Job 38
Job 38 is part of “The LORD Speaks: Creation's Wonders” (38:1–40:2) in the outline of Job.
Job 38 summary
In most disputes the strife is who shall have the last word. Job's friends had, in this controversy, tamely yielded it to Job, and then he to Elihu. But, after all the wranglings of the counsel at bar, the judge upon the bench must have the last word; so God had here, and so he will have in every controversy, for every man's judgment proceeds from him and by his definitive sentence every man must stand or fall and every cause be won or lost. Job had often appealed to God, and had talked boldly how he would order his cause before him, and as a prince would he go near unto him; but, when God took the throne, Job had nothing to say in his own…
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In most disputes the strife is who shall have the last word. Job's friends had, in this controversy, tamely yielded it to Job, and then he to Elihu. But, after all the wranglings of the counsel at bar, the judge upon the bench must have the last word; so God had here, and so he will have in every controversy, for every man's judgment proceeds from him and by his definitive sentence every man must stand or fall and every cause be won or lost. Job had often appealed to God, and had talked boldly how he would order his cause before him, and as a prince would he go near unto him; but, when God took the throne, Job had nothing to say in his own defence, but was silent before him. It is not so easy a matter as some think it to contest with the Almighty. Job's friends had sometimes appealed to God too: "O that God would speak!" Job 11:7. And now, at length, God does speak, when Job, by Elihu's clear and close arguings was mollified a little, and mortified, and so prepared to hear what God had to say. It is the office of ministers to prepare the way of the Lord. That which the great God designs in this discourse is to humble Job, and bring him to repent of, and to recant, his passionate indecent expressions concerning God's providential dealings with him; and this he does by calling upon Job to compare God's eternity with his own time, God's omniscience with his own ignorance, and God's omnipotence with his own impotency. I. He begins with an awakening challenge and demand in general (Job 38:2, Job 38:3). II. He proceeds in divers particular instances and proofs of Job's utter inability to contend with God, because of his ignorance and weakness: for, 1. He knew nothing of the founding of the earth (Job 38:4-7). 2. Nothing of the limiting of the sea (Job 38:8-11). 3. Nothing of the morning light (Job 38:12-15). 4. Nothing of the dark recesses of the sea and earth (Job 38:16-21). 5. Nothing of the springs in the clouds (Job 38:22-27), nor the secret counsels by which they are directed. 6. He could do nothing towards the production of the rain, or frost, or lightning (Job 38:28-30, Job 38:34, Job 38:35, Job 38:37, Job 38:38), nothing towards the directing of the stars and their influences (Job 38:31-33), nothing towards the making of his own soul (Job 38:36). And lastly, he could not provide for the lions and the ravens (Job 38:39-41). If, in these ordinary works of nature, Job was puzzled, how durst he pretend to dive into the counsels of God's government and to judge of them? In this (as bishop Patrick observes) God takes up the argument begun by Elihu (who came nearest to the truth) and prosecutes it in inimitable words, excelling his, and all other men's, in the loftiness of the style, as much as thunder does a whisper.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in Job 38
Job 38 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
The Lord Answers Job: Where Were You?
1Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge? 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 7When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb; 9When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, 10And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors, 11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days [began], [And] caused the dayspring to know its place; 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? 14It is changed as clay under the seal; And [all things] stand forth as a garment: 15And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken. 16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all. 19Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof? 21[Doubtless], thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great! 22Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war? 24By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
God Questions Job About Nature
25Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder; 26To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27To satisfy the waste and desolate [ground], And to cause the tender grass to spring forth? 28Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30The waters hide themselves [and become] like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen. 31Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion? 32Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train? 33Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth? 34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee? 35Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are? 36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind? 37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 38When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together? 39Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40When they couch in their dens, [And] abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, [And] wander for lack of food?