Job 38:7-20

7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;

9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;

11 When I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!'

12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.

15 From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken.

16 "Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,

20 That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?

Job 38:7-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 38

In this chapter the Lord takes up the controversy with Job; calls upon him to prepare to engage with him in it, and demands an answer to posing questions he puts to him, concerning the earth and the fabric of it, Job 38:1-7; concerning the sea, compared to an infant in embryo, at its birth, in its swaddling bands and cradle, Job 38:8-11; concerning the morning light, its spread and influence, Job 38:12-15; concerning the springs of the sea, the dark parts of the earth, the place both of light and darkness, Job 38:16-21; concerning the various meteors, snow, hail, rain, thunder, lightning, and the influences of the stars, Job 38:22-38; and concerning provision for lions and ravens, Job 38:40,41.