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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 12:24 He deprives the earth's leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/12-24.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/18_Job_12_24.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 12:24 - Job Responds to Zophar" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He deprives the earth's leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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he makes them wander in a trackless waste.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He strips kings of understanding and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a trackless waste.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness <i>where there is</i> no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“He deprives the leaders of the earth’s people of intelligence And makes them wander in a pathless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth&#8217s people And makes them wander in a pathless waste.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“He deprives of intelligence the chiefs of the earth’s people, And makes them wander in a pathless waste.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He removes the heart <i>of wisdom</i> from the heads of the earth’s people And makes them wander in a pathless waste.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“He removes intelligence <i>and</i> understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth And makes them wander <i>and</i> move blindly in a pathless waste.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He deprives the world’s leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He deprives the world&#8217s leaders of reason, and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />God strikes their rulers senseless, then leaves them to roam through barren deserts, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He takes away the common sense of a country's leaders and makes them stumble about in a pathless wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/12.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He makes their leaders foolish and lets them wander confused and lost; <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He deprives the earth?s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He deprives the leaders of the earth of their understanding; he makes them wander in a trackless desert waste. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Turning aside the heart "" Of the heads of the people of the land, "" And He causes them to wander "" In vacancy—no way!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy -- no way!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Taking away the heart of the heads of the people of the earth, and he will cause them to wander in a waste, not a way.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He changeth the heart of the princes of the people of the earth, and deceiveth them that they walk in vain where there is no way. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He transforms the heart of the leaders of the people on earth, and misleads those who in vain advance upon the inviolable.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He takes understanding from the leaders of the land, makes them wander in a pathless desert. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He strips understanding from the leaders of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless waste.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a waste land where there is no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/12.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />He intoxicates the heart of the Leaders of the people of the Earth and causes them to wander in a trackless waste without a road<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/12.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/12.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Perplexing the minds of the princes of the earth: and he causes them to wander in a way, they have not known, <i>saying</i>,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/12-24.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=1910" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/12.htm">Job Responds to Zophar</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">23</span>He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them. <span class="reftext">24</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5493.htm" title="5493: mê·sîr (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-ms) -- To turn aside. Or suwr; a primitive root; to turn off.">He deprives</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the earth’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/7218.htm" title="7218: rā·šê (N-mpc) -- Head. From an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head, whether literal or figurative.">leaders</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am- (N-msc) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3820.htm" title="3820: lêḇ (N-msc) -- A form of lebab; the heart; also used very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything.">of reason</a> <a href="/hebrew/8582.htm" title="8582: way·yaṯ·‘êm (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3mp) -- To err. A primitive root; to vacillate, i.e. Reel or stray; also causative of both.">and makes them wander</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">in a trackless</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: ḏā·reḵ (N-cs) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8414.htm" title="8414: bə·ṯō·hū (Prep-b:: N-ms) -- From an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation, i.e. Desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain.">wasteland.</a> </span><span class="reftext">25</span>They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Psalm 107:40</a></span><br />He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-14.htm">Isaiah 19:14</a></span><br />The LORD has poured into her a spirit of confusion. Egypt has been led astray in all she does, as a drunkard staggers through his own vomit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-14.htm">Isaiah 29:14</a></span><br />Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/50-6.htm">Jeremiah 50:6</a></span><br />My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/4-35.htm">Daniel 4:35</a></span><br />All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-19.htm">1 Corinthians 1:19</a></span><br />For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/1-21.htm">Romans 1:21-22</a></span><br />For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-25.htm">Isaiah 44:25</a></span><br />who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-25.htm">Matthew 11:25</a></span><br />At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-19.htm">1 Corinthians 3:19-20</a></span><br />For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” / And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-17.htm">Isaiah 63:17</a></span><br />Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/20-26.htm">Ezekiel 20:26</a></span><br />And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/2-11.htm">2 Thessalonians 2:11</a></span><br />For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-8.htm">Romans 11:8</a></span><br />as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_timothy/3-13.htm">2 Timothy 3:13</a></span><br />while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He takes away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.</p><p class="hdg">He taketh</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/12-20.htm">Job 12:20</a></b></br> He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/17-4.htm">Job 17:4</a></b></br> For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt <i>them</i>.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/6-9.htm">Isaiah 6:9,10</a></b></br> And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not… </p><p class="hdg">and causeth</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/107-4.htm">Psalm 107:4,40</a></b></br> They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Genesis 1:2</a></b></br> And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness <i>was</i> upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/28-10.htm">Causes</a> <a href="/ezra/10-5.htm">Causeth</a> <a href="/esther/1-8.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/job/12-21.htm">Chiefs</a> <a href="/job/12-20.htm">Deprives</a> <a href="/job/12-15.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/27-39.htm">Earth's</a> <a href="/job/12-3.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/job/12-3.htm">Intelligence</a> <a href="/esther/1-3.htm">Leaders</a> <a href="/job/12-23.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Pathless</a> <a href="/job/12-20.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/job/3-15.htm">Rulers</a> <a href="/job/12-15.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Trackless</a> <a href="/job/12-20.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/job/12-20.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Vacancy</a> <a href="/2_kings/21-8.htm">Wander</a> <a href="/job/4-11.htm">Wandering</a> <a href="/job/7-16.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/job/11-20.htm">Way</a> <a href="/job/1-19.htm">Wilderness</a> <a href="/job/12-17.htm">Wisdom</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/37-13.htm">Causes</a> <a href="/job/12-25.htm">Causeth</a> <a href="/job/29-9.htm">Chief</a> <a href="/job/29-10.htm">Chiefs</a> <a href="/job/12-20.htm">Deprives</a> <a href="/job/13-12.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/job/38-4.htm">Earth's</a> <a href="/job/15-12.htm">Heart</a> <a href="/job/34-35.htm">Intelligence</a> <a href="/job/29-10.htm">Leaders</a> <a href="/job/12-25.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Pathless</a> <a href="/job/13-3.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/job/29-9.htm">Rulers</a> <a href="/job/20-15.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Trackless</a> <a href="/job/14-13.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/job/17-4.htm">Understanding</a> <a href="/psalms/107-40.htm">Vacancy</a> <a href="/job/12-25.htm">Wander</a> <a href="/job/12-25.htm">Wandering</a> <a href="/job/14-11.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/job/13-15.htm">Way</a> <a href="/job/24-5.htm">Wilderness</a> <a href="/job/13-5.htm">Wisdom</a><div class="vheading2">Job 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/12-1.htm">Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/12-7.htm">He acknowledges the doctrine of God's omnipotence</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason</b><br>This phrase highlights God's sovereignty over human wisdom and leadership. Throughout the Bible, God is shown to have the power to grant or withhold wisdom. In <a href="/1_kings/3-12.htm">1 Kings 3:12</a>, God grants Solomon wisdom, while in <a href="/daniel/4-31.htm">Daniel 4:31-32</a>, Nebuchadnezzar is deprived of reason as a demonstration of God's authority. The idea that God can influence the minds of leaders is a recurring theme, emphasizing that human authority is ultimately subject to divine will. This aligns with <a href="/proverbs/21.htm">Proverbs 21:1</a>, which states that the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord.<p><b>and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.</b><br>This imagery of wandering in a wasteland suggests confusion and aimlessness, often used in Scripture to describe the consequences of turning away from God. The Israelites' 40 years in the desert (<a href="/numbers/14-33.htm">Numbers 14:33</a>) serve as a historical example of wandering due to disobedience. The "trackless wasteland" symbolizes a lack of direction and purpose, which can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual desolation. This phrase also connects to the theme of divine judgment, where God allows leaders to face the consequences of their pride and folly, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/29-14.htm">Isaiah 29:14</a>, where the wisdom of the wise is thwarted.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man of great faith and patience, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job. He is known for his suffering and his dialogues with friends about the nature of God and human suffering.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/e/earth's_leaders.htm">Earth's Leaders</a></b><br>This refers to rulers or those in positions of authority. In the context of Job, it highlights how God can influence the wisdom and decisions of those in power.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/trackless_wasteland.htm">Trackless Wasteland</a></b><br>A metaphorical place representing confusion and lack of direction. It signifies the state of being lost or without guidance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_leaders.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Leaders</a></b><br>God has ultimate control over the wisdom and decisions of earthly leaders. This should encourage believers to trust in God's plan, even when human leadership seems flawed or misguided.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_limits_of_human_wisdom.htm">The Limits of Human Wisdom</a></b><br>Human wisdom is limited and can be confounded by God. This serves as a reminder to seek divine wisdom and guidance in all aspects of life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_pride.htm">The Consequences of Pride</a></b><br>Leaders who rely solely on their own understanding may find themselves lost and without direction. Humility before God is essential for true leadership.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trusting_god_in_uncertainty.htm">Trusting God in Uncertainty</a></b><br>When faced with confusion or lack of direction, believers should trust in God's ability to guide and provide clarity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/prayer_for_leaders.htm">Prayer for Leaders</a></b><br>Christians are encouraged to pray for their leaders, asking God to grant them wisdom and discernment.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 12</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_job_12_23-25_clash_with_free_will.htm">In Job 12:23-25, does the depiction of God as actively causing nations to stumble clash with the Bible's emphasis on human free will and moral accountability?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_god_incite_and_punish_david.htm">Why does 2 Samuel 24:1 say God incited David to take the census, then punish him for it?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_god_silent_in_job_24_12.htm">In Job 24:12, why does it seem like God remains silent in the face of rampant oppression, clashing with other biblical passages where God intervenes?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_jehoiada_live_to_130.htm">How could Jehoiada realistically reach the age of 130 (2 Chronicles 24:15), given the average lifespans recorded elsewhere and historical data?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 24.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth</span>; rather. <span class="accented">the chiefs of the people</span> or "the popular chief talus" (Lee). He deprives these "chiefs" of their wisdom or courage, or both, and thus brings down the nations under their governance. <span class="cmt_word">And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way</span>; rather, <span class="accented">in a chaos -</span> one of the words used in <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Genesis 1:2</a> to describe the condition of the material universe before God had ordered and arranged it. The chieftains, deprived of their "heart," are so confused and perplexed that they do not know what to do, or which way to turn. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/12-24.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">He deprives</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵסִ֗יר</span> <span class="translit">(mê·sîr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5493.htm">Strong's 5493: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn aside</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the earth's</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָ֑רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">leaders</span><br /><span class="heb">רָאשֵׁ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(rā·šê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7218.htm">Strong's 7218: </a> </span><span class="str2">The head</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of reason,</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵ֭ב</span> <span class="translit">(lêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3820.htm">Strong's 3820: </a> </span><span class="str2">The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and makes them wander</span><br /><span class="heb">וַ֝יַּתְעֵ֗ם</span> <span class="translit">(way·yaṯ·‘êm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8582.htm">Strong's 8582: </a> </span><span class="str2">To vacillate, reel, stray</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a trackless</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">wasteland.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּתֹ֣הוּ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯō·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8414.htm">Strong's 8414: </a> </span><span class="str2">A desolation, desert, a worthless thing, in vain</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/12-24.htm">Job 12:24 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/12-24.htm">OT Poetry: Job 12:24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/12-23.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 12:23"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 12:23" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/12-25.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 12:25"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 12:25" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>