Job 5:13 Meaning: Truth Spoken Through a Flawed Friend
He takes the wise in their own craftiness; the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.
Capturing the wise in their subtilty, And the counsel of wrestling ones was hastened,
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the wily is carried headlong:
Meaning in one sentence
Job 5:13 reveals God catching the cunning in their own schemes. Paul quotes it in 1 Corinthians 3:19, affirming this truth even from a flawed speaker.
Context
In Job 5, Eliphaz the Temanite speaks to his suffering friend Job. He urges Job to seek God, describing how God lifts the lowly and frustrates the plans of the crafty. This verse comes as part of that description: God overturns the schemes of the cunning. Eliphaz’s overall argument, that suffering is always punishment for hidden sin, will later be rebuked by God. But the truth of this particular saying stands. The apostle Paul, centuries later, quotes it as Scripture (1 Corinthians 3:19), showing that even words from a flawed speaker can carry divine authority when they align with God’s character. The verse offers both a warning to the proud and a promise to those who have been hurt by them.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb for “takes” or “catches” (la.khad) is a hunter’s word, used for capturing prey in a net or trap. God is not passive; He intervenes. The word for “wise” (cha.kham) here leans toward shrewd and cunning, people skilled in twisting things for their own gain. And “carried headlong” (nim.harah) means hurried or precipitated, their plans crash before they can succeed. The word for “cunning” (nif.ta.Lim) comes from a root meaning “to twist,” like a wrestler turning every which way. God untwists those twisted schemes. For those who have been hurt by the crafty, these words are a quiet promise: God sees, and He acts. He catches the proud in their own cleverness and brings their plans to nothing.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen in this verse a universal truth about God’s justice. Wesley described it as God turning the wise “against themselves.” Matthew Henry read it as comfort to the poor: the same God who brings down the crafty lifts up the humble. The Geneva Bible calls it a warning against trusting human cunning. Many Reformed and Protestant interpreters highlight Paul’s quotation in 1 Corinthians 3:19, showing the early church recognized this as enduring truth about God’s wisdom versus worldly cleverness. Catholic commentators (like the Douay-Rheims) also note that God “disappointeth the counsel of the wicked.” The verse’s origin in a flawed speech does not diminish its authority; the Holy Spirit preserved it for the whole Church. All agree: God humbles the proud and vindicates the innocent.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers dismiss this verse because it comes from Eliphaz, assuming a flawed speaker means a false statement. In fact, Paul quotes it in 1 Corinthians 3:19 as Scripture, using the formula “it is written.” The New Testament treats this saying as inspired truth. Eliphaz is rebuked for his overall argument about suffering, not for every word he spoke. This particular claim about God’s justice stands on its own.
Living This Out
This week, you may find yourself in a situation where someone’s clever plan leaves you at a disadvantage. Or you may be the one relying on your own sharp mind to get ahead. This verse gives you both a warning and a hope. If you are the one scheming, know that God sees. Let your wisdom be used for good, not for twisting the truth. If you are the one being hurt by someone’s cunning, take heart. The same God who caught Haman in his own gallows sees your situation. You do not need to fight with their weapons. You can trust the One who unravels every twisted plan. Let that trust shape how you respond, not with fear, but with quiet confidence.
Main takeaway: God outwits the cunning and overturns their schemes; human cleverness cannot stand against the Creator.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God knows when people try to be tricky. He stops their bad plans. You can trust Him to take care of you.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes people think they are so smart that they can get away with anything. But God sees everything, even the secrets. He can turn their own plans against them. That is why the Bible says not to trust in our own cleverness, but to follow God’s way. It is a warning to us, and a comfort when others are unfair.
Questions People Ask
Is Job 5:13 true even though Eliphaz said it?
Yes, it is true. Paul quotes this verse in 1 Corinthians 3:19 as Scripture, using the phrase 'it is written.' God rebuked Eliphaz for his overall argument about suffering, not for every individual statement. This particular saying about God's justice is affirmed by the New Testament.
What does 'craftiness' mean in Job 5:13?
The Hebrew word is often translated as 'shrewdness' or 'cunning.' It describes people who use their intelligence to deceive or harm others. It is not about being wise in a good sense, but about being sly and underhanded.
Why does Paul quote Job 5:13 in 1 Corinthians?
Paul uses it to show that God's wisdom makes human wisdom look foolish. In 1 Corinthians 3, he is arguing against pride in human leaders and philosophies. Quoting Job 5:13, he says that the Lord 'takes the wise in their craftiness.' This supports his point that our cleverness cannot rival God.
Does Job 5:13 condemn all wise people?
No. The word 'wise' here refers to the cunning and crafty, those who scheme and twist things for their own gain. The Bible elsewhere praises true wisdom that comes from God (Proverbs 2:6, James 1:5). This verse warns against using intelligence to deceive or harm others.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study