Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you.
Parallel translations
- WEB Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
- KJV Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
- BSB Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
- NKJV Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
- NASB “Or speak to the earth, and have it teach you; And have the fish of the sea tell you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job adds that the earth and the fish of the sea will also instruct them. All creation testifies to God's hand.
Overview
Continuing his appeal, Job calls the earth and sea creatures as further witnesses to the truth he proclaims. The whole created order declares that God reigns over all. This anticipates the scope of Christ's lordship, for through Him and for Him all things were made, and to Him all creation will finally bear witness (Colossians 1:16; Philippians 2:10-11).
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 12:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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