Job 4:12

Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The speaker addresses Job during a night vision sequence, positioned between remarks about lions perishing and deep sleep falling on men.

The words — The Hebrew terms דָּבָר (davar, "a word") and שֵׁ֣מֶץ (shemets, "a whisper") appear alongside יְגֻנָּ֑ב (yegunnan, "it was brought secretly") to describe a message received covertly by the speaker’s ears.

The thread — This motif of indirect communication appears in Job 26:14 and Psalms 62:11, while 1 Corinthians 13:12 contrasts present partial understanding with future direct knowledge.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that divine messages may arrive as faint, covert impressions rather than clear declarations, demanding careful attention to subtle spiritual input.

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

וְ֭אֵלַיVe./'e.la/iand/ to/ me דָּבָ֣רda.Vara word יְגֻנָּ֑בye.gu.Navit was brought secretly וַתִּקַּ֥חva./ti.Kachand/ it received אָ֝זְנִ֗י'a.ze.N/iear/ my שֵׁ֣מֶץShe.metza whisper מֶֽנְהֽוּ׃Men./Huof/ it

King James Version

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

Cross-references

Job 26:14 Indeed, these are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”
Psalms 62:11 God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: that power belongs to God,
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.