Job 12:8

8 or ask the earth, and it will teach you, and the fishes of the sea will declare to you.

Job 12:8 Meaning and Commentary

Job 12:8

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee
Or ask "a sprig of the earth" ^F14, any shrub, or tree, or whatsoever grows out of it, and they will all unite in this doctrine, that they are raised and preserved by the power of God, and are so many instances of his wisdom, power, and goodness:

and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;
as mute as they are, they will proclaim this truth, that God is the mighty Maker and wise Disposer of them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Ural xyv) "virgultum terrae", Pagninus, Schmidt; so Drusius and Michaelis.

Job 12:8 In-Context

6 [The] tents of [the] destroyers are at peace, and [there is] security for those who provoke God, [for those] whom God brings into his hand.

7 "But ask [the] animals, and they will teach you, and the birds of the heaven, and they will tell you;

8 or ask the earth, and it will teach you, and the fishes of the sea will declare to you.

9 Who among all of these does not know that Yahweh's hand has done this?

10 In whose hand [is] the life of all living things and {the breath of every human being}?