Job 37:17-24

17 You whose garments are hot, When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 "Can you, with Him, 1spread out the skies, Strong as a molten mirror?
19 "Teach us what we shall say to Him; We 2cannot arrange our case because * of darkness.
20 "Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 "Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 "Out of the north comes golden splendor; Around God is awesome majesty.
23 "The Almighty -3we cannot find Him; He is 4exalted in power And 5He will not do violence 6to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 "Therefore men 7fear Him; He does not 8regard any who are wise of heart."

Job 37:17-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 37

Elihu in this chapter proceeds to show the greatness of God as it appears in other of his works of nature, which greatly affected him, and to an attention to which he exhorts others, Job 37:1,2; particularly thunder and lightning, the direction, extent, and order of which he observes, Job 37:3,4; and then suggests that besides these there are other great things done by him, incomprehensible and unknown in various respects; as the snow, and rain, lesser and greater, which come on the earth at his command, and have such effect on men as to seal up their hands, and on the beasts of the field as to cause them to retire to their dens, and there remain, Job 37:5-8; and then he goes on to take notice of wind, and frost, and the clouds, and dispersion of them; their use and ends, whether in judgment or mercy, Job 37:9-13; and then calls on Job to consider these wondrous works of God, and remark how ignorant men are of the disposition of clouds for the rainbow; of the balancing of them; of the heat and quietness that come by the south wind, and of the firmness of the sky, Job 37:14-21; and from all this he concludes the terrible majesty, unsearchable nature of God, the excellency of his power and justice; and that men therefore should and do fear him, who is no respecter of persons, Job 37:21-23.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Job 9:8; Psalms 104:2; Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 45:12; Jeremiah 10:12; Zechariah 12:1
  • 2. Job 9:14; Romans 8:26
  • 3. Job 11:7, 8; Romans 11:33; 1 Timothy 6:16
  • 4. Job 9:4; Job 36:5
  • 5. Isaiah 63:9; Lamentations 3:33; Ezekiel 18:23, 32; Ezekiel 33:11
  • 6. Job 8:3
  • 7. Matthew 10:28
  • 8. Job 5:13; Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:26

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or "If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up"
  • [b]. Lit "they"
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