Job 37:9

9 Tempest shall go out from the inner things, and cold from Arcturus, that is, a sign of five stars in the north. (The tempest shall go out from the south, and the cold shall come from the north.)

Job 37:9 Meaning and Commentary

Job 37:9

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind
Or "from the chamber" F14; from the chamber of the cloud, as Ben Gersom, from the inside of it; or from the treasury of God, who bringeth the wind out of his treasures; alluding to chambers where treasures are kept; or from the heavens, shut up and veiled around with clouds like a pavilion: but because we read of the chambers of the south, ( Job 9:9 ) ; and the southern pole was like a secret chamber, shut up, unseen, and unknown very much to the ancients; hence we render it, and others interpret it, of the south; from whence in these countries came whirlwinds. Hence we read of the whirlwinds of the south, ( Isaiah 21:1 ) ( Zechariah 9:14 ) ;

and cold out of the north;
cold freezing winds from thence; or "from the scatterers" F15: Aben Ezra interprets them of stars, the same with the "Mazzaroth", ( Job 38:32 ) ; stars scattered about the Arctic or northern pole, as some: or rather the northern winds are designed which scatter the clouds, drive away rain, ( Proverbs 25:23 ) ; and bring fair weather, ( Job 37:22 ) . Wherefore Mr. Broughton renders the word,

``fair weather winds;''

and, in a marginal note,

``the scatterers of clouds F16.''


FOOTNOTES:

F14 (rdxh Nm) "de penetali", Montanus; so Junius and Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schultens.
F15 (Myrzmm) "a dispergentibus", Montanus, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "a sparsoribus", Schultens.
F16 So David de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 7. 3.

Job 37:9 In-Context

7 He marketh in the hand of all men, that all men know their works (so that all can know his works).
8 An unreasonable beast shall go into his den, and shall dwell in his cave, either dark place. (An unreasoning beast shall go into its den, and shall live there in its cave, or that dark place.)
9 Tempest shall go out from the inner things, and cold from Arcturus, that is, a sign of five stars in the north. (The tempest shall go out from the south, and the cold shall come from the north.)
10 When God maketh blowing, frost waxeth (al)together; and again full broad waters be poured out thereof. (When God maketh blowing, the frost cometh; and very broad waters be poured out again.)
11 Wheat desireth clouds, and (the) clouds spread abroad their light.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.