New International Version“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
New Living Translation“Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
English Standard Version“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
Berean Standard BibleBut ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
King James BibleBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
New King James Version“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
New American Standard Bible“But just ask the animals, and have them teach you; And the birds of the sky, and have them tell you.
NASB 1995“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
NASB 1977“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
Legacy Standard Bible“But now ask the beasts, and let them instruct you; And the birds of the sky, and let them tell you.
Amplified Bible“Now ask the animals, and let them teach you [that God does not deal with His creatures according to their character]; And ask the birds of the air, and let them tell you;
Christian Standard BibleBut ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
Holman Christian Standard BibleBut ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
American Standard VersionBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:
Contemporary English VersionIf you want to learn, then go and ask the wild animals and the birds,
English Revised VersionBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
GOD'S WORD® Translation"Instead, ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds, and they will tell you.
Good News TranslationEven birds and animals have much they could teach you;
International Standard Version"Ask the wild animals, and they'll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you.
NET Bible"But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.
New Heart English Bible"But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
Webster's Bible TranslationBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
World English Bible“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd yet, now ask [one of] the beasts, "" And it shows you, "" And a bird of the heavens, "" And it declares to you.
Young's Literal Translation And yet, ask, I pray thee, One of the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
Smith's Literal TranslationBut ask now the beasts and they shall teach thee; and the birds of the heavens, and they shall announce to thee: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee: and the birds of the air, and they shall tell thee.
Catholic Public Domain VersionIn truth, ask the mules, and they will teach you, and the birds of the sky, and they will reveal to you.
New American BibleBut now ask the beasts to teach you, the birds of the air to tell you;
New Revised Standard Version“But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you;
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedOr else ask the beast and it will teach you, and the bird of the sky and it will show you OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
Brenton Septuagint TranslationBut ask now the beasts, if they may speak to thee; and the birds of the air, if they may declare to thee.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Job Responds to Zophar… 6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands. 7Butaskthe animals,and they will instruct you;ask the birdsof the air,and they will tellyou.8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.…
Cross References Romans 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Psalm 19:1-4For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. / Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. / Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, ...
Matthew 6:26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Luke 12:24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
Isaiah 40:26Lift up your eyes on high: Who created all these? He leads forth the starry host by number; He calls each one by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Genesis 1:20-25And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” / So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good. / Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ...
Proverbs 6:6-8Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. / Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, / it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
Psalm 104:24-25How many are Your works, O LORD! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. / Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small.
Psalm 148:7-10Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths, / lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word, / mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, ...
Isaiah 43:20The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.
Jeremiah 8:7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.
Matthew 10:29-31Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Acts 14:17Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
Genesis 9:12-17And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between Me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: / I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. / Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ...
Hosea 2:18On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.
Treasury of Scripture But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you: But ask Job 21:29,30 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, … Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib:but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Jump to Previous AirAnimalsBeastsBirdsClearDeclareFowlFowlsHeavenHeavensQuestionShewSkyTeachTeachingJump to Next AirAnimalsBeastsBirdsClearDeclareFowlFowlsHeavenHeavensQuestionShewSkyTeachTeachingJob 12 1.Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him7.He acknowledges the doctrine of God's omnipotenceBut ask the animals, and they will instruct you;This phrase suggests that the natural world holds wisdom and knowledge that can teach humanity. In the context of Job, it reflects Job's argument against his friends, emphasizing that even the creatures of the earth understand the sovereignty and wisdom of God, which his friends fail to grasp. The Bible often uses animals to convey lessons or truths, as seen in Proverbs 6:6, where the ant is used as an example of diligence. The idea that creation itself can instruct humanity is echoed in Romans 1:20, where Paul states that God's invisible qualities are evident in the world He has made. ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
Birds are often used in Scripture to symbolize freedom, provision, and divine care, as seen inMatthew 6:26, where Jesus points out that the birds do not sow or reap, yet God feeds them. This phrase reinforces the idea that the natural world is a testament to God's order and wisdom. In ancient Near Eastern culture, birds were sometimes seen as messengers or omens, but here they are portrayed as witnesses to God's creation. The use of birds in this context highlights the accessibility of divine wisdom through observation of the natural world, a theme that resonates with the wisdom literature of the Bible, such as in the Psalms and Proverbs. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest for understanding God's justice. 2. Job's FriendsEliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who visit Job to offer comfort but end up engaging in debates about the nature of suffering and divine justice. 3. The Land of UzThe setting of the Book of Job, traditionally considered to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia. 4. CreationThe broader context of Job 12:7 involves the natural world, which Job references to illustrate the wisdom and sovereignty of God. 5. The DialogueJob 12 is part of a larger dialogue where Job responds to his friends, defending his integrity and questioning their simplistic understanding of God's ways. Teaching Points God's Wisdom in CreationNature is a testament to God's wisdom and power. Observing the natural world can lead us to a deeper understanding of God's character and His sovereign control over all things. Humility in LearningJob's invitation to learn from animals and birds encourages humility. We should be open to learning from all of God's creation, recognizing that wisdom is not confined to human understanding. Trust in God's SovereigntyJust as God cares for the animals and birds, we can trust in His provision and sovereignty over our lives, even when we face suffering or uncertainty. The Limitations of Human WisdomJob's dialogue with his friends highlights the limitations of human wisdom. True understanding comes from acknowledging God's greater perspective. The Role of Creation in RevelationCreation itself is a form of revelation, pointing us to the Creator. We should take time to observe and reflect on the natural world as a means of drawing closer to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Job 12:7?
2.How does Job 12:7 encourage us to learn from God's creation today?
3.What can animals teach us about God's sovereignty, according to Job 12:7?
4.How does Job 12:7 connect with Romans 1:20 about understanding God's nature?
5.In what ways can observing nature strengthen our faith in God's wisdom?
6.How can we apply Job 12:7 to appreciate God's creation in daily life?
7.How does Job 12:7 challenge the human understanding of wisdom and knowledge?
8.What does Job 12:7 suggest about the relationship between God and nature?
9.How does Job 12:7 reflect the theme of divine wisdom in the Book of Job?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 12?
11.What defines the breath of life?
12.What is God's purpose for creating humans?
13.In Job 12:9–10, how can animals themselves attest to God’s power in a way that is scientifically or empirically verifiable?
14.What did God create on day five?What Does Job 12:7 Mean But ask the animals,• Job invites his friends to look beyond human reasoning and observe creation itself. • Scripture consistently presents animals as part of God’s intentional design that points back to Him (Genesis 1:24–25;Psalm 104:24). • Like Job, the psalmist refers to the animal kingdom as a living testimony to God’s wisdom and care (Psalm 104:27–28). •Romans 1:20 echoes the same principle: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities… have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”
and they will instruct you;• Animals “instruct” not with words but by their very existence—displaying order, instinct, and dependence upon their Creator. •Proverbs 6:6–8 uses the ant to illustrate diligence, showing that God embeds moral lessons in animal behavior. • Observing how animals rely daily on God’s provision highlights His faithfulness (Psalm 147:9). • The implication: if even animals testify to God’s governance, Job’s suffering cannot mean God has lost control.
ask the birds of the air,• Birds offer a vivid picture of God’s care and sovereignty in Scripture (Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air: they do not sow or reap… yet your heavenly Father feeds them”). • Their freedom of flight and seasonal migrations reveal divine order and timing (Jeremiah 8:7). • By pointing to the heavens, Job subtly lifts the conversation from earthly reasoning to a higher, God-centered perspective.
and they will tell you.• The “testimony” of birds communicates that life, provision, and times are in God’s hands—even when circumstances appear chaotic. •Psalm 19:1 affirms, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands,” reinforcing that creation continually “speaks.” • Job underscores that unmistakable evidence of God’s wisdom surrounds us; denying it is willful blindness, not lack of information.
summaryJob 12:7 points out that creation itself—animals on the ground and birds in the sky—offers clear, reliable evidence of God’s wisdom, care, and sovereign rule. Observing them should correct any notion that God is inattentive or unjust. Even in suffering, the natural world testifies that the Creator remains utterly in control and worthy of trust. Verse 7. - But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee. Job here begins his review of all creation, to show that God has the absolute direction of it. The order of (1) beasts, (2) birds, (3) fishes, is that of dignity (comp.Genesis 9:2;Psalm 8:7, 8). . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Butוְֽאוּלָ֗ם(wə·’ū·lām)Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 199:However, on the contraryaskשְׁאַל־(šə·’al-)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7592:To inquire, to request, to demandthe animals,בְהֵמ֣וֹת(ḇə·hê·mō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 929:A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animaland they will instruct you;וְתֹרֶ֑ךָּ(wə·ṯō·re·kā)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3384:To flow as water, to lay, throw, to point out, to teachask the birdsוְע֥וֹף(wə·‘ō·wp̄)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5775:Flying creaturesof the air,הַ֝שָּׁמַ֗יִם(haš·šā·ma·yim)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064:Heaven, skyand they will tellוְיַגֶּד־(wə·yag·geḏ-)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046:To be conspicuousyou.לָֽךְ׃(lāḵ)Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Poetry: Job 12:7 But ask the animals now and they (Jb) |
