Job 11:12 Meaning and Explanation
“For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Zophar observes that empty-headed man longs to be wise, though he is born untamed as a wild donkey's colt.
What Does Job 11:12 Mean?
With a sharp proverb Zophar describes the natural human condition. A hollow, foolish man would like to be wise, yet by birth he is as undisciplined as the colt of a wild donkey: stubborn, untamed, running where it wills. The image pictures humanity as far from the wisdom it imagines it possesses.
Zophar wields the saying to belittle Job, but it touches a truth no one outgrows on their own. Left to ourselves, we are restless and self-willed, in need of being gentled and taught. True wisdom is not something the wild heart seizes by effort; it is given by God, who tames and instructs those willing to be led. The verse quietly drives us to seek wisdom from above rather than presume we already have it, and to let the Lord make wise what is wayward in us.
Job 11:12 in the Original Language
nabub (נָבוּב), 'vain' -- hollow, empty, void of understanding within.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 11:12
What does Job 11:12 mean?
Zophar observes that empty-headed man longs to be wise, though he is born untamed as a wild donkey's colt.