Job 38:12

12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know 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 fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;

11 When I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!'

12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.