Job 37:7

7 He 1seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may 2know it.

Job 37:7 Meaning and Commentary

Job 37:7

He sealeth up the hand of every man
That is, by deep snows and heavy rains being on the earth; where, as travellers are stopped in their journeys, and cannot proceed, so various artificers are hindered from their work, and husbandmen especially from their employment in the fields; so that their hands are as it were shut up and sealed, that they cannot work with them. Sephorno interprets this of the fruits and increase of the earth being produced and brought to perfection by means of the snow and rain, and so gathered by and into the hands of men; whereby they are led to observe the work of God and his goodness herein, and so to love and fear him; which he takes to be the sense of the following clause,

that all men may know his work;
either their own work; what they have to do at home when they cannot work abroad; or that they may have leisure to reflect upon their moral ways and works, and consider how deficient they are: or rather the work of God; that they may know and own the snow and rain are his work, and depend upon his will; or that they may have time and opportunity of considering and meditating on the works of God, in nature, providence, and grace. Some choose to read the words, "that all men of his work may know" F12; may know him the author of their beings, and the God of their mercies. For all men are the work of his hands; he has made them, and not they themselves; and the end of all God's dealings with them is, that they may know him, fear, serve, and glorify him.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (yvna lk whvem) "omnes homines operis ipsius", Schmidt, Michaelis; so Schultens.

Job 37:7 In-Context

5 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.
8 Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens.
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Daniel 12:9; [Job 14:17]
  • 2. Psalms 109:27
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.