Job 37:9

9 The storm winds come from the south, and the biting cold from the north.

Job 37:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 37:9

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind
Or "from the chamber" F14; from the chamber of the cloud, as Ben Gersom, from the inside of it; or from the treasury of God, who bringeth the wind out of his treasures; alluding to chambers where treasures are kept; or from the heavens, shut up and veiled around with clouds like a pavilion: but because we read of the chambers of the south, ( Job 9:9 ) ; and the southern pole was like a secret chamber, shut up, unseen, and unknown very much to the ancients; hence we render it, and others interpret it, of the south; from whence in these countries came whirlwinds. Hence we read of the whirlwinds of the south, ( Isaiah 21:1 ) ( Zechariah 9:14 ) ;

and cold out of the north;
cold freezing winds from thence; or "from the scatterers" F15: Aben Ezra interprets them of stars, the same with the "Mazzaroth", ( Job 38:32 ) ; stars scattered about the Arctic or northern pole, as some: or rather the northern winds are designed which scatter the clouds, drive away rain, ( Proverbs 25:23 ) ; and bring fair weather, ( Job 37:22 ) . Wherefore Mr. Broughton renders the word,

``fair weather winds;''

and, in a marginal note,

``the scatterers of clouds F16.''


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (rdxh Nm) "de penetali", Montanus; so Junius and Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schultens.
F15 (Myrzmm) "a dispergentibus", Montanus, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "a sparsoribus", Schultens.
F16 So David de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 7. 3.

Job 37:9 In-Context

7 He brings our work to a stop; he shows us what he can do.
8 The wild animals go to their dens.
9 The storm winds come from the south, and the biting cold from the north.
10 The breath of God freezes the waters, and turns them to solid ice.
11 Lightning flashes from the clouds,
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.