Job 38:3

3 Gird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.

Job 38:3 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:3

Gird up now thy loins like a man
Like a man of valour that girds on his harness for battle: Job is bid to prepare for the controversy the Lord was entering into with him; and bring forth his strong reasons and most powerful arguments in his own defence. The allusion is to the custom in the eastern countries, where they wore long garments, to gird them about their loins, when they engaged in work or war. Job had blustered what he would do, and now he is dared to it; see ( Job 23:4-6 ) ( 31:37 ) ;

for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me;
put questions to him, to which he required a direct and positive answer. Jehovah takes the part of the opponent in this dispute, and gives that of the respondent to Job; since Job himself had put it to his option which to take, ( Job 13:22 ) .

Job 38:3 In-Context

1 And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, ,

2 Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in heart, and thinks to conceal from me?

3 Gird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.

4 Where wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge,

5 who set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?