Job 38:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 38:8-10

Job 38:8-10. Who shut up the sea with doors? Who was it that set bounds to the vast and raging ocean, and shut it up, as it were, with doors within its proper place, that it might not overflow the earth? When it brake forth, &c. From the womb or bowels of the earth, within which the waters were for the most part contained, and out of which they were by God’s command brought forth into the channel which God had appointed for them. When I made the cloud the garment thereof When I... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 38:1-38

38:1-42:17GOD’S ANSWERControl of the natural world (38:1-38)Possibly an approaching storm was what prompted Elihu’s poetic praise of the God of nature (see 36:27-37:5). If so, that storm now broke, and through it the voice of God spoke to Job. Job had repeatedly challenged God to a contest. God now accepts (38:1-3).In his reply, God asks Job questions that he cannot answer, in order to show him how little he knows of the mind and activity of the Almighty. God begins his ironical questioning of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 38:9

thick darkness. Hebrew. 'araphel. See note on Job 3:6 . read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 38:4-30

God’s questions of Job 38:4-39:30As Job’s friends had done, God began to break Job down blow by verbal blow. Finally all his pride was gone. However, where Job’s friends had failed, God succeeded."The function of the questions needs to be properly understood. As a rhetorical device, a question can be another way of making a pronouncement, much favoured by orators. For Job, the questions in the Lord’s speeches are not such roundabout statements of fact; they are invitations, suggestions about... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:1-34

The Speeches of the AlmightyWhen the human debate was over, and Job had proudly asserted his readiness to confront God, conscious of his innocence (Job 31:35-37), there was nothing left, if the contest was to be decided, except a direct intervention of God. This Job had himself again and again demanded. He had challenged God to meet him and justify the treatment He accorded to him. He complains bitterly that God evades him, and lets him suffer, though He knows that he is innocent. Now at last... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:1-41

The First Speech of the Almighty (Job 38, 39)The marvels of creation, which witness to the infinite wisdom, power, and watchful care of the Creator, are presented to Job in such a way as to force from him a confession of ignorance and weakness, and of presumption in venturing to contend with God.1-38. The wonders of earth and heaven. What does Job know of their nature and origin and ordering?1. Whirlwind] rather, ’storm.’ Theophanies, or manifestations of God to man, are usually represented in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 38:1-41

The First Chapter of Genesis Job 38:4 The real object of the narrative in Genesis is not to teach scientific truth, but to teach religious truth. I. One object of the narrative will be evident at once: it is to show, in opposition to the crude conceptions current in many parts of the ancient world, that the world is not self-originated; that it was called into existence, and brought gradually into its present state, at the will of a Spiritual Being, prior to it, independent of it, deliberately... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 38:1-41

XXVIII.THE RECONCILIATIONJob 38:1 - Job 42:6THE main argument of the address ascribed to the Almighty is contained in chapters 38 and 39 and in the opening verses of chapter 42. Job makes submission and owns his fault in doubting the faithfulness of Divine providence. The intervening passage containing descriptions of the great animals of the Nile is scarcely in the same high strain of poetic art or on the same high level of cogent reasoning. It seems rather of a hyperbolical kind, suggesting... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Job 38:1-38

V. THE LORD’S TESTIMONY TO JOB AND CONTROVERSY WITH Him CHAPTER 38:1-38 1. The Lord speaks to Job (Job 38:1-3 ) 2. The questions of the Lord (Job 38:4-38 ) Job 38:1-3 . The voice of man is hushed; the voice of the Lord begins to speak. The Almighty, the Creator, the Lord of All comes now upon the scene. He too, like Elihu, had been the silent listener; He heard Job’s complaint and wailing and the babblings of his friends. Elihu’s wonderful utterance, inspired by the Lord, was ended. The... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Job 38:9

38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a {g} swaddlingband for it,(g) As though the great sea was but as a little baby in the hands of God to turn to and fro. read more