· Translation: KJV

Job 5:12He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands can't perform their enterprise.

The setting

Ancient Uz (likely Jordan/Saudi Arabia border). Eliphaz, one of Job's three friends, delivers his first speech to the suffering patriarch...

The emotion here: confident in ancient wisdom, trying to comfort a friend

The original word

pārār (פָּרַר) — to break apart, frustrate completely, make ineffective

Why it matters

Eliphaz was from Teman, a region famous for its wise men and counselors

Read with care

What most readers miss in Job 5:12

Eliphaz is actually giving Job hope here — saying God stops evil schemes

Common misconceptionPeople think this is God's promise to stop all bad things. But Eliphaz is speaking human wisdom — and he's partially wrong about Job's situation.

Bible Genome reading

Job 5:12 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerEliphaz
EraPatriarchal
Primary emotiondeciding
Literary typepoetry

Emotional genome

Comfort power40%
Quotability70%
Memorability70%
Crisis relevance50%
Standalone80%
Themes:divine justicehuman wisdom

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Job 5

Job 5:12 comes from the book of Job, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to Eliphaz. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine justice, human wisdom. Notable phrases: frustrates the devices; crafty.

Your reflection

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