Job 12:7
Job 12:7 in Multiple Translations
But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:
But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
Aske now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the foules of the heauen, and they shall tell thee:
And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
“But ask the wild animals what they know about God, and if they could speak they would teach you. If you could ask the birds, they would tell you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 12:7
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 12:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְֽ/אוּלָ֗ם
שְׁאַל
נָ֣א
בְהֵמ֣וֹת
וְ/תֹרֶ֑/ךָּ
וְ/ע֥וֹף
הַ֝/שָּׁמַ֗יִם
וְ/יַגֶּד
לָֽ/ךְ
וְֽ/אוּלָ֗ם
ʼûwlâm
H199
but
Conj | Adv
שְׁאַל
shâʼal
H7592
to ask
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
נָ֣א
nâʼ
H4994
please
Part
בְהֵמ֣וֹת
bᵉhêmâh
H929
animal
N-fp
וְ/תֹרֶ֑/ךָּ
yârâh
H3384
to shoot
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff
וְ/ע֥וֹף
ʻôwph
H5775
bird
Conj | N-ms
הַ֝/שָּׁמַ֗יִם
shâmayim
H8064
heaven
Art | N-mp
וְ/יַגֶּד
nâgad
H5046
to tell
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
לָֽ/ךְ
Prep | Suff
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 12:7
וְֽ/אוּלָ֗ם
ʼûwlâm
H199
"but"
Conj | Adv
This word is used to show contrast, like 'but' or 'however', and is often used to emphasize a point, as seen in its various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) but, but indeed (a strong adversative) 2) however, nevertheless
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: as for, but, howbeit, in very deed, surely, truly, wherefore. See also: Genesis 28:19; Job 2:5; Micah 3:8.
שְׁאַל
shâʼal
H7592
"to ask"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
To ask or inquire, this Hebrew word is used in the Bible to describe seeking information or requesting something. It can also mean to beg or borrow, and is used in many different contexts throughout the Old Testament. The KJV translates it as ask, beg, or borrow.
Definition: 1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to ask, ask for 1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow 1a3) to enquire, enquire of 1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle) 1a5) to seek 1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully 1c2) to beg, practise beggary 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to be given on request 1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593)
Usage: Occurs in 157 OT verses. KJV: ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish. See also: Genesis 24:47; 2 Samuel 8:10; Psalms 2:8.
נָ֣א
nâʼ
H4994
"please"
Part
The Hebrew word 'nâ'' is used to express a polite request, like 'please' or 'I pray', and is often added to verbs to make them more polite. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Ezra's reading of the law to the people.
Definition: 1) I (we) pray, now, please 1a) used in entreaty or exhortation
Usage: Occurs in 374 OT verses. KJV: I beseech (pray) thee (you), go to, now, oh. See also: Genesis 12:11; Judges 4:19; 1 Kings 13:6.
בְהֵמ֣וֹת
bᵉhêmâh
H929
"animal"
N-fp
This word refers to animals, especially large quadruped mammals. It's used in the Bible to describe livestock, wild beasts, and other creatures. It appears in stories of creation, farming, and wildlife.
Definition: 1) beast, cattle, animal 1a) beasts (coll of all animals) 1b) cattle, livestock (of domestic animals) 1c) wild beasts
Usage: Occurs in 172 OT verses. KJV: beast, cattle. See also: Genesis 1:24; Deuteronomy 28:11; Psalms 8:8.
וְ/תֹרֶ֑/ךָּ
yârâh
H3384
"to shoot"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3fs | Suff
To show or teach something, like pointing it out or shooting an arrow. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe instructing or directing others.
Definition: 1) to shoot, pour 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to shoot arrows 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to shoot at 1b2) part. shooter, archer 1c) to throw water, rain
Usage: Occurs in 75 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase]) archer, cast, direct, inform, instruct, lay, shew, shoot, teach(-er,-ing), through. See also: Genesis 31:51; Job 8:10; Psalms 11:2.
וְ/ע֥וֹף
ʻôwph
H5775
"bird"
Conj | N-ms
In the Bible, this word simply means a bird, like the ones that fly in the sky. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms, often symbolizing freedom.
Definition: 1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds 1a) fowl, birds 1b) winged insects Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: bird, that flieth, flying, fowl. See also: Genesis 1:20; 1 Samuel 17:46; Psalms 50:11.
הַ֝/שָּׁמַ֗יִם
shâmayim
H8064
"heaven"
Art | N-mp
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Definition: 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
Usage: Occurs in 395 OT verses. KJV: air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). See also: Genesis 1:1; 1 Samuel 2:10; Job 28:21.
וְ/יַגֶּד
nâgad
H5046
"to tell"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Definition: 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Usage: Occurs in 344 OT verses. KJV: bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. See also: Genesis 3:11; 1 Samuel 14:33; 2 Kings 9:15.
לָֽ/ךְ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Job 12:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 12:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 12:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 12:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 12:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 12:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 12:7
- Cambridge Bible on Job 12:7
- Barnes' Notes on Job 12:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 12:7
- Sermons on Job 12:7
Context — Job Presents His Case
5The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 1:3 | The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” |
| 2 | Proverbs 6:6 | Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 8:7 | Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD. |
| 4 | Job 21:29–30 | Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports? Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath. |
Job 12:7 Summary
This verse, Job 12:7, is reminding us that God's wisdom and power are visible in the natural world, and that we can learn valuable lessons from observing creation. By paying attention to the animals and birds, we can see examples of trust, provision, and care, which are all reflections of God's character, as seen in verses like Matthew 6:26 and Psalm 19:1-6. This encourages us to look beyond our own understanding and to seek wisdom from the One who created all things. As we do, we can grow in our appreciation for God's faithfulness and loving care for us and for all of His creation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'ask the animals' in Job 12:7?
This verse is not suggesting that animals can speak to us in a literal sense, but rather that we can learn from observing their behavior and the natural world, as seen in Psalm 19:1-6, which describes how creation declares the glory of God.
Is Job 12:7 promoting a form of animal worship or nature spirituality?
No, the Bible clearly condemns worshiping creation instead of the Creator, as stated in Romans 1:25, and this verse is simply encouraging us to recognize and appreciate the wisdom and order that God has built into the natural world, as seen in Job 38-41.
What can we learn from the birds of the air according to Job 12:7?
The birds of the air can teach us about trust, provision, and care, as Jesus mentions in Matthew 6:26, where He notes that God feeds the birds and will also provide for us, demonstrating God's faithfulness and loving care for all of His creation.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Job?
Job 12:7 is part of Job's response to his friends, emphasizing that true wisdom comes from recognizing God's power and presence in all of creation, a theme that is central to the book of Job and reinforced in verses like Job 38:1-7, where God Himself speaks to Job from the whirlwind.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that observing the natural world has taught me about God's character and wisdom?
- How can I apply the lessons learned from the animals and birds to my own life and challenges?
- In what ways do I see God's hand and provision in the world around me, and how can I cultivate a deeper sense of trust and appreciation for His care?
- What are some examples from my own life where I have seen God's order and wisdom at work, even in difficult or unexpected circumstances?
Gill's Exposition on Job 12:7
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee,.... And so the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea, in this and Job 12:8; from those instructions may be learned, of instances taken, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 12:7
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Ask now the beasts ... and the fowls ... and the fish.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 12:7
They shall teach thee, to wit, objectively, i.e. if thou observest the beasts, and their properties, and actions, and events, from them thou mayst learn this lesson. What lesson? I answer, either, 1. That which was last mentioned, . God’ s providence doth order things in the like manner among the very beasts, and fowls, and fishes; of which the most ravenous and mischievous fare the best, whilst those which are more harmless, and serviceable, and beneficial to men meet with the hardest usage. Or, 2. That which Zophar had uttered with so much pomp and gravity, , concerning God’ s infinite wisdom; which, saith Job, thou needest not go into heaven or hell to know, but thou mayst learn it even from the beasts, &c.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 12:7
Job 12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:Ver. 7. But ask now the beasts of the earth, and they shall teach thee] Even the wildest of them that abide in the wilderness. There is not one of these, or else of the fowls of the air, but can both teach thee, and tell thee that the world is ordered by a providence, that God is powerful, wise, just, &c., and must therefore be loved and served. That he suffereth the bad to oppress the good, as the beasts do devour the little ones; as the hurtful fowls destroy the harmless; as the great fishes eat up the smaller: man, who was once the captain of God’ s school, is now, for his truantcy, turned down into the lowest form, as it were, to learn his A B C’ s again; yea, to learn it from the meanest creatures. See Proverbs 6:6 Jeremiah 8:7 Matthew 6:26; where it appeareth, that in the ant, stork, swallow, &c., God hath set before us, as in a picture, the lively resemblance of many excellent virtues, which we ought to pursue and practise. These are the right laymen’ s books, the images that may truly teach people the knowledge of God, and of his will, of themselves, and of their duties; which we should the rather learn, because God hath given us wisdom beyond them, Job 37:11, and yet by sending us to them, shameth our dulness and disobedience.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 12:7
Verse 7. But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee] Mr. Good's paraphrase here is very just: "Why tell ye me that the Almighty hath brought this calamity upon me? Every thing in nature, the beasts of the field, the fowls of the heaven, every inhabitant of earth and sea, and every thing that befalls them, are the work of his hands; and every thing feels and acknowledges him to be the universal Creator and Controller. It is the common doctrine of all nature; but to apply it as ye would apply it to me, and to assert that I am suffering from being guilty of hypocrisy, is equally impertinent. He ordains every thing in wisdom as well as in power; but why events happen as they happen, why good and evil are promiscuously scattered throughout nature or human life, ye are as ignorant of as myself."
Cambridge Bible on Job 12:7
7–10. Such knowledge as the friends possessed of God’s wisdom and power and their action in the world could be learned by any one who had eyes to observe the life and fate of the lower creatures. In all may be seen God’s absolute might and sway prevailing (Job 12:10).
Barnes' Notes on Job 12:7
But ask now the beasts - Rosenmuller supposes that this appeal to the inferior creation should be regarded as connected with Job 12:3, and that the intermediate verses are parenthetical.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 12:7
b. The divine wisdom on which Zophar has descanted, the entire brute creation might have taught him. And yet Zophar does not know that He who is Lord over life and death, lets the wicked live, Job 12:7-12.7.
Sermons on Job 12:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Our Awesome God - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | This sermon delves into the profound wisdom and knowledge of God as revealed in Romans 11, emphasizing the intricate design and balance in creation that sustains life on Earth. It |
|
The Mystic Universe in My Back Yard by Samuel Logan Brengle | Samuel Logan Brengle reflects on the profound beauty and spiritual significance of nature found in his own back yard, contrasting it with the teachings of St. Paul, who did not emp |
|
Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Henry Drummond | Henry Drummond preaches about the potential unity of Natural Law in the Spiritual World, challenging the traditional separation between the two realms. He argues that just as the l |
|
The Stork by Harriet N. Cook | Harriet N. Cook uses the example of the stork to emphasize the importance of kindness, care, and gratitude towards parents, drawing parallels between the stork's behavior towards i |
|
The Anthropic Principle by Judah Etinger | Judah Etinger delves into the anthropic principle, exploring the intricate design of the universe that seems tailored for the existence of life on Earth. Through various examples l |
|
God's Place as Creator by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's presence as both Creator and Redeemer in all aspects of life, urging us to admire Him in nature as well as in grace. He su |
|
|
Christ's World of Nature by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer emphasizes that Jesus Christ entered our world at the perfect time, and while His own people rejected Him, nature welcomed Him. He illustrates how the star guided the wi |