The Meaning of Job 21:12 Explained

Job 21:12

KJV: They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

YLT: They lift themselves up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.

Darby: They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

ASV: They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They take  the timbrel  and harp,  and rejoice  at the sound  of the organ. 

What does Job 21:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 21:1-34 - "shall Any Teach God?"
After a brief introduction, in which he claims the right to reply, Job 21:1-6, Job brings forward a new argument. He affirms that his friends are wrong in assuming that the connection between sin and suffering is invariable. On the contrary, he urges that wicked men often spend their lives in prosperity, on the farm, in the fold, and in the home, Job 21:10-11. Sounds of joy issue from their dwellings, Job 21:12. They die without prolonged torture, Job 21:13. From the contention of his friends, Job turns to the passer-by for confirmation of his words. Surely, he says, it is a matter of common observation that some wicked men do prosper and die in peace, Job 21:29.
With Job's answer the second colloquy ends. His friends have gained nothing by their arguments, but Job has learned much by his afflictions. On the dark background of his night the Morning Star has actually begun to shine. He appeals to God with greater confidence and even finds refuge in Him; but so far, though arguing his case, he has preserved a humble and reverent attitude. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 21

1  Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7  Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16  Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21  The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27  The judgment of the wicked is in another world

What do the individual words in Job 21:12 mean?

They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice to the sound of the flute
יִ֭שְׂאוּ כְּתֹ֣ף וְכִנּ֑וֹר וְ֝יִשְׂמְח֗וּ לְק֣וֹל עוּגָֽב

יִ֭שְׂאוּ  They  sing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
כְּתֹ֣ף  to  the  tambourine 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּתֹף 
Sense: timbrel, tambourine.
וְכִנּ֑וֹר  and  harp 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כִּנּׄור  
Sense: lyre, harp.
וְ֝יִשְׂמְח֗וּ  and  rejoice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
לְק֣וֹל  to  the  sound 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
עוּגָֽב  of  the  flute 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עוּגָב  
Sense: a musical instrument.

What are the major concepts related to Job 21:12?

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