Job 12:3

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 12:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Job 12:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But I have understanding as well as you, etc.] A natural understanding, or an understanding of natural things, which distinguishes a man from a brute; and a spiritual understanding, an understanding enlightened by the spirit of God, which is naturally dark as to divine things; but he had an understanding given him, to know himself, his state and condition by nature; to know God, his love and grace to men, and, as his covenant God, to know Christ his living Redeemer, who should stand on the earth in the latter day, both to be his Redeemer and his Judge; to know his interest in him, and in the blessings of grace and glory by him: or, “I have an heart as well as you” f505; a wise and an…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“not inferior--not vanquished in argument and "wisdom" (Job 13:2). such things as these--such commonplace maxims as you so pompously adduce.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But I have understanding as well as you - Margin, as in the Hebrew “an heart.” The word “heart” in the Scriptures is often used to denote the understanding or mind. It seems to have been regarded as the source of that which was called life or soul. Indeed, I do not recollect a single instance in the Scriptures in which the word “head” is used, as with us, as the seat of the intellect, or where the distinction is adverted to that is so common with us, between the head and the heart. With us, the heart is the seat of the affections and emotions; with the Hebrews, it was the seat of understanding, and the σπλάγχνα splangchna - the viscera, the bowels, were the seat of the emotions; see the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“But - In these things, which he speaks not in a way of boasting, but for the just vindication both of himself, and of that cause of God, which for the substance of it he maintained rightly, as God himself attests, Job 42:7. Such things - The truth is, neither you nor I have any reason to be puffed up with our knowledge of these things: for the most barbarous nations know that God is infinite in wisdom, and power, and justice. But this is not the question between you and me. Job 12:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“But I have: Job 13:2-5; Pro 26:4; Co2 11:5, Co2 11:21-23 understanding: Heb. an heart I am not inferior to you: Heb. I fall not lower than you. who knoweth not such things as these. Heb. with whom are not such as these. Job 6:6, Job 6:7, Job 26:2, Job 26:3 Job 12:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification