Job 12:8
New International Version
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.

New Living Translation
Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you.

English Standard Version
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.

Berean Standard Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.

King James Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

New King James Version
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.

New American Standard Bible
“Or speak to the earth, and have it teach you; And have the fish of the sea tell you.

NASB 1995
“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you.

NASB 1977
“Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Or muse to the earth, and let it instruct you; And let the fish of the sea recount it to you.

Amplified Bible
Or speak to the earth [with its many forms of life], and it will teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare [this truth] to you.

Christian Standard Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you; let the fish of the sea inform you.

American Standard Version
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

Contemporary English Version
the flowers and the fish.

English Revised Version
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Or speak with the earth, and it will teach you. Even the fish will relate [the story] to you.

Good News Translation
ask the creatures of earth and sea for their wisdom.

International Standard Version
Or ask the green plants of the earth and they'll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you.

Majority Standard Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.

NET Bible
Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you.

New Heart English Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.

World English Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Or talk to the earth, and it shows you, "" And fishes of the sea recount to you:

Young's Literal Translation
Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

Smith's Literal Translation
Or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee; and the fishes of the sea shall recount to thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Speak with the earth, and it will respond to you, and the fish of the sea will explain.

New American Bible
Or speak to the earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you.

New Revised Standard Version
ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Or tell the earth and it will teach you and the fish of the sea will tell you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Tell the earth, if it may speak to thee: and the fishes of the sea shall explain to thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Responds to Zophar
7But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you. 9Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?…

Cross References
Romans 1:20
For 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 19:1-4
For 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, ...

Proverbs 6:6-8
Walk 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.

Isaiah 40:26
Lift 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.

Matthew 6:26-30
Look 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? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? / And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. ...

Psalm 104:24-25
How 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.

Genesis 1:20-25
And 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.” ...

Luke 12:24-28
Consider 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! / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? / So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest? ...

Psalm 148:7-10
Praise 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, ...

Acts 14:17
Yet 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.”

Isaiah 43:20
The 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 8:7
Even 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.

1 Kings 4:33
He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

Hosea 2:18-20
On 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. / So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion. / And I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will know the LORD.”

Colossians 1:16-17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.


Treasury of Scripture

Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you.

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Declare Earth Fish Fishes Flat Inform News Plants Recount Sea Sheweth Speak Talk Teach Wisdom
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Job 12
1. Job maintains himself against his friends that reprove him
7. He acknowledges the doctrine of God's omnipotence














Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
This phrase suggests that the natural world holds wisdom and knowledge that can be discerned by those who observe it. In the biblical context, the earth is often seen as a testament to God's creation and power (Psalm 19:1-4). The earth teaching us can be understood as a call to recognize God's handiwork in creation, as seen in Romans 1:20, where Paul states that God's invisible qualities are evident in the things He has made. Historically, the ancient Near Eastern cultures, including the Israelites, had a deep connection with the land, understanding it as a source of sustenance and divine revelation. This phrase encourages humility and a recognition of human limitations in understanding the divine, as Job is reminded of the vastness of God's wisdom compared to human knowledge.

let the fish of the sea inform you.
The mention of the fish of the sea highlights the diversity and complexity of life that God has created. In biblical literature, the sea often represents chaos and the unknown, yet it is also under God's control (Psalm 104:24-26). The fish, as part of this creation, serve as a metaphor for the hidden and mysterious aspects of God's wisdom that are beyond human comprehension. This can be connected to Jesus Christ, who called His disciples to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19), symbolizing the gathering of people into God's kingdom. The fish also remind us of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:1-14), where Jesus demonstrated His authority over creation. In Job's context, this phrase underscores the idea that even the most seemingly insignificant parts of creation can reveal truths about God's nature and His sovereign rule over the universe.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A 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. Earth
In this context, the earth is personified as a teacher, suggesting that creation itself can reveal truths about God and His wisdom.

3. Fish of the Sea
Represents the creatures of the sea, which, like the earth, are depicted as having knowledge to impart about God's creation and order.

4. Job's Friends
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, they are part of the larger account. They attempt to explain Job's suffering through traditional wisdom, which Job challenges.

5. God's Creation
The broader context of this verse points to the natural world as a testament to God's power and wisdom.
Teaching Points
Creation as a Source of Wisdom
The natural world is a testament to God's wisdom and power. Observing creation can lead to a deeper understanding of God's character and His order.

Humility in Learning
Job's invitation to learn from the earth and sea creatures encourages humility. We should be open to learning from all aspects of God's creation, recognizing our limited understanding.

God's Sovereignty in Creation
The verse underscores God's sovereignty over all creation. Everything in nature operates under His command and reveals His divine attributes.

The Limitations of Human Wisdom
Job challenges the conventional wisdom of his friends, suggesting that true understanding comes from God and His creation, not solely from human reasoning.

Seeking God in Nature
Believers are encouraged to seek God not only in scripture but also in the world around them, finding His fingerprints in the intricacies of nature.Verse 8. - Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee. If the material earth be intended, the appeal must be to its orderly course, its summers and winters, its seedtime and harvest, its former and latter rains, its constant productivity, which, no less than animal instincts, speak of a single ruling power directing and ordering all things. If the creeping things of the earth, the reptile creation, be meant, then the argument is merely an expansion of that in the preceding verse. The instincts of reptiles are to be ascribed, no less than those of beasts and birds, to the constant superintending action and providence of the Almighty. And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. The testimony will be unanimous - beasts, birds, reptiles, and fishes will unite in it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Or
א֤וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

speak
שִׂ֣יחַ (śî·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7878: To muse, complain, talk (of)

to the earth,
לָאָ֣רֶץ (lā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and it will teach 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 teach

let the fish
דְּגֵ֣י (də·ḡê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1709: A fish

of the sea
הַיָּֽם׃ (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

inform
וִֽיסַפְּר֥וּ (wî·sap·pə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

you.
לְ֝ךָ֗ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Poetry: Job 12:8 Or speak to the earth and it (Jb)
Job 12:7
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