Job 38:12

12 "Job, have you ever commanded the morning to come? Have you ever shown the sun where to rise?

Job 38:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:12

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days;
&c.] Job had lived to see many a morning, but it never was in his power to command one; he had been in such circumstances as to wish for morning light before it was, but was obliged to wait for it, could not hasten it, or cause it to spring before its time; see ( Job 7:3 Job 7:4 ) ; one of the Targums is,

``wast thou in the days of the first creation, and commandedst the morning to be?''

he was not, God was; he was before the first morning, and commanded it into being, ( Genesis 1:3-5 ) ( Isaiah 43:13 ) ;

[and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
the first spring of light or dawn of day; which though it has a different place every day in the year, as the sun ascends or descends in the signs of the Zodiac, yet it knows and observes its exact place, being taught of God.

Job 38:12 In-Context

10 I set limits for it. I put its doors and metal bars in place.

11 I said, 'You can come this far. But you can't come any farther. Here is where your proud waves have to stop.'

12 "Job, have you ever commanded the morning to come? Have you ever shown the sun where to rise?

13 The daylight takes the earth by its edges as if it were a blanket. Then it shakes sinful people out of it.

14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal. Its features stand out like the different parts of your clothes.