Job 12:3

Understanding. Literally, “heart.” “Heart” is frequently used to denote the understanding, or mind. We use the expression “heart” to denote the seat of the affections and emotions. But the Hebrews thought of the heart as the seat of the understanding. Job is probably making a retort to Zophar’s thrust in Job 11:12, if that statement is to be construed as meaning “a stupid man will get understanding when a wild ass’s colt is born a man” (see on Job 11:12). Inferior. Job claims to be equal to his friends in his ability to quote the sayings of the ancients; and in order to show this, he quotes a number of proverbial sayings in the verses that follow. Such things as these. Job considered the sentiments of his friends as commonplace. He not only said that he knew those sentiments, but declared that it would be strange if anyone did not know them.