Job 37:7-17

7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 And the wild beast goeth into its lair, and they remain in their dens.
9 From the chamber [of the south] cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given; and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also with plentiful moisture he loadeth the thick clouds, his light dispels the cloud;
12 And they are turned every way by his guidance, that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the circuit of the earth,
13 Whether he cause it to come as a rod, or for his land, or in mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know how God hath disposed them, and how he causeth the lightning of his cloud to flash?
16 Dost thou know about the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him that is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments become warm when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

Job 37:7-17 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.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Or 'that all men, whom he hath made, may know [him].'
  • [b]. Or 'he spreadeth abroad his lightning-cloud.'
  • [c]. Lit. 'world.'
  • [d]. Lit. 'light;' as ver.11, see ch. 36.32.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.