Job 12:19
He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
Original Language Analysis
מוֹלִ֣יךְ
H1980
מוֹלִ֣יךְ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
1 of 5
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
כֹּהֲנִ֣ים
princes
H3548
כֹּהֲנִ֣ים
princes
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
2 of 5
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
שׁוֹלָ֑ל
away spoiled
H7758
שׁוֹלָ֑ל
away spoiled
Strong's:
H7758
Word #:
3 of 5
nude (especially bare-foot); by implication, captive
Historical Context
The exile of priests occurred repeatedly in Israel's history, most notably in Babylon's conquest. Ancient Near Eastern cultures viewed priests as mediators with immutable religious authority, yet Israel's history showed God judging even His own priesthood when they failed in faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judgment of religious authorities warn against blind trust in human leadership?
- What distinguishes legitimate spiritual authority from mere religious position?
- How can church leaders guard against the presumption that position equals divine approval?
Analysis & Commentary
God leads priests away as prisoners and overthrows the mighty. The Hebrew 'kohen' (priest) represented sacred authority, while 'ethan' (mighty/established ones) denoted those with long-standing power. Job asserts that even religious and entrenched authorities fall under God's sovereign judgment. This anticipates God's rebuke of Job's friends—religious professionals who misrepresented divine truth—and warns against presuming that position guarantees theological correctness.