Job 37:6-16

6 For He saith to the snow, `Be thou on the earth'; likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of His strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, that all men may know His work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind, and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given, and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering He wearieth the thick cloud; He scattereth His bright cloud,
12 and it is turned round about by His counsels, that they may do whatsoever He commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come--whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy.
14 "Hearken unto this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of His cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

Job 37:6-16 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.

Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.