Albert Barnes Commentary Job 12:19

"He leadeth priests away stripped, And overthroweth the mighty." — Job 12:19 (ASV)

He leadeth princes away spoiled - That is, plundered. The word here translated as “princes,” כהנים kôhênı̂ym, primarily means priests, and it is usually translated that way in the Scriptures. Ancient Hebrew interpreters suggest that the word sometimes also means prince. The Chaldee paraphrasist often translated it this way, using the word רבא to express it (Genesis 41:45; Psalms 110:4).

In this place, the Vulgate translates it as “sacerdotes;” and the Septuagint, ἱερεῖς hiereis—“priests.” Luther also translates it as “Priester,” as does Castellio. This term can be applied to princes or statesmen only because priests frequently performed the functions of civil officers and were, in fact, to some extent, officers of the government.

But it seems to me that it should be taken in its usual meaning, and that it signifies that even ministers of religion were under God’s control and subject to the same reverses as other people of distinction and power.

And overthroweth - The word used here (סלף sâlaph) suggests the idea of slipping or gliding. Similarly, in Arabic, the word means to slip by and to besmear. See Proverbs 13:6: "Wickedness overthroweth (תסלף t^esâlaph—causes to slip) the sinner;" compare (Proverbs 21:12; Proverbs 22:12). Here it means to overthrow, to prostrate. The most mighty chieftains cannot stand firm before Him, but they glide away and fall.