Job 38:18

18 And do you have any idea how large this earth is? Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.

Job 38:18 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:18

Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth?
&c.] Which may be put for all the dimensions of it, length, breadth, diameter, and circumference, but especially it regards the surface of it, and the measurement of that; hast thou gone over the whole face of the earth and measured it, all its parts, its hills and dales, rocks and mountains, and took a survey of all the cities, towns and villages, woods, forests, fountains, rivers, &c? no; if a man lived as long as Methuselah, and spent all his days in this way, he could never be able to do it; and some parts are inaccessible, and not to be measured by the most skilful geometer;

declare, if thou knowest it all;
the whole earth and every part of it, and all that is in it. Whether the other hemisphere and the antipodes were known in Job's time is a question; however not America, or the new world, which is a late discovery; and even now, in our most exact maps of the world, some parts are marked with "terra incognita", the unknown land.

Job 38:18 In-Context

16 "Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things, explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean?
17 Do you know the first thing about death? Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries?
18 And do you have any idea how large this earth is? Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer.
19 "Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives
20 So you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.