Job 38:33

33 Whether thou knowest the order of heaven, and shall set the reason thereof in [the] earth? (Knowest thou the order of the heavens, and can thou impose that order here on earth?)

Job 38:33 Meaning and Commentary

Job 38:33

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven?
&c.] Settled by the decree, purpose, and will of God, and are firm and stable; see ( Psalms 148:6 ) ( Jeremiah 31:35 Jeremiah 31:36 ) ; the laws and statutes respecting their situation, motion, operation, influence, and use, which are constantly observed; these are so far from being made by men, and at their direction, that they are not known by them, at least not fully and perfectly;

canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
or over it; of the heavens over the earth; not such an one as judicial astrologers ascribe unto them, as to influence the bodies of men, especially the tempers and dispositions of their minds; to affect their wills and moral actions, the events and occurrences of their lives, and the fate of nations and kingdoms; their dominion is not moral and civil, but physical or natural, as to make the revolutions of night and day, and of the several seasons of the year; and to affect and influence the fruits of the earth see ( Genesis 1:16 ) ( Deuteronomy 33:13 Deuteronomy 33:14 ) ( Hosea 2:21-23 ) ; but this dominion is solely under God, and at his direction, and is not of men's fixing.

Job 38:33 In-Context

31 Whether thou shalt be able to join together [the] shining stars (called) Pleiades, that is, the seven stars, either thou shalt be able to destroy the compass of Arcturus? (or shalt thou be able to destroy the orbit of Orion?)

32 Whether thou bringest forth Lucifer, that is, the day star, in his time, and makest the even star to rise upon the sons of [the] earth? (Bringest thou forth Mazzaloth in its time, that is, the stars and the constellations, or makest Arcturus to rise upon the sons of the earth?)

33 Whether thou knowest the order of heaven, and shall set the reason thereof in [the] earth? (Knowest thou the order of the heavens, and can thou impose that order here on earth?)

34 Whether thou shalt raise thy voice into a cloud, and the fierceness of (their) waters shall cover thee? (Can thou raise up thy voice to the clouds, so that the fierceness of their waters shall then cover thee?)

35 Whether thou shalt send out lightnings (Can thou send out lightnings), and they shall go forth, and those shall turn again, and shall say to thee, We be present?