Job 38:1-6

1 Forsooth the Lord answered from the whirlwind to Job, and said, (Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,)

2 Who is this man, wrapping together sentences with unwise words?

3 Gird thou as a man thy loins; I shall ask thee, and answer thou [to] me. (Gird thou up thy loins like a man; I shall ask thee, and thou shalt answer me.)

4 Where were thou, when I set the foundaments of the earth? (when I made the foundations of the earth?) show thou to me, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who setted [the] measure(ment)s thereof, if thou knowest? either who stretched forth a line thereupon?

6 Upon what thing be the foundaments thereof made (stead)fast? either who sent down the cornerstone thereof,

Job 38:1-6 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.