1 אַףH637 ־ לְ֭/זֹאתH2063 יֶחֱרַ֣דH2729 לִבִּ֑/יH3820 וְ֝/יִתַּ֗רH5425 מִ/מְּקוֹמֽ/וֹH4725 ׃
2 שִׁמְע֤וּH8085 שָׁמ֣וֹעַH8085 בְּ/רֹ֣גֶזH7267 קֹל֑/וֹH6963 וְ֝/הֶ֗גֶהH1899 מִ/פִּ֥י/וH6310 יֵצֵֽאH3318 ׃
3 תַּֽחַתH8478 ־ כָּלH3605 ־ הַ/שָּׁמַ֥יִםH8064 יִשְׁרֵ֑/הוּH3474 וְ֝/אוֹר֗/וֹH216 עַלH5921 ־ כַּנְפ֥וֹתH3671 הָ/אָֽרֶץH776 ׃
4 אַחֲרָ֤י/וH310 ׀ יִשְׁאַגH7580 ־ ק֗וֹלH6963 יַ֭רְעֵםH7481 בְּ/ק֣וֹלH6963 גְּאוֹנ֑/וֹH1347 וְ/לֹ֥אH3808 יְ֝עַקְּבֵ֗/םH6117 כִּֽיH3588 ־ יִשָּׁמַ֥עH8085 קוֹלֽ/וֹH6963 ׃
5 יַרְעֵ֤םH7481 אֵ֣לH410 בְּ֭/קוֹל/וֹH6963 נִפְלָא֑וֹתH6381 עֹשֶׂ֥הH6213 גְ֝דֹל֗וֹתH1419 וְ/לֹ֣אH3808 נֵדָֽעH3045 ׃
6 כִּ֤יH3588 לַ/שֶּׁ֨לַגH7950 ׀ יֹאמַ֗רH559 הֱוֵ֫אH1933 אָ֥רֶץH776 וְ/גֶ֥שֶׁםH1653 מָטָ֑רH4306 וְ֝/גֶ֗שֶׁםH1653 מִטְר֥וֹתH4306 עֻזּֽ/וֹH5797 ׃
7 בְּ/יַדH3027 ־ כָּלH3605 ־ אָדָ֥םH120 יַחְתּ֑וֹםH2856 לָ֝/דַ֗עַתH3045 כָּלH3605 ־ אַנְשֵׁ֥יH376 מַעֲשֵֽׂ/הוּH4639 ׃
8 וַ/תָּבֹ֣אH935 חַיָּ֣הH2416 בְמוֹH1119 ־ אָ֑רֶבH695 וּ/בִ/מְע֖וֹנֹתֶ֣י/הָH4585 תִשְׁכֹּֽןH7931 ׃
9 מִןH4480 ־ הַ֭/חֶדֶרH2315 תָּב֣וֹאH935 סוּפָ֑הH5492 וּֽ/מִ/מְּזָרִ֥יםH4215 קָרָֽהH7135 ׃
10 מִ/נִּשְׁמַתH5397 ־ אֵ֥לH410 יִתֶּןH5414 ־ קָ֑רַחH7140 וְ/רֹ֖חַבH7341 מַ֣יִםH4325 בְּ/מוּצָֽקH4164 ׃
11 אַףH637 ־ בְּ֭/רִיH7377 יַטְרִ֣יחַH2959 עָ֑בH5645 יָ֝פִ֗יץH6327 עֲנַ֣ןH6051 אוֹרֽ/וֹH216 ׃
12 וְ/ה֤וּאH1931 מְסִבּ֨וֹתH4524 ׀ מִתְהַפֵּ֣ךְH2015 ב/תחבולת/וH8458 בְּ/תַחְבּוּלֹתָ֣י/וH8458 לְ/פָעֳלָ֑/םH6467 כֹּ֖לH3605 אֲשֶׁ֥רH834 יְצַוֵּ֓/םH6680 ׀ עַלH5921 ־ פְּנֵ֖יH6440 תֵבֵ֣לH8398 אָֽרְצָ/הH776 ׃
13 אִםH518 ־ לְ/שֵׁ֥בֶטH7626 אִםH518 ־ לְ/אַרְצ֑/וֹH776 אִםH518 ־ לְ֝/חֶ֗סֶדH2617 יַמְצִאֵֽ/הוּH4672 ׃
14 הַאֲזִ֣ינָ/הH238 זֹּ֣אתH2063 אִיּ֑וֹבH347 עֲ֝מֹ֗דH5975 וְ/הִתְבּוֹנֵ֤ןH995 ׀ נִפְלְא֬וֹתH6381 אֵֽלH410 ׃
15 הֲ֭/תֵדַעH3045 בְּ/שׂוּםH7760 ־ אֱל֣וֹהַּH433 עֲלֵי/הֶ֑םH5921 וְ֝/הוֹפִ֗יעַH3313 א֣וֹרH216 עֲנָנֽ/וֹH6051 ׃
16 הֲ֭/תֵדַעH3045 עַלH5921 ־ מִפְלְשֵׂיH4657 ־ עָ֑בH5645 מִ֝פְלְא֗וֹתH4652 תְּמִ֣יםH8549 דֵּעִֽיםH1843 ׃
17 אֲשֶׁרH834 ־ בְּגָדֶ֥י/ךָH899 חַמִּ֑יםH2525 בְּ/הַשְׁקִ֥טH8252 אֶ֝֗רֶץH776 מִ/דָּרֽוֹםH1864 ׃
18 תַּרְקִ֣יעַH7554 עִ֭מּ/וֹH5973 לִ/שְׁחָקִ֑יםH7834 חֲ֝זָקִ֗יםH2389 כִּ/רְאִ֥יH7209 מוּצָֽקH3332 ׃
19 ה֭וֹדִיעֵ/נוּH3045 מַהH4100 ־ נֹּ֣אמַרH559 ל֑/וֹ לֹ֥אH3808 ־ נַ֝עֲרֹ֗ךְH6186 מִ/פְּנֵיH6440 ־ חֹֽשֶׁךְH2822 ׃
20 הַֽ/יְסֻפַּרH5608 ־ ל֭/וֹ כִּ֣יH3588 אֲדַבֵּ֑רH1696 אִֽםH518 ־ אָ֥מַרH559 אִ֝֗ישׁH376 כִּ֣יH3588 יְבֻלָּֽעH1104 ׃
21 וְ/עַתָּ֤הH6258 ׀ לֹ֘אH3808 רָ֤אוּH7200 א֗וֹרH216 בָּהִ֣ירH925 ה֭וּאH1931 בַּ/שְּׁחָקִ֑יםH7834 וְ/ר֥וּחַH7307 עָ֝בְרָ֗הH5674 וַֽ/תְּטַהֲרֵֽ/םH2891 ׃
22 מִ֭/צָּפוֹןH6828 זָהָ֣בH2091 יֶֽאֱתֶ֑הH857 עַלH5921 ־ אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּH433 נ֣וֹרָאH3372 הֽוֹדH1935 ׃
23 שַׁדַּ֣יH7706 לֹֽאH3808 ־ מְ֭צָאנֻ/הוּH4672 שַׂגִּיאH7689 ־ כֹ֑חַH3581 וּ/מִשְׁפָּ֥טH4941 וְ/רֹבH7230 ־ צְ֝דָקָ֗הH6666 לֹ֣אH3808 יְעַנֶּֽהH6031 ׃
24 לָ֭/כֵןH3651 יְרֵא֣וּ/הוּH3372 אֲנָשִׁ֑יםH376 לֹֽאH3808 ־ יִ֝רְאֶ֗הH7200 כָּלH3605 ־ חַכְמֵיH2450 ־ לֵֽבH3820 ׃ פ
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 (Job 37:1-24)
At this--when I hear the thundering of the Divine Majesty. Perhaps the storm already had begun, out of which God was to address Job (
Job 38:1).
2 Hear attentively--the thunder (noise), &c., and then you will feel that there is good reason to tremble.
sound--muttering of the thunder.
3 directeth it--however zigzag the lightning's course; or, rather, it applies to the pealing roll of the thunder. God's all-embracing power.
ends--literally, "wings," "skirts," the habitable earth being often compared to an extended garment (
Job 38:13;
Isa 11:12).
4 The thunderclap follows at an interval after the flash.
stay them--He will not hold back the lightnings (
Job 37:3), when the thunder is heard [MAURER]. Rather, take "them" as the usual concomitants of thunder, namely, rain and hail [UMBREIT] (
Job 40:9).
5 (
Job 36:26;
Ps 65:6;
Ps 139:14). The sublimity of the description lies in this, that God is everywhere in the storm, directing it whither He will [BARNES]. See
Ps 29:1-
Ps 29:11, where, as here, the "voice" of God is repeated with grand effect. The thunder in Arabia is sublimely terrible.
6 Be--more forcible than "fall," as UMBREIT translates
Gen 1:3.
to the small rain, &c.--He saith, Be on the earth. The shower increasing from "small" to "great," is expressed by the plural "showers" (Margin), following the singular "shower." Winter rain (
Song 2:11).
7 In winter God stops man's out-of-doors activity.
sealeth--closeth up (
Job 9:7). Man's "hands" are then tied up.
his work--in antithesis to man's own work ("hand") which at other times engages men so as to make them liable to forget their dependence on God. UMBREIT more literally translates, That all men whom He has made (literally, "of His making") may be brought to acknowledgment."
8 remain--rest in their lairs. It is beautifully ordered that during the cold, when they could not obtain food, many lie torpid, a state wherein they need no food. The desolation of the fields, at God's bidding, is poetically graphic.
9 south--literally, "chambers"; connected with the south (
Job 9:9). The whirlwinds are poetically regarded as pent up by God in His southern chambers, whence He sends them forth (so
Job 38:22;
Ps 135:7). As to the southern whirlwinds (see
Isa 21:1;
Zech 9:14), they drive before them burning sands; chiefly from February to May.
the north--literally, "scattering"; the north wind scatters the clouds.
10 the breath of God--poetically, for the ice-producing north wind.
frost--rather, "ice."
straitened--physically accurate; frost compresses or contracts the expanded liquid into a congealed mass (
Job 38:29-
Job 38:30;
Ps 147:17-
Ps 147:18).
11 How the thunderclouds are dispersed, or else employed by God, either for correction or mercy.
by watering--by loading it with water.
wearieth--burdeneth it, so that it falls in rain; thus "wearieth" answers to the parallel "scattereth" (compare, see on
Job 37:9); a clear sky resulting alike from both.
bright cloud--literally, "cloud of his light," that is, of His lightning. UMBREIT for "watering," &c., translates; "Brightness drives away the clouds, His light scattereth the thick clouds"; the parallelism is thus good, but the Hebrew hardly sanctions it.
12 it--the cloud of lightning.
counsels--guidance (
Ps 148:8); literally, "steering"; the clouds obey God's guidance, as the ship does the helmsman. So the lightning (see on
Job 36:31-
Job 36:32); neither is haphazard in its movements.
they--the clouds, implied in the collective singular "it."
face of the world, &c.--in the face of the earth's circle.
13 Literally, "He maketh it (the rain-cloud) find place," whether for correction, if (it be destined) for His land (that is, for the part inhabited by man, with whom God deals, as opposed to the parts uninhabited, on which rain is at other times appointed to fall,
Job 38:26-
Job 38:27) or for mercy. "If it be destined for His land" is a parenthetical supposition [MAURER]. In English Version, this clause spoils the even balance of the antithesis between the "rod" (Margin) and "mercy" (
Ps 68:9; Gen. 7:1-24).
14 (
Ps 111:2).
15 when--rather, "how."
disposed them--lays His charge on these "wonders" (
Job 37:14) to arise.
light--lightning.
shine--flash. How is it that light arises from the dark thundercloud?
16 Hebrew, "Hast thou understanding of the balancings," &c., how the clouds are poised in the air, so that their watery gravity does not bring them to the earth? The condensed moisture, descending by gravity, meets a warmer temperature, which dissipates it into vapor (the tendency of which is to ascend) and so counteracts the descending force.
perfect in knowledge--God; not here in the sense that Elihu uses it of himself (
Job 36:4).
dost thou know--how, &c.
17 thy garments, &c.--that is, dost thou know how thy body grows warm, so as to affect thy garments with heat?
south wind--literally, "region of the south." "When He maketh still (and sultry) the earth (that is, the atmosphere) by (during) the south wind" (
Song 4:16).
18 with him--like as He does (
Job 40:15).
spread out--given expanse to.
strong pieces--firm; whence the term "firmament" ("expansion,"
Gen 1:6, Margin;
Isa 44:24).
molten looking glass--image of the bright smiling sky. Mirrors were then formed of molten polished metal, not glass.
19 Men cannot explain God's wonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "let him teach us, what we shall say."
order--frame.
darkness--of mind; ignorance. "The eyes are bewilderingly blinded, when turned in bold controversy with God towards the sunny heavens" (
Job 37:18) [UMBREIT].
20 What I a mortal say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told HIM. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (
Job 13:3,
Job 13:18-
Job 13:22).
if . . . surely he shall be swallowed up--The parallelism more favors UMBREIT, "Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining) that he is (without cause) being destroyed?"
21 cleanseth--that is, cleareth the air of clouds. When the "bright light" of the sun, previously not seen through "clouds," suddenly shines out from behind them, owing to the wind clearing them away, the effect is dazzling to the eye; so if God's majesty, now hidden, were suddenly revealed in all its brightness, it would spread darkness over Job's eyes, anxious as he is for it (compare, see on
Job 37:19) [UMBREIT]. It is because now man sees not the bright sunlight (God's dazzling majesty), owing to the intervening "clouds" (
Job 26:9), that they dare to wish to "speak" before God (
Job 37:20). Prelude to God's appearance (
Job 38:1). The words also hold true in a sense not intended by Elihu, but perhaps included by the Holy Ghost. Job and other sufferers cannot see the light of God's countenance through the clouds of trial: but the wind will soon clear them off, and God shall appear again: let them but wait patiently, for He still shines, though for a time they see Him not (see on
Job 37:23).
22 Rather, "golden splendor." MAURER translates "gold." It is found in northern regions. But God cannot be "found out," because of His "Majesty" (
Job 37:23). Thus the twenty-eighth chapter corresponds; English Version is simpler.
the north--Brightness is chiefly associated with it (see on
Job 23:9). Here, perhaps, because the north wind clears the air (
Pro 25:23). Thus this clause answers to the last of
Job 37:21; as the second of this verse to the first of
Job 37:21. Inverted parallelism. (See
Isa 14:13;
Ps 48:2).
with God--rather, "upon God," as a garment (
Ps 104:1-
Ps 104:2).
majesty--splendor.
23 afflict--oppressively, so as to "pervert judgment" as Job implied (see on
Job 8:3); but see on
Job 37:21, end of note. The reading, "He answereth not," that is, gives no account of His dealings, is like a transcriber's correction, from
Job 33:13, Margin.
24 do--rather, "ought."
wise--in their own conceits.