Job 12:20 Meaning: When the Trusted Lose Their Words
He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.
Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;
Meaning in one sentence
Job 12:20 shows God's sovereignty over human wisdom. He can remove speech from the reliable and understanding from elders. What does this mean for us?
Context
Job is in the middle of a bitter argument. His friends insist suffering only comes from sin. Job knows he has not sinned to deserve this. In chapter 12, he turns the tables. God, Job says, is not limited by human wisdom. He does whatever He pleases, and no one can stop Him. Verse 20 is part of a longer list of examples: God strips counselors of their robes, makes judges foolish, loosens kings. He also removes the very speech of those people trust and the understanding that elders have carried for decades. Job is not accusing God of injustice. He is stating a fact about God's absolute power. The same God who made the world can silence the wisest voice in a moment.
Key Words
The word behind 'speech' in this verse is saphah, which means 'lip.' It is the same word used for language, for the edge of a cup, for the shore of the sea. God can take away the very instrument of counsel, the lip that speaks trustworthy words. The word for 'trusted' comes from aman, the root for 'faithful' and for 'amen.' These are the people others lean on, whose word is as good as gold. And God removes their speech.
The word for 'understanding' is ta'am, literally 'taste.' It suggests a refined judgment, like a wine taster who can detect what others miss. This is the discernment that comes with age. The elders, zaqen, are the ones with gray hair and decades of experience. Yet God takes away their fine judgment.
The verbs are strong: sur means to turn aside or remove; laqach means to take, often with a sense of seizing. God is not passive. He actively removes what we most rely on, so that we learn to rely on Him alone.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators across traditions have read this verse with sober reverence. Adam Clarke, a Methodist, notes that God can infatuate those whom He is determined to destroy, and he links this verse to Isaiah 3 where God removes support from Jerusalem. Barnes, a Protestant, sees God disappointing the most sagacious anticipations, our best plans fail if He withdraws. The Cambridge Bible points out that Job is drawing on catastrophic traditions, things he has heard from others. Gill, a Baptist, emphasizes that God can take away speech even from faithful men, not only from liars. JFB suggests the 'trusty' are those secure in their eloquence, like speakers in the gate. All agree that this verse proclaims God's sovereignty over human wisdom, but they differ on whether it describes judgment or the simple exercise of divine power. The text itself does not assign a moral reason; it simply states what God does.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse and think God is punishing the wise for their pride or sin. But Job is not saying these people deserved to lose their speech. He is making a broader point: God has the right and power to do this. It is a description of sovereignty, not a verdict on character. In fact, the trusted and the elders may be good people. God can still choose to work without their counsel.
Living This Out
You might be someone people turn to for advice. You have wisdom earned through hard years. Or you might be someone who feels your words have dried up, that you no longer know what to say. Either way, this verse reminds you that your wisdom is not the foundation of the world. God can raise up counselors and remove them. He is not dependent on your eloquence or your experience.
This week, when you feel your words fail or when you see leaders stumbling, do not panic. Instead, remember that God is still at work. Your confidence is not in your own speech but in the God who speaks through silence as well.
Main takeaway: God's sovereignty extends over human wisdom and speech; He is not dependent on our understanding to accomplish His purposes.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God can do anything. He can even make grown-ups who know a lot forget what to say. That shows us how big and powerful God is. We don't have to be afraid, we can trust Him because He knows everything.
For ages 9, 12
Have you ever had a moment where you forgot what you were going to say, or you didn't know the answer when everyone expected you to? That can feel embarrassing. Job says that God is so powerful He can even take away the speech of people everyone trusts and the understanding of the oldest and wisest. That doesn't mean God is mean. It means He is in charge of everything, including our brains. When you feel unsure or unprepared, you can ask God for wisdom. He gives it freely to those who ask.
Questions People Ask
What does 'removes the speech of those who are trusted' mean in Job 12:20?
It means God has the power to take away the ability to speak wisely from people who are normally reliable counselors. This could happen through confusion, illness, or circumstances that silence their advice. Job is describing God's absolute sovereignty over human wisdom.
Is Job 12:20 saying that God punishes faithful people?
Not necessarily. The verse does not give a reason why God removes speech and understanding. It is part of a larger list of actions God takes over all people, good and bad. Job's point is that God's power is unlimited, not that the people deserved judgment.
How does this verse relate to Job's overall argument in the book?
Job is countering his friends who claim that wisdom and understanding come from human experience and tradition. Job argues that God is not bound by human wisdom. God can overturn what people think they know. This prepares Job to appeal directly to God, bypassing human counsel.
What is the Hebrew word for 'trusted' in this verse and what does it mean?
The Hebrew word is 'ne'emanim,' from the root 'aman,' meaning faithful or reliable. It describes people who are considered trustworthy, such as advisors or elders. The irony is that even these faithful ones can be silenced by God.
Does Job 12:20 contradict the idea that God gives wisdom to the aged?
The Bible elsewhere affirms that age can bring wisdom (Job 12:12). But this verse shows that wisdom is not automatic with age, and God can remove it at any time. Both truths stand: God gives wisdom, and He can withdraw it. Our confidence should be in God, not in human age or experience.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study