Job 12:17

17 God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools.

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 God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land.

16 He is strong and victorious; both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him.

17 God leads the wise away as captives and turns judges into fools.

18 He takes off chains that kings put on and puts a garment on their bodies.

19 He leads priests away naked and destroys the powerful.