Job 37:18

18 Will you, with him, make the skies smooth, and strong as a polished looking-glass?

Job 37:18 Meaning and Commentary

Job 37:18

Hast thou with him spread out the sky?
&c.] Wast thou concerned with him at the first spreading out of the sky? wast thou an assistant to him in it? did he not spread it as a curtain or canopy about himself, without the help of another? verily he did; see ( Job 9:8 ) ( Isaiah 44:24 ) ;

[which] is strong:
for though it seems a fluid and thin, is very firm and strong, as appears by what it bears, and are contained in it; and therefore is called "the firmament of his power", ( Psalms 150:1 ) ;

[and] as a molten looking glass;
clear and transparent, like the looking glasses of the women, made of molten brass, ( Exodus 38:8 ) ; and firm and permanent F21; and a glass this is in which the glory of God, and his divine perfections, is to be seen; and is one of the wondrous works of God, made for the display of his own glory, and the benefit of men, ( Psalms 19:1 ) . Or this may respect the spreading out a clear serene sky, and smoothing it after it has been covered and ruffled with storms and tempests; which is such a wonderful work of God, that man has no hand in.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (calkeov ouranov) . Pindar. Nem. Ode 6.

Job 37:18 In-Context

16 Have you knowledge of the balancings of the clouds, the wonders of him who has all wisdom?
17 You, whose clothing is warm, when the earth is quiet because of the south wind,
18 Will you, with him, make the skies smooth, and strong as a polished looking-glass?
19 Make clear to me what we are to say to him; we are unable to put our cause before him, because of the dark.
20 How may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?
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