36:29 Who can understand the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his pavilion? 1
36:30 See how he scattered 2 his lightning 3 about him;
he has covered the depths 4 of the sea.
36:31 It is by these that he judges 5 the nations
and supplies food in abundance.
36:32 With his hands 6 he covers 7 the lightning,
and directs it against its target.
36:33 8 His thunder announces the coming storm,
the cattle also, concerning the storm’s approach.
1 tn Heb “his booth.”
2 tn The word actually means “to spread,” but with lightning as the object, “to scatter” appears to fit the context better.
3 tn The word is “light,” but taken to mean “lightning.” Theodotion had “mist” here, and so most commentators follow that because it is more appropriate to the verb and the context.
4 tn Heb “roots.”
5 tn The verb is יָדִין (yadin, “he judges”). Houbigant proposedיָזוּן (yazun, “he nourishes”). This has found wide acceptance among commentators (cf. NAB). G. R. Driver retained the MT but gave a meaning “enriches” to the verb (“Problems in the Hebrew text of Job,” VTSup 3 [1955]: 88ff.).
6 tn R. Gordis (Job, 422) prefers to link this word with the later Hebrew word for “arch,” not “hands.”
7 tn Because the image might mean that God grabs the lightning and hurls it like a javelin (cf. NLT), some commentators want to change “covers” to other verbs. Dhorme has “lifts” (נִשָּׂא [nissa’] for כִּסָּה [kissah]). This fit the idea of God directing the lightning bolts.
8 tn Peake knew of over thirty interpretations for this verse. The MT literally says, “He declares his purpose [or his shout] concerning it; cattle also concerning what rises.” Dhorme has it: “The flock which sniffs the coming storm has warned the shepherd.” Kissane: “The thunder declares concerning him, as he excites wrath against iniquity.” Gordis translates it: “His thunderclap proclaims his presence, and the storm his mighty wrath.” Many more could be added to the list.