Job 12:21

“He poureth contempt upon princes, etc.] Not on good princes, such as rule in righteousness, and decree judgment and govern their subjects according to good laws, in a mild and gentle manner, and answer to their name of free, liberal, beneficent and munificent. These, as there is an honour due unto them, it is the will of God they should have it; much less are princes, in a figurative sense, meant, good men, the children of God, who are born of him the King of kings, and so princes in all the earth; but, in a literal sense, bad princes, that oppress their subjects, and rule them with rigour, and persecute good men; such as rose up against Christ, as Herod and Pontius Pilate; persecutors of…”

“job 12:21Psa 107:40 quotes, in its first clause, this verse and, in its second, Job 12:24. weakeneth the strength--literally, "looseth the girdle"; Orientals wear flowing garments; when active strength is to be put forth, they gird up their garments with a girdle. Hence here--"He destroyeth their power" in the eyes of the people.”

“He poureth contempt upon princes - He has power to hurl them from their thrones, and to overwhelm them with disgrace. And weakeneth the strength of the mighty - Margin, as in Hebrew “looseth the girdle of the strong.” The Orientals wore loose flowing robes, which were secured by a girdle around the loins. When they labored, ran, or traveled, their robes were girded up. But this is common everywhere. Wrestlers, leapers, and runners, put a girdle around them, and are able thus to accomplish much more than they otherwise could. To loosen that, is to weaken them. So Job says that God had power to loosen the strength of the mighty. He here seems to labor for expressions, and varies the form of…”

“12:21 pours disgrace upon princes: Cp. Ps 107:40. • disarms (literally looses the belt of): The strong are no longer girded for battle.”

“poureth: Exo 8:2, Exo 16:24; Kg1 21:23, Kg1 21:24; Kg2 9:26, Kg2 9:34-37; Psa 107:40; Isa 23:9; Isa 24:21, Isa 24:22, Isa 37:38; Dan 2:21, Dan 2:22, Dan 4:32, Dan 4:33; Mat 2:12, Mat 2:13; Act 12:23 weakeneth the strength of the mighty: or, looseth the girdle of the strong, Isa 5:27, Isa 11:5, Isa 22:21; Eph 6:10, Eph 6:14 Job 12:22”