What does Job 12:13 mean?
What is the meaning of Job 12:13?

Wisdom belongs to God

“Wisdom … belong to God” (Job 12:13). Job highlights that every true insight and right conclusion begins with Him.

Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding,” underscoring that wisdom is God-sourced, not self-generated.

Romans 11:33 marvels, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom … of God!” reminding us that His wisdom is infinite and unfathomable.

James 1:5 affirms that when we feel deficient, we can “ask God, who gives generously,” because He is the sole wellspring of wisdom.

Application: Any plan, decision, or worldview that ignores God’s wisdom will be partial at best and destructive at worst; tapping into His Word aligns us with unfailing truth.


Strength belongs to God

“… and strength belong to God …” (Job 12:13). Job’s friends implied that power lay with moral law or human effort, but Job redirects the focus to the Lord Himself.

Psalm 147:5 exclaims, “Great is our Lord, and mighty in power.”

Isaiah 40:29-31 points out that even the vigorous grow weary, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.”

Job 9:4 already noted, “He is wise in heart and mighty in strength.”

Application: Recognizing God as the source of strength humbles us in weakness and emboldens us in obedience, because He supplies what He commands.


Counsel belongs to God

“… counsel … are His.” Job is declaring that God alone sets perfect direction.

Proverbs 19:21 reminds us, “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.”

Psalm 33:10-11 contrasts human schemes with God’s unshakable counsel: “The counsel of the LORD stands forever.”

Ephesians 1:11 says believers are “predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will.”

Application: Before strategizing, believers anchor decisions in the counsel of Scripture and the indwelling Spirit, trusting that divine guidance is never off target.


Understanding belongs to God

“… and understanding are His.” Job asserts that God not only knows what is right but fully grasps every detail of creation and circumstance.

Psalm 147:5 adds, “His understanding has no limit.”

Isaiah 40:28 asks rhetorically, “Do you not know? … His understanding is beyond searching out.”

1 John 3:20 comforts us that “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things,” meaning nothing escapes His comprehension.

Application: When events seem baffling, believers rest in the reality that God understands how each piece fits and will ultimately reveal His purposes.


summary

Job 12:13 piles up four attributes—wisdom, strength, counsel, understanding—to declare that God alone possesses the complete package of insight, power, guidance, and perception. This truth corrects human pride, comforts the suffering, and calls believers to lean fully on the Lord in every decision, challenge, and mystery of life.

How does Job 12:12 align with the broader theme of wisdom in the Bible?
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