Job 37:11-13

11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They 1turn around and around by his 2guidance, 3to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of 4the habitable world.
13 Whether for 5correction or for his 6land or for 7love, he causes it to happen.

Job 37:11-13 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 7

  • 1. Genesis 3:24
  • 2. Psalms 148:8
  • 3. Psalms 148:8
  • 4. [Proverbs 8:31]
  • 5. Exodus 9:18, 23; 1 Samuel 12:18, 19; Ezra 10:9; [Job 36:31; Job 38:22, 23]
  • 6. Job 38:26, 27
  • 7. 1 Kings 18:45
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.