cataclysms.
Barnes' Notes on Job 12:15
He withholdeth the waters - From the clouds and springs. He has control over the rains and the fountains; and when these are withheld, rivers and lakes become dry.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 12:15
15. Is thought by some to refer to the deluge. Compare Psalms 104:29-30.
Sermons on Job 12:15
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Where Is the Fire? by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker shares a story about a young man who came to his office. The young man had been in Nicaragua and witnessed the power of God there. He tells the speaker |
|
|
No Man Is Greater Than His Prayer Life by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the life of Elijah, whom he considers one of the greatest men in history. He highlights the miraculous events and accomplishments of Elijah, s |
|
|
Revival by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Isaiah chapter 6 and highlights three key words: woe, love, and go. The first word, woe, represents confession and recognizing our own sinfu |
|
|
1 Kings 16-18 - Part 1 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the venue and encourages the audience to attend more frequently. The sermon then focuses on the book of James, specif |
|
Where Is the Lord God of Elijah? by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker draws parallels between the courage and dedication of the prophet Elijah and the need for believers today to have faith and obedience. He emphasizes tha |
|
K-007 the End Time Man of God by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker describes a moment of crisis where a Jewish life is hanging in the balance. The speaker is given the opportunity to speak first and delivers a powerful |
|
|
The Bride Prepared by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Elijah and how God commanded him to hide himself. The preacher emphasizes the importance of knowing when to show oneself and whe |