Job 37:19

19 Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.

Job 37:19 Meaning and Commentary

Job 37:19

Teach us what we shall say unto him
To this wonder working God, of whose common works of nature we know so little; how we should reason with him about his works of Providence, when we know so little of these:

[for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of darkness;
by reason of darkness in themselves, which is in all men naturally, and even in the saints in this state of imperfection; and by reason of the clouds and darkness which are about the Lord himself, who is incomprehensible in his nature and perfections; and by reason of the darkness cast about his providential dealings with men, so that they are unsearchable and past finding out; and the best of men are at a loss how to order their speech, or discourse with God concerning these things.

Job 37:19 In-Context

17 you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a molten mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21 "And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.