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Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:10

In whose hand, i.e. at whose absolute disposal, it is to give it, or take it away, when and how it seemeth good to him. The soul; the life, or the soul the principle of life. Of every living thing, i.e. of all unreasonable creatures, of which he spoke Job 12:7, opposed to man in the last words. The breath, or, the spirit, as that word is commonly used, i.e. the immortal soul; which is no less a creature, and in God’s power to dispose of it, than the animal soul of unreasonable creatures. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:11

As the mouth tasteth and thereby judgeth of meats, and as it liketh or disliketh, so it receiveth or rejecteth, what is put into it; so it is the office of the ear, or rather of the mind, which hears and receives the opinions and discourses of others by the ear, not rashly to approve or condemn every thing which it hears, but diligently and thoroughly to search and try whether it be true, and so to be embraced, or false, and to be rejected. Interpreters are much puzzled about the connexion and... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:12

These words contain a concession of what Bildad had said Job 8:8,Job 8:9, and a joining with him in that appeal; but withal, an intimation that this wisdom was but finite, and imperfect, and liable to many mistakes; and indeed mere ignorance and folly, if compared with the Divine wisdom, of which he speaks in the next and following verses. And therefore that antiquity which they pretended for their opinion ought not to be received against the oracles or truths of the eternal and most wise God. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:13

With him, i.e. with God; the relative being put for the antecedent, which is easily and necessarily understood out of the scope of the place, and all the following verses. Wisdom; perfect wisdom is only in him, and all wisdom in the world cometh from him, who giveth to old or young as it pleaseth him. The ancient are not wise without his gift and grace, and with that a younger man may be wiser than the ancients, as David was, Psalms 119:100. Counsel and understanding; counsel, i.e. practical... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:14

He breaketh down, to wit, houses, castles, cities, which God designeth to destroy utterly. He shutteth up; if he will shut up a man in prison, or in any straits or troubles. There can be no opening, without God’s permission and providence. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 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. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:16

He doth the things here mentioned in the foregoing and succeeding verses, and that both powerfully, so as no creature can resist and hinder him, and wisely, so as none can prevent and overreach him. The same thing he had said before, Job 12:13, but he repeats it here to prepare the way for the following events, which are eminent instances both of his power and wisdom. Are his, i.e. from or by him, and wholly subject to his disposal. That one man deceiveth another, and that the other is deceived... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:17

The wise counsellors or statesmen, by whom the affairs of kings and kingdoms are ordered, he leadeth away as captives in triumph, being spoiled either of that wisdom which they had, or seemed or pretended to have; or of that power and dignity which they had enjoyed. Maketh the judges fools; partly by discovering their folly, and partly by infatuating their minds, and turning their own counsels to their ruin; of which see 2 Samuel 15:31; 2 Samuel 17:14,2 Samuel 17:23; Isaiah 19:11; 1 Corinthians... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:18

He looseth the bond of kings; either, 1. Passively, whereby they are bound. He freeth them from prison or restraint. Or rather, 2. Actively, that wherewith they bind their subjects to obedience, to wit, their power and authority, and that majesty which God stamps upon kings to keep their people in awe; all which God can, and oft doth, take away from them, and freeth the people from their bonds, when it pleaseth him; of which all histories give instances. See Daniel 2:21. With a girdle; either,... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Job 12:19

Princes; so this word, which usually signifies priests, is oft used, as Genesis 41:45; Genesis 47:22,Genesis 47:26; Exodus 2:16; 2 Samuel 8:18, compared with 1 Chronicles 18:17. read more

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