Job 12:17

17 He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.

Job 12:17 in Other Translations

17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.

17 He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.

17 He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools.

17 He strips experts of their vaunted credentials, exposes judges as witless fools.

17 He leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh he fools.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools out of judges.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot and makes judges go mad.

17 He removes the wisdom of advisers and leads them away. He makes judges look foolish.

Job 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

Job 12:17

He leadeth counsellors away spoiled
Such who have the greatest share of knowledge and wisdom in civil things, and are capable of giving advice to others, and are very useful in commonwealths, in cities, towns, and neighbourhoods; wherefore it is a judgment on a people when such are removed, ( Isaiah 3:3 ) ; these God can spoil at once of all their wisdom and knowledge, and render them unfit to give advice and counsel to others; or he can confound their schemes, disappoint their devices, carry their counsel headlong, and make it of none effect, and so spoil them of their ends and views, and of their fame, credit, and reputation:

and maketh the judges fools;
men of great parts, abilities, and capacities, whereby they are qualified to sit upon the bench, preside in courts of judicature, and judge in all matters of controversy that come before them; and it is a happiness to a country to have such persons, as it is a judgment to have them removed, see ( Isaiah 3:2 ) ; yet God can take away the wisdom of such men, deprive them of their natural abilities, and so infatuate them, that they shall not be able to understand a cause, but pass a foolish sentence, to their own shame and disgrace, as well as to the injury of others; see ( Isaiah 40:23 ) .

Job 12:17 In-Context

15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

16 To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.

17 He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges.

18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist.

19 He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established.

Cross References

• 1. ver 19; Job 19:9; Isaiah 20:4
• 2. S Job 3:14; 1 Corinthians 1:20