1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
1 Then the LORD H3068 answered H6030 Job H347 out of the whirlwind, H5591 and said, H559
2 Who is this that darkeneth H2821 counsel H6098 by words H4405 without knowledge? H1847
3 Gird up H247 now thy loins H2504 like a man; H1397 for I will demand H7592 of thee, and answer H3045 thou me.
4 Where H375 wast thou when I laid the foundations H3245 of the earth? H776 declare, H5046 if thou hast H3045 understanding. H998
5 Who hath laid H7760 the measures H4461 thereof, if thou knowest? H3045 or who hath stretched H5186 the line H6957 upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations H134 thereof fastened? H2883 or who laid H3384 the corner H6438 stone H68 thereof;
7 When the morning H1242 stars H3556 sang H7442 together, H3162 and all the sons H1121 of God H430 shouted H7321 for joy?
8 Or who shut up H5526 the sea H3220 with doors, H1817 when it brake forth, H1518 as if it had issued out H3318 of the womb? H7358
9 When I made H7760 the cloud H6051 the garment H3830 thereof, and thick darkness H6205 a swaddlingband H2854 for it,
10 And brake up H7665 for it my decreed H2706 place, and set H7760 bars H1280 and doors, H1817
11 And said, H559 Hitherto H5704 H6311 shalt thou come, H935 but no further: H3254 and here shall thy proud H1347 waves H1530 be stayed? H7896
12 Hast thou commanded H6680 the morning H1242 since thy days; H3117 and caused the dayspring H7837 to know H3045 his place; H4725
13 That it might take hold H270 of the ends H3671 of the earth, H776 that the wicked H7563 might be shaken out H5287 of it?
14 It is turned H2015 as clay H2563 to the seal; H2368 and they stand H3320 as a garment. H3830
15 And from the wicked H7563 their light H216 is withholden, H4513 and the high H7311 arm H2220 shall be broken. H7665
16 Hast thou entered H935 into the springs H5033 of the sea? H3220 or hast thou walked H1980 in the search H2714 of the depth? H8415
17 Have the gates H8179 of death H4194 been opened H1540 unto thee? or hast thou seen H7200 the doors H8179 of the shadow of death? H6757
18 Hast thou perceived H995 the breadth H7338 of the earth? H776 declare H5046 if thou knowest H3045 it all.
19 Where is the way H1870 where light H216 dwelleth? H7931 and as for darkness, H2822 where is the place H4725 thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take H3947 it to the bound H1366 thereof, and that thou shouldest know H995 the paths H5410 to the house H1004 thereof?
21 Knowest H3045 thou it, because thou wast then born? H3205 or because the number H4557 of thy days H3117 is great? H7227
22 Hast thou entered H935 into the treasures H214 of the snow? H7950 or hast thou seen H7200 the treasures H214 of the hail, H1259
23 Which I have reserved H2820 against the time H6256 of trouble, H6862 against the day H3117 of battle H7128 and war? H4421
24 By what H335 way H1870 is the light H216 parted, H2505 which scattereth H6327 the east wind H6921 upon the earth? H776
25 Who hath divided H6385 a watercourse H8585 for the overflowing of waters, H7858 or a way H1870 for the lightning H2385 of thunder; H6963
26 To cause it to rain H4305 on the earth, H776 where no man H376 is; on the wilderness, H4057 wherein there is no man; H120
27 To satisfy H7646 the desolate H7722 and waste H4875 ground; and to cause the bud H4161 of the tender herb H1877 to spring forth? H6779
28 Hath H3426 the rain H4306 a father? H1 or who hath begotten H3205 the drops H96 of dew? H2919
29 Out of whose womb H990 came H3318 the ice? H7140 and the hoary frost H3713 of heaven, H8064 who hath gendered H3205 it?
30 The waters H4325 are hid H2244 as with a stone, H68 and the face H6440 of the deep H8415 is frozen. H3920
31 Canst thou bind H7194 the sweet influences H4575 of Pleiades, H3598 or loose H6605 the bands H4189 of Orion? H3685
32 Canst thou bring forth H3318 Mazzaroth H4216 in his season? H6256 or canst thou guide H5148 Arcturus H5906 with his sons? H1121
33 Knowest H3045 thou the ordinances H2708 of heaven? H8064 canst thou set H7760 the dominion H4896 thereof in the earth? H776
34 Canst thou lift up H7311 thy voice H6963 to the clouds, H5645 that abundance H8229 of waters H4325 may cover H3680 thee?
35 Canst thou send H7971 lightnings, H1300 that they may go, H3212 and say H559 unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put H7896 wisdom H2451 in the inward parts? H2910 or who hath given H5414 understanding H998 to the heart? H7907
37 Who can number H5608 the clouds H7834 in wisdom? H2451 or who can stay H7901 the bottles H5035 of heaven, H8064
38 When the dust H6083 groweth H3332 into hardness, H4165 and the clods H7263 cleave fast together? H1692
39 Wilt thou hunt H6679 the prey H2964 for the lion? H3833 or fill H4390 the appetite H2416 of the young lions, H3715
40 When they couch H7817 in their dens, H4585 and abide H3427 in the covert H5521 to H3926 lie in wait? H695
41 Who provideth H3559 for the raven H6158 his food? H6718 when his young ones H3206 cry H7768 unto God, H410 they wander H8582 for lack H1097 of meat. H400
1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or `who' shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, `as if' it had issued out of the womb;
9 When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10 And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days `began', `And' caused the dayspring to know its place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed as clay under the seal; And `all things' stand forth as a garment:
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?
21 `Doubtless', thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!
22 Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the waste and desolate `ground', And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters hide themselves `and become' like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together?
39 Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, `And' abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food?
1 And Jehovah answereth Job out of the whirlwind, and saith: --
2 Who `is' this -- darkening counsel, By words without knowledge?
3 Gird, I pray thee, as a man, thy loins, And I ask thee, and cause thou Me to know.
4 Where wast thou when I founded earth? Declare, if thou hast known understanding.
5 Who placed its measures -- if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched out upon it a line?
6 On what have its sockets been sunk? Or who hath cast its corner-stone?
7 In the singing together of stars of morning, And all sons of God shout for joy,
8 And He shutteth up with doors the sea, In its coming forth, from the womb it goeth out.
9 In My making a cloud its clothing, And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 And I measure over it My statute, And place bar and doors,
11 And say, `Hitherto come thou, and add not, And a command is placed On the pride of thy billows.'
12 Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place?
13 To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it,
14 It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed.
15 And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
16 Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down?
17 Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?
18 Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare -- if thou hast known it all.
19 Where `is' this -- the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where `is' this -- its place?
20 That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house.
21 Thou hast known -- for then thou art born And the number of thy days `are' many!
22 Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see?
23 That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle.
24 Where `is' this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
25 Who hath divided for the flood a conduit? And a way for the lightning of the voices?
26 To cause `it' to rain on a land -- no man, A wilderness -- no man in it.
27 To satisfy a desolate and waste place, And to cause to shoot up The produce of the tender grass?
28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose belly came forth the ice? And the hoar-frost of the heavens, Who hath begotten it?
30 As a stone waters are hidden, And the face of the deep is captured.
31 Dost thou bind sweet influences of Kimah? Or the attractions of Kesil dost thou open?
32 Dost thou bring out Mazzaroth in its season? And Aysh for her sons dost thou comfort?
33 Hast thou known the statutes of heaven? Or dost thou appoint Its dominion in the earth?
34 Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?
35 Dost thou send out lightnings, and they go And say unto thee, `Behold us?'
36 Who hath put in the inward parts wisdom? Or who hath given To the covered part understanding?
37 Who doth number the clouds by wisdom? And the bottles of the heavens, Who doth cause to lie down,
38 In the hardening of dust into hardness, And clods cleave together?
39 Dost thou hunt for a lion prey? And the desire of young lions fulfil?
40 When they bow down in dens -- Abide in a thicket for a covert?
41 Who doth prepare for a raven his provision, When his young ones cry unto God? They wander without food.
1 And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who set the measures thereof -- if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
20 That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
21 Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
31 Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto ùGod, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
1 Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
2 "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man, For I will question you, then you answer me!
4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined the measures of it, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
6 Whereupon were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 "Or who shut up the sea with doors, When it broke forth from the womb,
9 When I made clouds the garment of it, Thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,
10 Marked out for it my bound, Set bars and doors,
11 And said, 'Here you may come, but no further; Here shall your proud waves be stayed?'
12 "Have you commanded the morning in your days, And caused the dawn to know its place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And shake the wicked out of it?
14 It is changed as clay under the seal, And stands forth as a garment.
15 From the wicked, their light is withheld, The high arm is broken.
16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.
19 "What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is the place of it,
20 That you should take it to the bound of it, That you should discern the paths to the house of it?
21 Surely you know, for you were born then, And the number of your days is great!
22 Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, Or have you seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the lightning distributed, Or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, Or the path for the thunderstorm;
26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, in which there is no man;
27 To satisfy the waste and desolate ground, To cause the tender grass to spring forth?
28 Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?
30 The waters become hard like stone, When the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Can you lead forth the constellations in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish the dominion of it over the earth?
34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?'
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,
38 When the dust runs into a mass, And the clods of earth stick together?
39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens, And lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Who provides for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry to God, And wander for lack of food?
1 And the Lord made answer to Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
2 Who is this who makes the purpose of God dark by words without knowledge?
3 Get your strength together like a man of war; I will put questions to you, and you will give me the answers.
4 Where were you when I put the earth on its base? Say, if you have knowledge.
5 By whom were its measures fixed? Say, if you have wisdom; or by whom was the line stretched out over it?
6 On what were its pillars based, or who put down its angle-stone,
7 When the morning stars made songs together, and all the sons of the gods gave cries of joy?
8 Or where were you when the sea came to birth, pushing out from its secret place;
9 When I made the cloud its robe, and put thick clouds as bands round it,
10 Ordering a fixed limit for it, with locks and doors;
11 And said, So far you may come, and no farther; and here the pride of your waves will be stopped?
12 Have you, from your earliest days, given orders to the morning, or made the dawn conscious of its place;
13 So that it might take a grip of the skirts of the earth, shaking all the evil-doers out of it?
14 It is changed like wet earth under a stamp, and is coloured like a robe;
15 And from the evil-doers their light is kept back, and the arm of pride is broken.
16 Have you come into the springs of the sea, walking in the secret places of the deep?
17 Have the doors of death been open to you, or have the door-keepers of the dark ever seen you?
18 Have you taken note of the wide limits of the earth? Say, if you have knowledge of it all.
19 Which is the way to the resting-place of the light, and where is the store-house of the dark;
20 So that you might take it to its limit, guiding it to its house?
21 No doubt you have knowledge of it, for then you had come to birth, and the number of your days is great.
22 Have you come into the secret place of snow, or have you seen the store-houses of the ice-drops,
23 Which I have kept for the time of trouble, for the day of war and fighting?
24 Which is the way to the place where the wind is measured out, and the east wind sent out over the earth?
25 By whom has the way been cut for the flowing of the rain, and the flaming of the thunder;
26 Causing rain to come on a land where no man is living, on the waste land which has no people;
27 To give water to the land where there is waste and destruction, and to make the dry land green with young grass?
28 Has the rain a father? or who gave birth to the drops of night mist?
29 Out of whose body came the ice? and who gave birth to the cold mist of heaven?
30 The waters are joined together, hard as a stone, and the face of the deep is covered.
31 Are the bands of the Pleiades fixed by you, or are the cords of Orion made loose?
32 Do you make Mazzaroth come out in its right time, or are the Bear and its children guided by you?
33 Have you knowledge of the laws of the heavens? did you give them rule over the earth?
34 Is your voice sent up to the cloud, so that you may be covered by the weight of waters?
35 Do you send out the thunder-flames, so that they may go, and say to you, Here we are?
36 Who has put wisdom in the high clouds, or given knowledge to the lights of the north?
37 By whose wisdom are the clouds numbered, or the water-skins of the heavens turned to the earth,
38 When the earth becomes hard as metal, and is joined together in masses?
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 38
Commentary on Job 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 38
Job 38:1-41.
1. Jehovah appears unexpectedly in a whirlwind (already gathering Job 37:1, 2), the symbol of "judgment" (Ps 50:3, 4, &c.), to which Job had challenged Him. He asks him now to get himself ready for the contest. Can he explain the phenomena of God's natural government? How can he, then, hope to understand the principles of His moral government? God thus confirms Elihu's sentiment, that submission to, not reasonings on, God's ways is man's part. This and the disciplinary design of trial to the godly is the great lesson of this book. He does not solve the difficulty by reference to future retribution: for this was not the immediate question; glimpses of that truth were already given in the fourteenth and nineteenth chapters, the full revelation of it being reserved for Gospel times. Yet even now we need to learn the lesson taught by Elihu and God in Job.
2. this—Job.
counsel—impugning My divine wisdom in the providential arrangements of the universe. Such "words" (including those of the friends) rather obscure, than throw light on My ways. God is about to be Job's Vindicator, but must first bring him to a right state of mind for receiving relief.
3. a man—hero, ready for battle (1Co 16:13), as he had wished (Job 9:35; 13:22; 31:37). The robe, usually worn flowing, was girt up by a girdle when men ran, labored, or fought (1Pe 1:13).
4. To understand the cause of things, man should have been present at their origin. The finite creature cannot fathom the infinite wisdom of the Creator (Job 28:12; 15:7, 8).
hast—"knowest."
understanding—(Pr 4:1).
5. measures—of its proportions. Image from an architect's plans of a building.
line—of measurement (Isa 28:17). The earth is formed on an all-wise plan.
6. foundations—not "sockets," as Margin.
fastened—literally, "made to sink," as a foundation-stone let down till it settles firmly in the clay (Job 26:7). Gravitation makes and keeps the earth a sphere.
7. So at the founding of Zerubbabel's temple (Ezr 3:10-13). So hereafter at the completion of the Church, the temple of the Holy Ghost (Zec 4:7); as at its foundation (Lu 2:13, 14).
morning stars—especially beautiful. The creation morn is appropriately associated with these, it being the commencement of this world's day. The stars are figuratively said to sing God's praises, as in Ps 19:1; 148:3. They are symbols of the angels, bearing the same relation to our earth, as angels do to us. Therefore they answer to "sons of God," or angels, in the parallel. See on Job 25:5.
8. doors—floodgates; these when opened caused the flood (Ge 8:2); or else, the shores.
womb—of chaos. The bowels of the earth. Image from childbirth (Job 38:8, 9; Eze 32:2; Mic 4:10). Ocean at its birth was wrapped in clouds as its swaddling bands.
10. brake up for—that is, appointed it. Shores are generally broken and abrupt cliffs. The Greek for "shore" means "a broken place." I broke off or measured off for it my limit, that is, the limit which I thought fit (Job 26:10).
11. stayed—Hebrew, "a limit shall be set to."
12-15. Passing from creation to phenomena in the existing inanimate world.
Hast thou—as God daily does.
commanded the morning—to rise.
since thy days—since thou hast come into being.
his place—It varies in its place of rising from day to day, and yet it has its place each day according to fixed laws.
13. take hold of the ends, &c.—spread itself over the earth to its utmost bounds in a moment.
wicked—who hate the light, and do their evil works in the dark (Job 24:13).
shaken out of it—The corners (Hebrew, "wings" or "skirts") of it, as of a garment, are taken hold of by the dayspring, so as to shake off the wicked.
14. Explaining the first clause of Job 38:13, as Job 38:15 does the second clause. As the plastic clay presents the various figures impressed on it by a seal, so the earth, which in the dark was void of all form, when illuminated by the dayspring, presents a variety of forms, hills, valleys, &c.
turned—(Hebrew, "turns itself") alludes to the rolling cylinder seal, such as is found in Babylon, which leaves its impressions on the clay, as it is turned about; so the morning light rolling on over the earth.
they stand—The forms of beauty, unfolded by the dawn, stand forth as a garment, in which the earth is clad.
15. their light—by which they work; namely, darkness, which is their day (Job 24:17), is extinguished by daylight.
high—Rather, "The arm uplifted" for murder or other crime is broken; it falls down suddenly, powerless, through their fear of light.
16. springs—fountains beneath the sea (Ps 95:4, 5).
search—Rather, "the inmost recesses"; literally, "that which is only found by searching," the deep caverns of ocean.
17. seen—The second clause heightens the thought in the first. Man during life does not even "see" the gates of the realm of the dead ("death," Job 10:21); much less are they "opened" to him. But those are "naked before God" (Job 26:6).
18. Hast thou—as God doth (Job 28:24).
19-38. The marvels in heaven. "What is the way (to the place wherein) light dwelleth?" The origin of light and darkness. In Ge 1:3-5, 14-18, "light" is created distinct from, and previous to, light-emitting bodies, the luminaries of heaven.
20. Dost thou know its place so well as to be able to guide, ("take" as in Isa 36:17) it to (but Umbreit, "reach it in") its own boundary, that is, the limit between light and darkness (Job 26:10)?
21. Or without the interrogation, in an ironical sense [Umbreit].
then—when I created light and darkness (Job 15:7).
22. treasures—storehouses, from which God draws forth snow and hail. Snow is vapor congealed in the air before it is collected in drops large enough to form hail. Its shape is that of a crystal in endless variety of beautiful figures. Hail is formed by rain falling through dry cold air.
23. against the time of trouble—the time when I design to chastise men (Ex 9:18; Jos 10:11; Re 16:21; Isa 28:17; Ps 18:12, 13; Hag 2:17).
24. is … parted—parts, so as to diffuse itself over the whole earth, though seeming to come from one point. Light travels from the sun to the earth, ninety millions of miles, in eight minutes.
which scattereth—rather, "And by what way the east wind (personified) spreads (scattereth) itself." The light and east wind are associated together, as both come from one quarter, and often arise together (Jon 4:8).
25. waters—Rain falls, not in a mass on one spot, but in countless separate canals in the air marked out for them.
way for the lightning—(Job 28:26).
26. Since rain fails also on places uninhabited by man, it cannot be that man guides its course. Such rain, though man cannot explain the reason for it, is not lost. God has some wise design in it.
27. As though the desolate ground thirsted for God's showers. Personification. The beauty imparted to the uninhabited desert pleases God, for whom primarily all things exist, and He has ulterior designs in it.
28. Can any visible origin of rain and dew be assigned by man? Dew is moisture, which was suspended in the air, but becomes condensed on reaching the—in the night—lower temperature of objects on the earth.
29. Job 37:10.
30. The unfrozen waters are hid under the frozen, as with a covering of stone.
frozen—literally, "is taken"; the particles take hold of one another so as to cohere.
31. sweet influences—the joy diffused by spring, the time when the Pleiades appear. The Eastern poets, Hafiz, Sadi, &c., describe them as "brilliant rosettes." Gesenius translates: "bands" or "knot," which answers better the parallelism. But English Version agrees better with the Hebrew. The seven stars are closely "bound" together (see on Job 9:9). "Canst thou bind or loose the tie?" "Canst thou loose the bonds by which the constellation Orion (represented in the East as an impious giant chained to the sky) is held fast?" (See on Job 9:9).
32. Canst thou bring forth from their places or houses (Mazzaloth, 2Ki 23:5, Margin; to which Mazzaroth here is equivalent) into the sky the signs of the Zodiac at their respective seasons—the twelve lodgings in which the sun successively stays, or appears, in the sky?
Arcturus—Ursa Major.
his sons?—the three stars in his tail. Canst thou make them appear in the sky? (Job 9:9). The great and less Bear are called by the Arabs "Daughters of the Bier," the quadrangle being the bier, the three others the mourners.
33. ordinances—which regulate the alternations of seasons, &c. (Ge 8:22).
dominion—controlling influence of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, &c., on the earth (on the tides, weather) (Ge 1:16; Ps 136:7-9).
34. Jer 14:22; above Job 22:11, metaphorically.
35. Here we are—at thy disposal (Isa 6:8).
36. inward parts … heart—But "dark clouds" ("shining phenomena") [Umbreit]; "meteor" [Maurer], referring to the consultation of these as signs of weather by the husbandman (Ec 11:4). But Hebrew supports English Version. The connection is, "Who hath given thee the intelligence to comprehend in any degree the phenomena just specified?"
heart—not the usual Hebrew word, but one from a root "to view"; perception.
37. Who appoints by his wisdom the due measure of the clouds?
stay—rather, "empty"; literally, "lay down" or "incline" so as to pour out.
bottles of heaven—rain-filled clouds.
38. groweth, &c.—rather, pour itself into a mass by the rain, like molten metal; then translate Job 38:38, "Who is it that empties," &c., "when," &c.? The English Version, however, is tenable: "Is caked into a mass" by heat, like molten metal, before the rain falls; "Who is it that can empty the rain vessels, and bring down rain at such a time?" (Job 38:38).
39. At Job 38:39-39:30, the instincts of animals. Is it thou that givest it the instinct to hunt its prey? (Ps 104:21).
appetite—literally, "life," which depends on the appetite" (Job 33:20).
40. lie in wait?—for their prey (Ps 10:9).
41. Lu 12:24. Transition from the noble lioness to the croaking raven. Though man dislikes it, as of ill omen, God cares for it, as for all His creatures.