Job 12:19

“He leadeth princes away spoiled, etc.] Of their principalities and dominions, of their wealth and riches, and of their honour and glory; or “priests” f521, as some choose to render the word, against whom God has indignation for their sins, and leads them into captivity with others; so the Septuagint version, “he leads the priests captives”; for no office, ever so sacred, can protect wicked men, (see <250206>Lamentations 2:6 <241418>Jeremiah 14:18); and from these sometimes the law perishes, and they are spoiled of their wisdom and knowledge, and made unfit to instruct the people, and so of their credit and reputation among them. Sephorno interprets it of the priests spoiled of their…”

“princes--rather, "priests," as the Hebrew is rendered (Psa 99:6). Even the sacred ministers of religion are not exempt from reverses and captivity. the mighty--rather, "the firm-rooted in power"; the Arabic root expresses ever-flowing water [UMBREIT].”

“He leadeth princes away spoiled - That is, plundered. The word here rendered “princes” כהנים kôhênı̂ym means properly priests, and it is usually so rendered in the Scriptures. The ancient Hebrew interpreters suppose that the word sometimes also means prince. The Chaldee paraphrasist has not unfrequently so rendered it, using the word רבא to express it; Genesis 41:45; Psalms 110:4. In this place, the Vulgate renders it, “sacerdotes;” and the Septuagint, ἱερεῖς hiereis, “priests.” So Luther renders it, “Priester.” So Castellio. It can be applied to princes or statesmen only because priests were frequently engaged in performing the functions of civil officers, and were in fact to a certain…”

“12:19 The priests are figuratively stripped of status (the NLT adds “of status” for clarity) or are actually stripped of priestly robes; they might even be naked captives (12:18).”

“Jos 10:24, Jos 10:42; Sa1 17:45, Sa1 17:46; Isa 37:36-38, Isa 45:1; Rev 17:14, Rev 19:19-21 Job 12:20”