Job 12:23

²¹ He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.

²² He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.

He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

²⁴ He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

²⁵ They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
KJV: He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
WEB: He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
ASV: He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.
DARBY: He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
BLB: He makes great nations, and destroys them; He enlarges nations and guides them away.

ÅB: Han lar folkene bli store, og han lar dem gå til grunne; han gir folkene vidt rom, og han fører dem bort.
OTB: Han gjør nasjoner store, så ødelegger Han dem;
Han utvider nasjoner, så sprer Han dem.
B1930: Han lar folkene bli store, og han lar dem gå til grunne; han gir folkene vidt rum, og han fører dem bort.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 9:3
You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.
Read in context
Isaiah 26:15
You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; You have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for Yourself; You have extended all the borders of the land.
Read in context
Isaiah 60:22
The least of you will become a thousand, and the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.
Read in context
Psalms 107:38
He blesses them, and they multiply greatly; He does not let their herds diminish.
Read in context
Jeremiah 33:22
As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.”
Read in context
Isaiah 27:6
In the days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill the whole world with fruit.
Read in context
Exodus 1:20
So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became even more numerous.
Read in context
Jeremiah 30:19
Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration. I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased; I will honor them, and they will not be belittled.
Read in context