Job 9:12

12 Behold, he snatches away; ¹who can turn him back? ²Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing? ’

Job 9:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 9:12

Behold, he taketh away
There are some things God never takes away from his people; he never takes away his love from them, he always rests in that towards them, let them be in what condition they will; he never takes away his grace from them, when once bestowed on them, or wrought in them; he never takes away his special gifts of grace, particularly the unspeakable gift of his son Christ Jesus, which is that good part, when chosen, which shall not be taken away; nor any of the spiritual blessings wherewith they are blessed in Christ; these are irreversible and irrevocable: but temporal blessings he takes away at pleasure; so he had taken away the children, the servants of Job, his substance, wealth, and riches, and also his bodily health, to which he may have a particular respect; yea, when it pleases him, he takes a man out of the world, as the Targum and Gersom interpret it:

who can hinder him?
he does what he pleases in heaven and earth; his will is irresistible, his power is uncontrollable; there is no turning his mind, nor staying his hand, nor turning it back; when he works, none can let or hinder. Mr. Broughton translates it, "who shall make him restore?" ^F12 if a man takes away what he has no right to, he may be obliged by law to restore it; but whatever God takes away he has a right unto, be it relations and friends, health or wealth; if he pleases he can restore, and does; and as he did to Job, to whom he after gave twice as much as he had before; but then he is not obliged to do it, none can force him to it:

who will say unto him, what doest thou?
not one that knows what God is, or that knows himself a creature of his; no person will choose or dare to ask what God does, or why he does this and not another thing, or why this in the manner he does it; for he gives no account of his matters to the sons of men, nor is he obliged to it, and it would be insolent in them to require it, see ( Job 33:13 ) ( Daniel 4:35 ) ; this expresses his sovereignty.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 So Beza, Pagninus, Montanus, Bolducius, Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius.

Job 9:12 In-Context

10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.

11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing? ’

13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.

14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?

Cross References

• 1. 9:12 ch. 11:10; 23:13
• 2. 9:12 Isa. 45:9; [Jer. 18:6; Rom. 9:20]