The Meaning of Job 11:12 Explained

Job 11:12

KJV: For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

YLT: And empty man is bold, And the colt of a wild ass man is born.

Darby: Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born like the foal of a wild ass.

ASV: But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born as a wild ass's colt.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For vain  man  would be wise,  though man  be born  [like] a wild ass's  colt. 

What does Job 11:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 11:1-20 - "canst Thou By Searching Find Out God?"
Zophar waxes vehement as he censures Job's self-justification and his refusal to acknowledge the guilt which his friends attribute to him. There is some truth in his allegations, though it was cruel to goad Job with them, notwithstanding his repeated protestations.
It is quite true that many of us are filled with self-complacency, because we judge our best by others' worst. It may be also that we have a very poor conception of what God is and asks. It is best for us to strike our breasts with the publican and to confess ourselves the chief of sinners.
What a magnificent challenge is that of Job 11:7-12! Canst thou reach God's depths, or His perfections, or His heights? But, oh my soul, remember that through all His unsearchable depths God is love. For the closing paragraph see r.v. Job had said he could not lift up his face, Job 10:15, but when sin is put away, we may exchange glances with our Father. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 11

1  Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself
5  God's wisdom is unsearchable
13  The assured blessing of repentance

What do the individual words in Job 11:12 mean?

For an man empty-headed will be wise and when a colt Of wild donkey a man is born
וְאִ֣ישׁ נָ֭בוּב יִלָּבֵ֑ב וְעַ֥יִר פֶּ֝֗רֶא אָדָ֥ם יִוָּלֵֽד

וְאִ֣ישׁ  For  an  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
נָ֭בוּב  empty-headed 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָבַב 
Sense: (Qal) to hollow out.
יִלָּבֵ֑ב  will  be  wise 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָבַב 
Sense: to ravish, become intelligent, get a mind.
וְעַ֥יִר  and  when  a  colt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עִיר 
Sense: he-ass, male ass.
פֶּ֝֗רֶא  Of  wild  donkey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּרֶא 
Sense: wild ass.
אָדָ֥ם  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
יִוָּלֵֽד  is  born 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.