Job 36:12
New International Version
But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

New Living Translation
But if they refuse to listen to him, they will cross over the river of death, dying from lack of understanding.

English Standard Version
But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

Berean Standard Bible
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

King James Bible
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

New King James Version
But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

New American Standard Bible
“But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword, And die without knowledge.

NASB 1995
“But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword And they will die without knowledge.

NASB 1977
“But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if they do not hear, they shall pass away by a weapon And they will breathe their last without knowledge.

Amplified Bible
“But if they do not hear and obey, they will die by the sword [of God’s destructive judgments] And they will die [in ignorance] without [true] knowledge.

Christian Standard Bible
But if they do not listen, they will cross the river of death and die without knowledge.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if they do not obey, they will cross the river of death and die without knowledge.

American Standard Version
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

Contemporary English Version
But if they foolishly refuse, they will be rewarded with a violent death.

English Revised Version
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if they don't listen, they will cross the River [of Death] and die like those who have no knowledge.

Good News Translation
But if not, they will die in ignorance and cross the stream into the world of the dead.

International Standard Version
"But if they won't listen, they'll perish by the sword and die in their ignorance.

Majority Standard Bible
But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

NET Bible
But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge.

New Heart English Bible
But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

World English Bible
But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if they do not listen, "" They pass away by the dart, "" And expire without knowledge.

Young's Literal Translation
And if they do not hearken, By the dart they pass away, And expire without knowledge.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if they will not hear, they shall pass away by the spear, and they shall expire without knowledge.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if they hear not, they shall pass by the sword, and shall be consumed in folly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if they will not listen, they will pass away by the sword and will be consumed by foolishness.

New American Bible
But if they do not listen, they pass to the grave, they perish for lack of knowledge.

New Revised Standard Version
But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword, and die without knowledge.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if they do not obey, they shall perish by destruction, and they shall perish without knowledge.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if they will not hear, they shall depart into destruction and they will come to an end without knowledge
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But he preserves not the ungodly; because they are not willing to know the Lord, and because when reproved they were disobedient.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Declares God's Justice and Power
11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness. 12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. 13The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He binds them, they do not cry for help.…

Cross References
Proverbs 29:1
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Proverbs 1:24-31
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, / in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, ...

Jeremiah 6:16-19
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’ / I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’ / Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them. ...

Proverbs 15:10
Discipline is harsh for him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

Romans 2:8-9
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. / There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;

Hebrews 2:1-3
We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. / For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, / how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Matthew 7:26-27
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Luke 13:3
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

1 Samuel 12:15
But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

Deuteronomy 28:15
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

Isaiah 30:9-14
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. / Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!” ...

Ezekiel 18:24
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.


Treasury of Scripture

But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

if

Deuteronomy 18:15
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Deuteronomy 29:15-20
But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day: …

Isaiah 1:20
But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

perish.

Job 4:21
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

John 8:21-24
Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come…

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Job 36
1. Elihu shows how God is just in his ways
16. How Job's sins hinder God's blessings
24. God's works are to be magnified














But if they do not obey
The phrase begins with a conditional "if," indicating a choice or decision point. The Hebrew root for "obey" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear, listen, or give heed. In the context of Job, this implies a deeper spiritual listening, not just hearing words but responding to God's guidance. Historically, obedience to God was seen as a covenantal requirement for Israel, reflecting a relationship of trust and submission. The emphasis here is on the importance of aligning one's life with divine wisdom and instruction.

they will perish by the sword
The imagery of perishing "by the sword" is a powerful metaphor for judgment and destruction. The Hebrew word for "sword" is "חֶרֶב" (chereb), often used in the Old Testament to symbolize war, divine judgment, or calamity. In ancient times, the sword was a common instrument of warfare and execution, representing the ultimate consequence of disobedience. This phrase underscores the seriousness of turning away from God's commands, suggesting that such rebellion leads to inevitable ruin.

and die without knowledge
The phrase "die without knowledge" highlights the tragic end of those who reject divine wisdom. The Hebrew word for "knowledge" is "דַּעַת" (da'at), which encompasses understanding, insight, and discernment. Biblically, knowledge is not merely intellectual but relational, involving a deep awareness of God's character and purposes. To "die without knowledge" implies a life lived in spiritual ignorance, devoid of the enlightenment and guidance that comes from knowing God. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of neglecting the pursuit of divine truth.

Verse 12. - But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword. Not, necessarily, by a material sword, but by the sword of God's vengeance, which slays in a thousand different manners, piercing through all obstacles, and reaching to the heart and spirit. And they shall die without knowledge. Either without knowing that they are about to die, or in their wilful ignorance of God's intentions in chastising them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

they do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey,
יִ֭שְׁמְעוּ (yiš·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

they will perish
יַעֲבֹ֑רוּ (ya·‘ă·ḇō·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

by the sword
בְּשֶׁ֣לַח (bə·še·laḥ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7973: A missile of attack, spear, a shoot of growth, branch

and die
וְ֝יִגְוְע֗וּ (wə·yiḡ·wə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1478: To breathe out, expire

without
כִּבְלִי־ (kiḇ·lî-)
Preposition-k | Adverb
Strong's 1097: Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as

knowledge.
דָֽעַת׃‪‬ (ḏā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge


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OT Poetry: Job 36:12 But if they don't listen they shall (Jb)
Job 36:11
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