Bible Strands
Job 12:23
He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job delivers this declaration during a speech to his three friends, asserting divine sovereignty over human history.
The words — The Hebrew מַשְׂגִּיא (mas.gi') literally means "he makes great," and שֹׁטֵחַ (sho.te.ach) means "he spreads out."
The thread — The concept of God enlarging nations appears in Isaiah 9:3 and Isaiah 26:15, while Isaiah 60:22 describes the smallest group becoming a mighty nation.
Why it lands — The text states that God alone controls the rise and fall of empires, requiring the reader to acknowledge that human power exists only by divine permission.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 9:3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.
- Isaiah 26:15 You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; You have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for Yourself; You have extended all the borders of the land.
- Isaiah 60:22 The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.
- Psalms 107:38 He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish.
- Jeremiah 33:22 As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.”
- Exodus 1:7 but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
- Exodus 1:20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
- Isaiah 27:6 In the days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole world with fruit.
- Isaiah 51:2 Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
- Jeremiah 30:19 Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration. I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased; I will honor them, and they will not be belittled.