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Text -- Job 38:37 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
38:37 Who by wisdom can count the clouds, and who can tip over the water jars of heaven,
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Wisdom | Readings, Select | Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena | Job | JOB, BOOK OF | Ignorance | God | Euthanasia | Condescension of God | CLOUD | Blessing | BOTTLE | BARUCH, BOOK OF | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

JFB: Job 38:37 - -- Who appoints by his wisdom the due measure of the clouds?

Who appoints by his wisdom the due measure of the clouds?

JFB: Job 38:37 - -- Rather, "empty"; literally, "lay down" or "incline" so as to pour out.

Rather, "empty"; literally, "lay down" or "incline" so as to pour out.

JFB: Job 38:37 - -- Rain-filled clouds.

Rain-filled clouds.

Clarke: Job 38:37 - -- Who can number the clouds - Perhaps the word ספר saphar , which is commonly rendered to number, may here mean, as in Arabic, to irradiate, as Mr...

Who can number the clouds - Perhaps the word ספר saphar , which is commonly rendered to number, may here mean, as in Arabic, to irradiate, as Mr. Good contends; and may refer to those celestial and inimitable tinges which we sometimes behold in the sky

Clarke: Job 38:37 - -- Bottles of heaven - The clouds: it is an allusion to the girbahs, or bottles made of skin, in which they are accustomed to carry their water from we...

Bottles of heaven - The clouds: it is an allusion to the girbahs, or bottles made of skin, in which they are accustomed to carry their water from wells and tanks.

TSK: Job 38:37 - -- number : Gen 15:5; Psa 147:4 or who : Gen 8:1, Gen 9:15 stay : Heb. cause to lie down

number : Gen 15:5; Psa 147:4

or who : Gen 8:1, Gen 9:15

stay : Heb. cause to lie down

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Job 38:37 - -- Who can number the clouds? - The word here rendered "clouds"( שׁחקים shachaqiym ) is applied to the clouds as made up of "small parti...

Who can number the clouds? - The word here rendered "clouds"( שׁחקים shachaqiym ) is applied to the clouds as made up of "small particles"- as if they were composed of fine dust, and hence, the word number is applied to them, not as meaning that the clouds themselves were innumerable, but that no one could estimate the number of particles which enter into their formation.

In wisdom - By his wisdom. Who has sufficient intelligence to do it?

Or who can stay the bottles of heaven? - Margin, as in Hebrew "cause to lie down."The clouds are here compared with bottles, as if they held the water in the same manner; compare the notes at Job 26:8. The word rendered "stay"in the text, and in the margin "cause to lie down,"is rendered by Umbreit, "pour out,"from an Arabic signification of the word. Gesenius supposes that the meaning to "pour out"is derived from the idea of "causing to lie down,"from the fact that a bottle or vessel was made to lie down or was inclined to one side when its contents were poured out. This explanation seems probable, though there is no other place in the Hebrew where the word is used in this signification. The sense of pouring out agrees well with the connection.

Poole: Job 38:37 - -- Who can wisely search out and exactly find the number of the clouds? They are numberless, and filled with water, as the next clause implies. Who ca...

Who can wisely search out and exactly find the number of the clouds? They are numberless, and filled with water, as the next clause implies.

Who can stay the bottles of heaven to wit, the clouds? in which the rain is kept as in bottles, out of which God poureth it when he sees fit.

Haydock: Job 38:37 - -- Sleep. The ancients have celebrated this harmony. (Cic.[Cicero?] Somn. Scip.) --- Septuagint, "Who numbereth the clouds in wisdom, or hath bent th...

Sleep. The ancients have celebrated this harmony. (Cic.[Cicero?] Somn. Scip.) ---

Septuagint, "Who numbereth the clouds in wisdom, or hath bent the sky down to the earth?" Protestants, "or who can stay the bottles of heaven?" (Haydock) ---

Canst thou cause it to rain, or to be fair? (Calmet) or make the celestial bodies (Haydock) rest from motion? (Worthington)

Gill: Job 38:37 - -- Who can number the clouds in wisdom?.... Or has such wisdom as to be able to count them when the heavens are full of them; hence they are used to deno...

Who can number the clouds in wisdom?.... Or has such wisdom as to be able to count them when the heavens are full of them; hence they are used to denote a great multitude, Isa 55:8; or "declare" them t, set forth and explain the nature of them, their matter, motion, and use; none can do this perfectly or completely. Aben Ezra interprets it, who can make them as sapphire? in which he is followed by Mr. Broughton and others u; the sapphire is a precious stone, very clear and lucid, of a sky colour. And then the sense is, who can make a clear and serene sky, when it is cloudy? None but the Lord; see Job 37:11;

or who can stay the bottles of heaven? or "barrels", as Mr. Broughton; the clouds in which the rain is bottled or barrelled up; and when it is the pleasure of God to pour them out, who can stay, stop, or restrain them? or who can "cause them to lie down" w? that is, on the earth; to descend or "distil" on it, as the same translator. Who can do this, when it is the will of God to withhold them? To stop or unstop, those bottles, to restrain rain, or pour it forth, is entirely at his dispose, and not man's; see Job 38:34.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Job 38:37 The word actually means “to cause to lie down.”

Geneva Bible: Job 38:37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the ( y ) bottles of heaven, ( y ) That is, the clouds in which the water is contained as in bot...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Job 38:1-41 - --1 God challenges Job to answer.4 God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance,31 and of imbecility.

MHCC: Job 38:25-41 - --Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraig...

Matthew Henry: Job 38:25-41 - -- Hitherto God had put such questions to Job as were proper to convince him of his ignorance and short-sightedness. Now he comes, in the same manner, ...

Keil-Delitzsch: Job 38:34-38 - -- 34 Dost thou raise thy voice to the clouds That an overflow of waters may cover thee? 35 Dost thou send forth lightnings, and they go, And say to...

Constable: Job 38:1--42:7 - --G. The Cycle of Speeches between Job and God chs. 38:1-42:6 Finally God spoke to Job and gave revelation...

Constable: Job 38:1--40:3 - --1. God's first speech 38:1-40:2 God's first speech "transcends all other descriptions of the won...

Constable: Job 38:4--40:1 - --God's questions of Job 38:4-39:30 As Job's friends had done, God began to break Job down...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Job (Book Introduction) JOB A REAL PERSON.--It has been supposed by some that the book of Job is an allegory, not a real narrative, on account of the artificial character of ...

JFB: Job (Outline) THE HOLINESS OF JOB, HIS WEALTH, &c. (Job 1:1-5) SATAN, APPEARING BEFORE GOD, FALSELY ACCUSES JOB. (Job 1:6-12) SATAN FURTHER TEMPTS JOB. (Job 2:1-8)...

TSK: Job (Book Introduction) A large aquatic animal, perhaps the extinct dinosaur, plesiosaurus, the exact meaning is unknown. Some think this to be a crocodile but from the desc...

TSK: Job 38 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Job 38:1, God challenges Job to answer; Job 38:4, God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance, Job 38:31, and of imbecility.

Poole: Job 38 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 38 The Lord answers Job, Job 38:1-3 : declareth his works of creation; the foundation and the measures of the earth, Job 38:4-6 ; the stars...

MHCC: Job (Book Introduction) This book is so called from Job, whose prosperity, afflictions, and restoration, are here recorded. He lived soon after Abraham, or perhaps before tha...

MHCC: Job 38 (Chapter Introduction) (Job 38:1-3) God calls upon Job to answer. (Job 38:4-11) God questions Job. (Job 38:12-24) Concerning the light and darkness. (v. 25-41) Concerning...

Matthew Henry: Job (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Job This book of Job stands by itself, is not connected with any other, and is therefore to...

Matthew Henry: Job 38 (Chapter Introduction) In most disputes the strife is who shall have the last word. Job's friends had, in this controversy, tamely yielded it to Job, and then he to Elihu...

Constable: Job (Book Introduction) Introduction Title This book, like many others in the Old Testament, got its name from...

Constable: Job (Outline) Outline I. Prologue chs. 1-2 A. Job's character 1:1-5 B. Job's calamitie...

Constable: Job Job Bibliography Andersen, Francis I. Job. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. Leicester, Eng. and Downe...

Haydock: Job (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF JOB. INTRODUCTION. This Book takes its name from the holy man, of whom it treats; who, according to the more probable opinion, was ...

Gill: Job (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB This book, in the Hebrew copies, generally goes by this name, from Job, who is however the subject, if not the writer of it. In...

Gill: Job 38 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB 38 In this chapter the Lord takes up the controversy with Job; calls upon him to prepare to engage with him in it, and demands ...

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