Job 21:12

singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Job addresses his three friends while defending the observable prosperity of the wicked. He describes the daily reality of the arrogant who live without fear of immediate divine intervention.

The words — The Hebrew יִשְׂאוּ (yisʾû) literally means "they lift," paired with כְּתֹף (kəṯôp, "tambourine") and עֻגָב (ʿûḡāḇ, "flute") to depict raised musical instruments. The verb יִשְׂמְחוּ (yiśməḥû) translates as "they may rejoice," marking the active celebration at the flute's sound.

The thread — This imagery of musical celebration appears in Genesis 4:21 with Jubal as the ancestor of instrumentalists. Isaiah 5:12 later uses similar feasting motifs to condemn those who ignore God's work amid their revelry.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that the wicked often experience earthly joy without immediate consequence. It forces the reader to confront the tension between observed prosperity and the delayed nature of divine justice.

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

יִ֭שְׂאוּYis.'uthey lift כְּתֹ֣ףke./Tofaccording to/ tambourine וְכִנּ֑וֹרve./khi.Norand/ harp וְ֝יִשְׂמְח֗וּve./yis.me.Chuso/ they may rejoice לְק֣וֹלle./Kolto/ [the] sound of עוּגָֽב׃'u.Gava flute

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Genesis 4:21 And his brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute.
Isaiah 5:12 At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.
Amos 6:4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.
Genesis 31:27 Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, without even telling me? I would have sent you away with joy and singing, with tambourines and harps.
Isaiah 22:13 But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”