Job 27:12

12 Behold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity.

Job 27:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 27:12

Behold, all ye yourselves have seen [it]
As they were men of observation, at least made great pretensions to it, as well as of age and experience, they must have seen and observed somewhat at least of the above things; they must have seen the wicked, as David afterwards did, spreading himself like a green bay tree, and the hypocrites in easy and flourishing circumstances, and good men labouring under great afflictions and pressures, and Job himself was now an instance of that before their eyes:

why then are ye thus altogether vain?
or "become vain in vanity" F11; so exceeding vain, so excessively trifling, as to speak and act against the dictates of their own conscience, against their own sense, and what they saw with their own eyes, and advance notions so contrary thereunto; as to affirm that evil men are always punished of God in this life, and good men are succeeded and prospered by him; and so from Job's afflictions drew so vain and empty a conclusion, that he must be a wicked man and an hypocrite.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (wlbht lbh) "vanitate vanescitis", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius, Michaelis, Schultens; "[vel] evanescitis", Montanus, Bolducius, Beza, Mercerus, Drusius, Piscator, Cocceius.

Job 27:12 In-Context

10 has he any confidence before him? or will hear him as he calls upon him?
11 Yet now I will tell you what is in the hand of the Lord: I will not lie concerning the things which are with the Almighty.
12 Behold, ye all know that ye are adding vanity to vanity.
13 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of oppressors shall come upon them from the Almighty.
14 And if their children be many, they shall be for slaughter: and if they grow up, they shall beg.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.