Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But the witless can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human. New Living Translation An empty-headed person won’t become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child. English Standard Version But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man! Berean Standard Bible But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! King James Bible For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. New King James Version For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. New American Standard Bible “An idiot will become intelligent When a wild donkey is born a human. NASB 1995 “An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man. NASB 1977 “And an idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man. Legacy Standard Bible Yet an empty headed man will obtain a heart of wisdom, And the foal of a wild donkey is born a man. Amplified Bible “But a hollow (empty-headed) man will become intelligent and wise [Only] when the colt of a wild donkey is born as a man. Christian Standard Bible But a stupid person will gain understanding as soon as a wild donkey is born a human! Holman Christian Standard Bible But a stupid man will gain understanding as soon as a wild donkey is born a man! American Standard Version But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born as a wild ass's colt. Contemporary English Version but it's easier to tame a wild donkey than to make a fool wise. English Revised Version But vain man is void of understanding, yea, man is born as a wild ass's colt. GOD'S WORD® Translation But an empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born tame. Good News Translation Stupid people will start being wise when wild donkeys are born tame. International Standard Version An empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born a human being!" Majority Standard Bible But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! NET Bible But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being. New Heart English Bible An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey's colt. Webster's Bible Translation For vain man would be wise, though man is born like a wild ass's colt. World English Bible An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd empty man is bold, "" And man is born [as] the colt of a wild donkey. Young's Literal Translation And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born. Smith's Literal Translation And man being empty will be without heart: and man will be born a wild ass's colt. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleA vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass's colt. Catholic Public Domain Version A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt. New American Bible An empty head will gain understanding, when a colt of a wild jackass is born human. New Revised Standard Version But a stupid person will get understanding, when a wild ass is born human. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor a pure man inspires courage, and a mighty man helps others. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And a man who is pure is encouraged, and he who is mighty helps a man OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But an empty man will get understanding, When a wild ass's colt is born a man. Brenton Septuagint Translation But man vainly buoys himself up with words; and a mortal born of woman is like an ass in the desert. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Zophar Rebukes Job…11Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note? 12But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! 13As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,… Cross References Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 30:2-3 Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man. / I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One. Ecclesiastes 10:3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool. Psalm 73:22 I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before You. Isaiah 19:11 The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.” Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. Proverbs 14:16 A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless. Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. / For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” Romans 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 1 Corinthians 8:2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 2 Corinthians 11:19 For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise. Galatians 6:3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Treasury of Scripture For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt. For vain. Psalm 62:9,10 Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity… Psalm 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Psalm 92:6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. would Job 5:13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. Job 12:2,3 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you… Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. man be Job 15:14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. a wild Job 6:5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? Job 39:5-8 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? … Jeremiah 2:24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. Jump to Previous Ass Ass's Born Colt Donkey Donkey's Empty Field Foal Gets Intelligent Senseless Stupid Teaching Understanding Vain Void Wild Wisdom Wise YoungJump to Next Ass Ass's Born Colt Donkey Donkey's Empty Field Foal Gets Intelligent Senseless Stupid Teaching Understanding Vain Void Wild Wisdom Wise YoungJob 11 1. Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself5. God's wisdom is unsearchable 13. The assured blessing of repentance But a witless man This phrase refers to a person lacking understanding or discernment. In the context of the Book of Job, Zophar, one of Job's friends, is speaking. He implies that Job lacks wisdom in his complaints against God. The term "witless" suggests a deficiency in spiritual insight, which is a recurring theme in wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, where wisdom is often equated with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and suffering. The book of Job explores his dialogues with friends and his quest for understanding God's ways. 2. Zophar the Naamathite One of Job's three friends who visits him to offer counsel. Zophar is known for his blunt and sometimes harsh approach, emphasizing God's justice and the need for repentance. 3. The Dialogue This verse is part of Zophar's first speech to Job, where he criticizes Job's claims of innocence and suggests that Job lacks understanding. 4. The Wild Donkey A metaphor used in ancient Near Eastern literature to describe untamed and foolish behavior, symbolizing a lack of wisdom and understanding. 5. The Setting The land of Uz, where Job resides, is the backdrop for this profound exploration of human suffering and divine sovereignty. Teaching Points The Nature of Human WisdomHuman wisdom is limited and often flawed. Zophar's metaphor underscores the futility of human efforts to attain true wisdom without divine intervention. The Need for Humility Recognize our limitations and approach God with humility, acknowledging that true wisdom comes from Him alone. The Role of Repentance Zophar's speech, though harsh, points to the importance of repentance and seeking God's wisdom in times of trial. The Importance of Discernment Discern the difference between human advice and divine truth. Not all counsel, even from well-meaning friends, aligns with God's wisdom. The Pursuit of Godly Wisdom Actively seek wisdom through prayer, scripture, and a relationship with God, understanding that it is a lifelong journey.(12) For vain man would be wise, &c., is extremely difficult, because it is hard to distinguish subject and predicate. Literally, it runs, And hollow man is instructed, and the wild ass's colt is born a man. Whether it means that if God did not thus conceal His observation of human actions, the very fool and the most obstinate would become instructed and disciplined, whereas now they are allowed to go on in their folly and obstinacy; or whether it is meant that, notwithstanding the dealings of Providence, hollow-hearted man is still devoid of heart, and every son of Adam at his birth is a very wild ass colt; or whether, again, it is meant that by reason of the Divine discipline the hollow-hearted man is disciplined, and the very wild ass colt is born a man and humanised, it is hard to decide. The uncertainty in part arises from our not knowing the exact meaning of the first verb: whether it is to get understanding or to be deprived of it--for either is possible. Another way of taking the context is to refer the last clause of Job 11:11, not to God, but to man. Man sees not that God sees him, for an empty man will get understanding when a wild ass's colt is born a man--that is, the latter is as likely as the former. One point is pretty clear, that by the wild ass's colt Zophar means Job. However, he suggests that if he will become something better and wiser, and will put away his secret sin, which he is convinced must cling to him, then he shall again know prosperity and be established in it.Verse 12. - For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt; rather, and a vain man may get understanding, and the colt of a wild ass become a than (compare the Revised Version, marginal rendering). Zophar seems to mean that, through Divine discipline, such as that described in ver. 10, a vain, foolish, puffed-up man may be reclaimed and become a man of understanding - a stubborn and untamed one, wild as the colt of a wild ass, grow into a real man, i.e. acquire sense and discretion. If this is the meaning, undoubtedly Job is glanced at (so Schultens, Dillmann, and Canon Cook). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But a witlessנָ֭בוּב (nā·ḇūḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 5014: To pierce, to be hollow, foolish man וְאִ֣ישׁ (wə·’îš) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person can no more become wise יִלָּבֵ֑ב (yil·lā·ḇêḇ) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3823: Transport, stultify, to make cakes than the colt וְעַ֥יִר (wə·‘a·yir) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5895: A young ass, an ass-colt of a wild donkey פֶּ֝֗רֶא (pe·re) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6501: A wild donkey can be born יִוָּלֵֽד׃ (yiw·wā·lêḏ) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage a man! אָדָ֥ם (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being Links Job 11:12 NIVJob 11:12 NLT Job 11:12 ESV Job 11:12 NASB Job 11:12 KJV Job 11:12 BibleApps.com Job 11:12 Biblia Paralela Job 11:12 Chinese Bible Job 11:12 French Bible Job 11:12 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 11:12 An empty-headed man becomes wise when (Jb) |
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