Job 38:38

38 When the earth becomes hard as metal, and is joined together in masses?

Job 38:38 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:38

When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast
together?
] When the dust is attenuated, and ground, as it were, into powder; and the clods cleave together, as if glued, as in a drought for want of rain: or the bottles of heaven being unstopped and poured out; or

``sprinkling the dust with this sprinkling,''

as Mr. Broughton. Or rather, pouring on the dust with pouring; that is, pouring down rain, by unstopping the bottles of heaven. The dust, as meal, by water poured into it, cements, unites, and is compacted, and becomes earth, that may be cultivated; is clodded and cleaves together, and may be ploughed and sown.

Job 38:38 In-Context

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?

39 Do you go after food for the she-lion, or get meat so that the young lions may have enough,

40 When they are stretched out in their holes, and are waiting in the brushwood?