Job — Chapter 37
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1“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.
2Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds.
5God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
6For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’
7He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work.
8The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens.
9The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
10By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen.
11He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them.
12They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.
13Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.
14Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God.
15Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash?
16Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze?
19Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
21Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.
23The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.
24Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
1At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12And 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.
13He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
1Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place.
2Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightening unto the ends of the earth.
4After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not [the lightnings] when his voice is heard.
5God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.
7He sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom he hath made may know [it].
8Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens.
9Out of the chamber [of the south] cometh the storm, And cold out of the north.
10By the breath of God ice is given; And the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:
12And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,
13Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.
14Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Dost thou know how God layeth [his charge] upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south [wind]?
18Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?
19Teach us what we shall say unto him; [For] we cannot set [our speech] in order by reason of darkness.
20Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
21And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.
22Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty.
23[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.
24Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.
1At this also my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
2Listen carefully to the thunder of his voice, to the rumbling that proceeds from his mouth.
3Under the whole heaven he lets it go, even his lightning to the far corners of the earth.
4After that a voice roars; he thunders with an exalted voice, and he does not hold back his lightning bolts when his voice is heard.
5God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’ and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’
7He causes everyone to stop working, so that all people may know his work.
8The wild animals go to their lairs, and in their dens they remain.
9A tempest blows out from its chamber, icy cold from the driving winds.
10The breath of God produces ice, and the breadth of the waters freeze solid.
11He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through the clouds.
12The clouds go round in circles, wheeling about according to his plans, to carry out all that he commands them over the face of the whole inhabited world.
13Whether it is for punishment, or for his land, or for mercy, he causes it to find its mark.
14“Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works.
15Do you know how God commands them, how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud?
16Do you know about the balancing of the clouds, that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17You, whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind,
18will you, with him, spread out the clouds, solid as a mirror of molten metal?
19Tell us what we should say to him. We cannot prepare a case because of the darkness.
20Should he be informed that I want to speak? If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up!
21But now, the sun cannot be looked at— it is bright in the skies— after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.
22From the north he comes in golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.
23As for the Almighty, we cannot attain to him! He is great in power, but justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.
24Therefore people fear him, for he does not regard all the wise in heart.”
1“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
2Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
3He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
4After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.
5God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
6For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth;’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.
8Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.
9Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.
10By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.
11Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
12It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,
13Whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.
14“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17You whose clothing is warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
18Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
19Teach us what we shall tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.
20Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
21Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
22Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.
23We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
24Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
Summary
Elihu's heart trembles at the thunder of God's voice, which rolls across the whole earth with lightning that no one can hold back (vv. 1-5). God commands snow and rain, halts human labor, and drives animals to shelter, sending each storm for correction, provision, or mercy (vv. 6-13). He challenges Job to stand still and consider these wonders — can Job command the clouds, understand their balance, or spread out the sky as God does? (vv. 14-20). Elihu closes by declaring that fair weather comes from the north with terrible majesty, and that the Almighty, excellent in power and abundant in justice, cannot be fully found out — so people rightly fear him, however wise they consider themselves (vv. 21-24).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that Elihu's nature hymn in chapters 36-37 functions as a literary and theological bridge to God's speeches. The questions Elihu asks ("Do you know? Can you?") are exactly the kind of questions God will ask. Guzik observes that v.13 is particularly insightful: acknowledging multiple purposes for suffering (correction, provision, or mercy) avoids the friends' simplistic single-cause explanations.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: the speech from the whirlwind, and why it answers Job the way it does.
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Job -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- God Does What We Cannot Comprehend (v.5) — Elihu marvels that God thunders and works in ways beyond human understanding. Is the limit of your own understanding a reason to doubt God, or a reminder of how much bigger He is than your mind can hold?
- Not Every Storm Is Judgment (v.13) — Elihu notes that God sends weather for correction, for provision, or simply for mercy — not always for punishment. Before assuming your hardship is God's discipline for something specific, have you considered it might be mercy wearing an unfamiliar shape?
- Stand Still Before You Speak (v.14) — Elihu's counsel to Job is disarmingly simple: stop, look, and consider God's wondrous works before demanding answers. When was the last time you paused to actually observe what God has already shown you, instead of rushing to ask Him for more?
- God Cannot Be Fully Figured Out (v.23) — Elihu concludes that the Almighty is beyond our full reach in power and justice alike. If you could completely explain God, would He really be big enough to trust with what you can't explain?
- Human Cleverness Doesn't Impress God (v.24) — Elihu closes by saying God has no special regard for those who consider themselves wise. What matters more to God than your cleverness is your humility — where might you need to trade explaining for bowing?