Job 12:10

10 He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being.

Job 12:10 Meaning and Commentary

Job 12:10

In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing
Of every animal, of every brute creature, as distinct from man, in the next clause: the life of everyone of them is from him, and it is continued by him as long as he pleases, nor can it be taken away without his leave; two sparrows, which are not worth more than a farthing, not one of them falls to the ground, or dies without the knowledge and will of God, ( Matthew 10:29 ) ; of the soul or spirit of beasts, see ( Ecclesiastes 3:21 ) ;

and the breath of all mankind;
the breath of man is originally from God, he at first breathed into man the breath of life; and though this is in his nostrils, which makes him of little account, yet it would not continue there long, was it not in the hand, and under the care and providence of God; the breath of a king, as well as the heart of a king, is in the hand of the Lord: the breath of that great monarch Belshazzar, king of Babylon, was in the hand of God, ( Daniel 5:23 ) ; and so is the breath of every peasant; and as when he takes away the breath of other creatures, they die and return to the dust; such is the case of man when God takes away his breath; all our times are in his hand, to be born, to live and die, all is at his dispose: or "the spirit of all the flesh of men" ^F16, or of all men's flesh; his rational soul, as distinguished from his flesh or body, this is from God, supported in its being by him, and ever will be, being immortal, and will never die.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (vya rvb lk xwr) "spiritus omnis carnis viri?" Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt, Schultens, Michaelis.

Job 12:10 In-Context

8 Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish of the ocean educate you.

9 Are there any of those creatures that don't know what the powerful hand of the LORD has done?

10 He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being.

11 Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn't. And our ears tell us what's true and what isn't.

12 Old people are wise. Those who live a long time have understanding.