Job 38:32

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

Job 38:32 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:32

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season?
&c.] Which are thought to be the same with "the chambers of the south", ( Job 9:9 ) ; the southern pole F13 with its stars, signified by chambers, because hidden from our sight in this part of the globe; and here by Mazzaroth, from, "nazar", to separate, because separated and at a distance from us; some think F14 the twelve signs of the Zodiac are meant, each of which are brought forth in their season, not by men, but by the Lord; see ( Isaiah 40:26 ) ;

or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
a constellation of many stars called its sons, of which see ( Job 9:9 ) . Schmidt conjectures that Jupiter and his satellites are meant; but rather what we call the greater and lesser Bear, in the tail of which is the north pole star, the guide of mariners, said F15 to be found out by Thales, by which the Phoenicians sailed, but is not to be guided by men; this, constellation is fancied to be in the form of a wain or wagon, and is called Charles's wain; could this be admitted, there might be thought to be an allusion to it F16, and the sense be, canst thou guide and lead this constellation, as a wagon or team of horses can be guided and led? stars have their courses, ( Judges 5:20 ) ; but are not steered, guided, and directed by men, but by the Lord himself.


FOOTNOTES:

F13 David de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 77. 3.
F14 Vatablus, Codurcus, Schultens; so Suidas in voce (mazouray) .
F15 Callimachus apud Laert. Vit. Thalet. p. 16.
F16 Vid. Hinckelman. Praefat. ad Alkoran. p. 29, 30.

Job 38:32 In-Context

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen .
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Mazzaroth: or, the twelve signs
The King James Version is in the public domain.