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Job Chapter 37

Job 37:1

job 37:1

(Job 37:1-24)


Job 37:2

job 37:2


sound--muttering of the thunder.

Job 37:3

job 37:3


ends--literally, "wings," "skirts," the habitable earth being often compared to an extended garment (Job 38:13; Isa 11:12).

Job 37:4

job 37:4

The thunderclap follows at an interval after the flash.


Job 37:5

job 37:5

(Job 36:26; Psa 65:6; Psa 139:14). The sublimity of the description lies in this, that God is everywhere in the storm, directing it whither He will [BARNES]. See Psa 29:1-11, where, as here, the "voice" of God is repeated with grand effect. The thunder in Arabia is sublimely terrible.

Job 37:6

job 37:6

Be--more forcible than "fall," as UMBREIT translates Gen 1:3.


Job 37:7

job 37:7

In winter God stops man's out-of-doors activity.



Job 37:8

job 37:8


Job 37:9

job 37:9

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; Psa 135:7). As to the southern whirlwinds (see Isa 21:1; Zac 9:14), they drive before them burning sands; chiefly from February to May.


Job 37:10

job 37:10


frost--rather, "ice."

straitened--physically accurate; frost compresses or contracts the expanded liquid into a congealed mass (Job 38:29-30; Psa 147:17-18).

Job 37:11

job 37:11


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.


Job 37:12

job 37:12

it--the cloud of lightning.

counsels--guidance (Psa 148:8); literally, "steering"; the clouds obey God's guidance, as the ship does the helmsman. So the lightning (see on Job 36:31-32); neither is haphazard in its movements.



Job 37:13

job 37:13

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 38:26-27) 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" (Psa 68:9; Gen. 7:1-24).

Job 37:14

job 37:14

(Psa 111:2).

Job 37:15

job 37:15

when--rather, "how."




Job 37:16

job 37:16



dost thou know--how, &c.

Job 37:17

job 37:17



Job 37:18

job 37:18


spread out--given expanse to.

strong pieces--firm; whence the term "firmament" ("expansion," Gen 1:6, Margin; Isa 44:24).


Job 37:19

job 37:19




Job 37:20

job 37:20

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 13:18-22).


Job 37:21

job 37:21


Job 37:22

job 37:22


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; Psa 48:2).

with God--rather, "upon God," as a garment (Psa 104:1-2).


Job 37:23

job 37:23

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.

Job 37:24

job 37:24

do--rather, "ought."

wise--in their own conceits.

Next: Job Chapter 38