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Texts -- Job 38:1-38 (NET)

Context

VI. The Divine Speeches (38:1-42:6)

The Lord’s First Speech
38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind : 38:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge ? 38:3 Get ready for a difficult task like a man ; I will question you and you will inform me!
God’s questions to Job
38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth ? Tell me, if you possess understanding ! 38:5 Who set its measurements – if you know – or who stretched a measuring line across it? 38:6 On what were its bases set , or who laid its cornerstone – 38:7 when the morning stars sang in chorus , and all the sons of God shouted for joy ? 38:8 “Who shut up the sea with doors when it burst forth , coming out of the womb , 38:9 when I made the storm clouds its garment , and thick darkness its swaddling band , 38:10 when I prescribed its limits , and set in place its bolts and doors , 38:11 when I said , ‘To here you may come and no farther , here your proud waves will be confined ’? 38:12 Have you ever in your life commanded the morning , or made the dawn know its place , 38:13 that it might seize the corners of the earth , and shake the wicked out of it? 38:14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal ; its features are dyed like a garment . 38:15 Then from the wicked the light is withheld , and the arm raised in violence is broken . 38:16 Have you gone to the springs that fill the sea , or walked about in the recesses of the deep ? 38:17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deepest darkness ? 38:18 Have you considered the vast expanses of the earth ? Tell me, if you know it all ! 38:19 “In what direction does light reside , and darkness , where is its place , 38:20 that you may take them to their borders and perceive the pathways to their homes ? 38:21 You know , for you were born before them; and the number of your days is great ! 38:22 Have you entered the storehouse of the snow , or seen the armory of the hail , 38:23 which I reserve for the time of trouble , for the day of war and battle ? 38:24 In what direction is lightning dispersed , or the east winds scattered over the earth ? 38:25 Who carves out a channel for the heavy rains , and a path for the rumble of thunder , 38:26 to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land , a desert where there are no human beings , 38:27 to satisfy a devastated and desolate land, and to cause it to sprout with vegetation ? 38:28 Does the rain have a father , or who has fathered the drops of the dew ? 38:29 From whose womb does the ice emerge , and the frost from the sky , who gives birth to it, 38:30 when the waters become hard like stone , when the surface of the deep is frozen solid ? 38:31 Can you tie the bands of the Pleiades , or release the cords of Orion ? 38:32 Can you lead out the constellations in their seasons , or guide the Bear with its cubs ? 38:33 Do you know the laws of the heavens , or can you set up their rule over the earth ? 38:34 Can you raise your voice to the clouds so that a flood of water covers you? 38:35 Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go ? Will they say to you, ‘Here we are’? 38:36 Who has put wisdom in the heart , or has imparted understanding to the mind ? 38:37 Who by wisdom can count the clouds , and who can tip over the water jars of heaven , 38:38 when the dust hardens into a mass , and the clumps of earth stick together ?

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Ignorance

    [nave] IGNORANCE. Job 8:9; Job 11:7, 8, 12; Job 28:12, 13, 20, 21; Job 36:26, 29; Job 37:5, 15, 16, 19, 23 Job 38; 39. Psa. 139:6; Prov. 7:6-23; Prov. 8:5; Prov. 9:14-18; Prov. 19:2; Prov. 20:24; Prov. 22:3 Prov. 27:12. Prov. 27:1...

  • BARUCH, BOOK OF

    [isbe] BARUCH, BOOK OF - One of the Apocryphal or Deutero-canonical books, standing between Jeremiah and Lamentations in the Septuagint, but in the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) after these two books. I. Name. See un...

  • Job

    [nave] JOB 1. A man who dwelt in Uz, Job 1:1. Righteousness of, Job 1:1, 5, 8; 2:3; Ezek. 14:14, 20. Riches of, Job 1:3. Trial of, by affliction of Satan, Job 1:13-19; 2:7-10. Fortitude of, Job 1:20-22; 2:10; Jas. 5:11. Visite...

  • God

    [nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...

  • Euthanasia

    [nave] EUTHANASIA Euthanasia is an attempt to prevent painful, excessive or prolonged death. It may be passive (stop treatment) or direct acts aimed at terminating life (active). The latter is wrong because it does not see God, as ...

  • JOB, BOOK OF

    [isbe] JOB, BOOK OF - || I. INTRODUCTORY 1. Place in the Canon 2. Rank and Readers II. THE LITERARY FRAMEWORK 1. Setting of Time, Place and Scene 2. Characters and Personality 3. Form and Style III. THE COURSE OF THE STORY A) To Jo...

  • Readings, Select

    [nave] READINGS, SELECT. Judah's Defense Gen. 44:18-34 Joseph Revealing His Identity Gen. 45:1-15 The Deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh Ex. 14:5-30 Song of Moses When Pharaoh and His Army Were Overthrown Ex. 15:1-1...

  • Blessing

    [nave] BLESSING For blessing before eating, See: Prayer, Thanksgiving Before Taking Food. See also Benedictions. Responsive Blessings of the Law Deut. 28:1-14 For the responsive Curses of the law, See: Curse. Divine, Contingent...

  • Condescension of God

    [nave] CONDESCENSION OF GOD In reasoning with his creatures: Sets forth his reasons for sending the flood, Gen. 6:11-13. Enters into covenant with Abraham, Gen. 15:1-21; 18:1-22. Indulges Abraham's intercession for Sodom, Gen. 18...

  • Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

    [nave] METEOROLOGY AND CELESTIAL PHENOMENA. Gen. 2:5, 6; Gen. 27:39; Job 9:7; Job 26:7, 8, 11; Job 27:20, 21; Job 28:24-27; Job 29:19; Job 36:27-33; Job 37:6-22; Job 38:9 [with vs. 8-11.] Job 38:22, 24-29, 31-35, 37; Psa. 18:8-15;...

  • Land, Land Masses

    [nave] LAND, LAND MASSES Gen. 1:9, 10; Job 26:7, 10; 28:8-11; 38:4-18; Psa. 95:5; 104:5-9; 136:6; Prov. 8:29; 30:4. See: Geology.

  • Astronomy

    [ebd] The Hebrews were devout students of the wonders of the starry firmanent (Amos 5:8; Ps. 19). In the Book of Job, which is the oldest book of the Bible in all probability, the constellations are distinguished and named. Mentio...
    [nave] ASTRONOMY. Job 26:7, 13; Job 37:18; Job 38:31-33; Psa. 8:3; Psa. 19:1-6; Psa. 68:33; Psa. 136:5-9; Isa. 13:10; Isa. 40:22, 26; Isa. 47:13; Jer. 31:35-37; Jer. 33:22; Amos 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:41; Jude 13 Celestial Phenomena Jos...

  • TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

    [isbe] TEXT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - || I. EARLIEST FORM OF WRITING IN ISRAEL 1. Invention of Alphabet 2. The Cuneiform 3. References to Writing in the Old Testament 4. Inscriptions after Settlement in Canaan 5. Orthography of the Pe...

  • Arcturus

    [ebd] bear-keeper, the name given by the ancients to the brightest star in the constellation Bootes. In the Authorized Version (Job 9:9; 38:32) it is the rendering of the Hebrew word 'ash, which probably designates the constellati...
    [smith] (bear-keeper). The Hebrew words ?Ash and ?Aish , rendered "Arcturus" in the Authorized Version of (Job 9:9; 38:32) in conformity with the Vulgate of the former passages are now generally believed to be identical, and to repre...
    [nave] ARCTURUS, constellation of, Job 9:9; 38:32.

  • Dayspring

    [ebd] (Job 38:12; Luke 1:78), the dawn of the morning; daybreak. (Comp. Isa. 60:1, 2; Mal. 4:2; Rev. 22:16.)
    [isbe] DAYSPRING - da'-spring: This beautiful English word, in current use in the time of the King James Version, is found in the Old Testament as the translation of shachar, "Hast thou .... caused the dayspring to know his place?"...
    [nave] DAYSPRING Job 38:12; Luke 1:78

  • Clay

    [ebd] This word is used of sediment found in pits or in streets (Isa. 57:20; Jer. 38:60), of dust mixed with spittle (John 9:6), and of potter's clay (Isa. 41:25; Nah. 3:14; Jer. 18:1-6; Rom. 9:21). Clay was used for sealing (Job ...
    [smith] As the sediment of water remaining in pits or in streets, the word is used frequently in the Old Testament. (Psalms 18:42; Isaiah 57:20; Jeremiah 38:6) and in the New Testament, (John 9:6) a mixture of sand or dust with spitt...
    [nave] CLAY Man formed from, Job 33:6. Seals made of, Job 38:14. Used by potter, Isa. 29:16; 41:25; 45:9. Blind man's eyes anointed with, John 9:6. Figurative Job 4:19; Psa. 40:2; Isa. 45:9; 64:8; Jer. 18:6; Rom. 9:21. Symbol...

  • Mankind

    [nave] MANKIND. Index of Sub-topics Created; Created in the Image of God; Design of the Creation of; Dominion of; Duty of; Equality of; Ignorance of; Immortal; Insignificance of; Little Lower than the Angels; Mortal; Spirit; Stat...

  • Lightning

    [isbe] LIGHTNING - lit'-ning (baraq, chaziz; astrape): Lightning is caused by the discharge of electricity between clouds or between clouds and the earth. In a thunder-storm there is a rapid gathering of particles of moisture into ...
    [nave] LIGHTNING, Job 28:26; 37:3; 38:25, 35; Psa. 18:14; 77:18; 78:48; 97:4; 135:7; 144:6; Jer. 10:13; 51:16; Ezek. 1:13, 14; Dan. 10:6; Nah. 2:4; Zech. 9:14; 10:1; Matt. 24:27; 28:3; Luke 10:18; Rev. 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18.

  • Pleiades

    [ebd] Heb. kimah, "a cluster" (Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8, A.V., "seven stars;" R.V., "Pleiades"), a name given to the cluster of stars seen in the shoulder of the constellation Taurus.
    [smith] The Hebrew word (cimah) so rendered occurs in (Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 6:8) In the last passage our Authorized Version has "the seven stars," although the Geneva version translates the word "Pleiades" as in the other cases. The ...
    [nave] PLEIADES, Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8.

  • Frost

    [ebd] (Heb. kerah, from its smoothness) Job 37:10 (R.V., "ice"); Gen. 31:40; Jer. 36:30; rendered "ice" in Job 6:16, 38:29; and "crystal" in Ezek. 1:22. "At the present day frost is entirely unknown in the lower portions of the va...
    [isbe] FROST - frost (kephor, "hoar-frost," Ex 16:14; Job 38:29; chanamal, perhaps "the aphis," Ps 78:47; qerach, "cold," Gen 31:40; Job 37:10 the King James Version; Jer 36:30): 1. Formation: A temperature of freezing or lower is ...
    [nave] FROST Ex. 16:14; Job 38:29; Psa. 147:16; Jer. 36:30; Zech. 14:6
more

Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Agungkan Kuasa NamaNya [KJ.222b]
  • Agungkan Kuasa NamaNya [KJ.222a]
  • Hai Kota Mungil Betlehem [KJ.94] ( O Little Town of Bethlehem )
  • Tahukah Kamu Jumlah Bintang [KJ.68]
  • [Job 38:7] Almighty Spirit, Now Behold
  • [Job 38:7] Brightest And Best Of The Sons Of The Morning
  • [Job 38:7] Perfect World, By Adam Trod, The
  • [Job 38:7] Sound Over All Waters
  • [Job 38:7] Stars Of The Morning

Questions

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • In this section the relationship that God had established with man, which is the focus of the creation story, is broken. We can gain a great insight into human nature from this story. Adam and Eve's behavior as recorded here ...
  • 6:1-2 There are three major views about the identity of the sons of God.1. They were fallen angelswho married women.278Arguments in favor of this view follow with responses.a. The term "sons of God"as it occurs here in Hebrew...
  • What this book is all about has been the subject of considerable debate. Many people think God gave it to us to provide His answer to the age-old problem of suffering. In particular, many believe it is in the Bible to help us...
  • I. Prologue chs. 1-2A. Job's character 1:1-5B. Job's calamities 1:6-2:101. The first test 1:6-222. The second test 2:1-10C. Job's comforters 2:11-13II. The dialogue concerning the basis of the divine-human relationship 3:1-42...
  • The writer composed the prologue and epilogue of this book in prose narrative and the main body (3:1-42:6) in poetry. The prologue and epilogue form a frame around the main emphasis of the revelation, the poetic section, and ...
  • Verse 2 is irony; his companions were not as wise as they thought. Job pointed out that much of what they had said about God was common knowledge (cf. 5:9-10; 8:13-19; 11:7-9). Nonetheless their conclusion, that the basis of ...
  • Because the speech in this chapter is more soliloquy than dialogue some scholars have concluded that someone other than Job spoke it: Zophar, Bildad, or God. One writer argued for its being a speech by none of the characters,...
  • Elihu began by voicing his respect for Job's three friends (vv. 6-10). They were older than he, and for this reason he said he had refrained from speaking until now. However he had become convinced that advancing age does not...
  • Elihu focused next on God's activities in nature. There may be reference to autumn conditions in 36:27-33, winter in 37:1-13, and summer in 37:17-18.150Elihu's third "Behold"(36:26) draws attention to the infinite wisdom of G...
  • As Job's friends had done, God began to break Job down blow by verbal blow. Finally all his pride was gone. However where Job's friends had failed, God succeeded."The function of the questions needs to be properly understood....
  • God's first speech began and ended with a challenge to Job. Job had found fault with God for allowing him to suffer when he was godly. He had said he wished he could meet God in court to face Him with His injustice and to hea...
  • This second divine discourse is similar to, yet different from, the first. It began as the first one did with a challenge to Job (40:6-14; cf. 38:1-3), but it did not end with one (cf. 40:1-2). In the first speech Yahweh spok...
  • God introduced this challenge much the same as He did His first, out of the whirlwind, and with a demand that Job refute Him if he could.Job had claimed God was unjust. In answering this challenge God did not argue with Job. ...
  • Job's words reveal the changes that God's revelations had produced in him. He was aware as never before that God had all power and all wisdom. This resulted in an attitude of awe and submission (v. 2). He saw that it was fool...
  • Agur began with three declarations. The subject of each is God.30:2-4 Behind this ironical section one can perhaps imagine Agur's sons claiming to be wiser than their father. Agur confessed his own limited understanding while...
  • Though his view of and awareness of God are very much behind what Agur said in the rest of this chapter, his counsel deals primarily with practical prudence from this point on.30:10 It is unwise to meddle in the domestic affa...
  • The preceding section answered the question that the people of Isaiah's day had about God's desire to deliver them. Yes, He wantedto deliver them. This section answered their question about whether He could save them. Yes, He...
  • The Lord, through His prophet, assured fearful Israel in this segment. Israel need not fear the nations (vv. 1-7) because Yahweh remained committed to His people and would use them to accomplish His purposes in the world (vv....
  • The writer now turned from reviewing the plight of the people to consider the greatness of their God."In 5:19-20 the writer carefully chose his words to summarize the teaching of the entire book by using the split alphabet to...
  • 1:4 Ezekiel saw within the opened heavens a great cloud blown toward him by the north wind with lightning flashing from it almost constantly (cf. 1 Kings 19:11-13; Job 38:1; 40:6; Ps. 29:3-5). Israel's enemies had invaded fro...
  • 16:18 "I say to you"(cf. 5:18, 20, 22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44; 8:10) may imply that Jesus would continue the revelation the Father had begun. However the phrase occurs elsewhere where that contrast is not in view. Undoubtedly it ...
  • John probably included this incident for a number of reasons. It accounts for the return of Jesus and His disciples to the western shore of Galilee where Jesus gave the discourse on the Bread of Life. Perhaps he did so to con...
  • The writer began his epistle with an affirmation of Jesus Christ's greatness to introduce his readers to his subject. This section is one sentence in the Greek text. It contrasts God's old revelation with the new, specificall...
  • The writer proceeded to explain the exaltation of Jesus Christ to help his readers appreciate the fact that He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy concerning the Son of David. He did this so they would appreciate Him properly an...
  • John turned to see the person who had given him his commission. These verses describe what he saw.1:12 When John turned to see the person who spoke to him he saw a majestic figure clothed in a long robe standing among seven l...
  • 9:1 Again John saw a "star"(cf. 6:13; 8:10), but this time the "star"was an intelligent being. If "fallen"(Gr. peptokota) has theological connotations, the "star"may refer to Satan (vv. 2, 11; cf. 1:20; Job. 38:7; Luke 10:18)...
  • 16:17 This final judgment has the greatest impact of all since the air into which the angel pours his bowl is what humans breathe.535The loud voice is probably once again God's since it comes from the throne in the heavenly t...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • "Then Job answered the Lord, and said, 2. I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee. 3. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood ...
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