Job 36:24-33

24 Remember that you should praise His work, which people have sung about.[a]
25 All mankind has seen it; people have looked at it from a distance.[b]
26 Look, God is exalted beyond our knowledge; the number of His years cannot be counted.[c]
27 For He makes waterdrops evaporate;[d] they distill the rain into its[e] mist,
28 which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.[f]
29 Can anyone understand how the clouds spread out or how the thunder roars from God's pavilion?[g]
30 Look, He spreads His lightning around Him and covers the depths of the sea.[h]
31 For He judges the nations with these; He gives food in abundance.[i]
32 He covers [His] hands with lightning and commands it to hit its mark.
33 The[j] thunder declares His presence;[k] the cattle also, the approaching [storm].

Job 36:24-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 36

This chapter, with the following, contains Elihu's fourth and last discourse, the principal view of which is to vindicate the righteousness of God; which is done by observing the dealings of God with men in his providence, according to their different characters, and from the wonderful works wrought by him in a sovereign manner, and for the benefit of his creatures. This chapter is introduced with a preface, the design of which is to gain attention, Job 36:1-4; the different dealings of God with men are observed, and the different issue of them, and the different ends answered thereby, Job 36:5-15; and it is suggested to Job, that had he attended to the design of the providence he was under, and had submitted to it patiently, things would have been otherwise with him; and therefore Elihu proceeds to give him some advice, which, if taken, would be for his own good, and the glory of God, Job 36:16-25; and closes the chapter by observing the unsearchable greatness of God, as appears by the works of nature wrought by him, Job 36:26-33.

Footnotes 11

  • [a]. Ex 15:1-18; Dt 32:4; Ps 64:9
  • [b]. Ps 19:1-4; Rm 1:19-20; Heb 11:13
  • [c]. Jb 5:9; 9:10; 37:23; Ps 102:27
  • [d]. Lit He draws in waterdrops
  • [e]. Or His
  • [f]. Gn 2:6; Jdg 5:4; Pr 3:20
  • [g]. Jb 37:3-5; Ps 18:11; 31:20
  • [h]. Ps 18:15
  • [i]. Ps 104:21,27; 145:15
  • [j]. Lit His, or Its
  • [k]. Lit thunder announces concerning Him or it (the storm)
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