Job 21:12

12 They hold the tympan, and (the) harp; and they (dance with) joy at the sound of the organ.

Job 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 21:12

They take the timbrel and harp
Not the children, but the parents of them; these took these instruments of music into their hands, and played upon them while their children danced; thus merrily they spent their time: or, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra, they lift up the voice with the tabret and harp; that is, while they played on these with their hands, they sung songs with their mouths; they used both vocal and instrumental music together, to make the greater harmony, and give the greater pleasure, like those in ( Amos 6:5 Amos 6:6 ) ;

and rejoice at the sound of the organ;
a musical instrument, very pleasant and entertaining, from whence it has its name in the Hebrew tongue; but of what form it was cannot be with certainty said; that which we now so call is of later invention, and unknown in those times: probably Job may have respect to Jubal, the inventor of this sort of music, and others of the posterity of Cain before the flood, who practised it, and were delighted in it; in which they were imitated and followed by wicked men after it, and in Job's time, ( Genesis 4:21 ) .

Job 21:12 In-Context

10 The cow of them conceived, and calved not a dead calf; (yea,) the cow calved, and is not deprived of her calf.
11 Their little children go out as flocks; and their young children full out joy with playings. (Their little children go out to play like lambs; and their young children dance with joy.)
12 They hold the tympan, and (the) harp; and they (dance with) joy at the sound of the organ.
13 They lead in goods (all) their days; and in a point, (or suddenly,) they go down to hells, that is, to burials, or the grave. (They get good things for themselves all their days; and then, in a moment, that is, without pain, or suffering, they go down to Sheol, in peace.)
14 Which men said to God, Go thou away from us; we desire not the knowing of thy ways. (And they said to God, Go thou away from us; we do not desire to know of thy ways.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.