Job 38:12

12 In your lifetime have you commanded the morning, informed the dawn of its place

Job 38:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:12

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days;
&c.] Job had lived to see many a morning, but it never was in his power to command one; he had been in such circumstances as to wish for morning light before it was, but was obliged to wait for it, could not hasten it, or cause it to spring before its time; see ( Job 7:3 Job 7:4 ) ; one of the Targums is,

``wast thou in the days of the first creation, and commandedst the morning to be?''

he was not, God was; he was before the first morning, and commanded it into being, ( Genesis 1:3-5 ) ( Isaiah 43:13 ) ;

[and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
the first spring of light or dawn of day; which though it has a different place every day in the year, as the sun ascends or descends in the signs of the Zodiac, yet it knows and observes its exact place, being taught of God.

Job 38:12 In-Context

10 when I imposed my limit for it, put on a bar and doors
11 and said, "You may come this far, no farther; here your proud waves stop"?
12 In your lifetime have you commanded the morning, informed the dawn of its place
13 so it would take hold of earth by its edges and shake the wicked out of it?
14 Do you turn it over like clay for a seal, so it stands out like a colorful garment?
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible