Job 38:1-39:30 NIV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 38:1

XXXVIII.(1) Then the Lord answered Job.—This chapter brings the grand climax and catastrophe of the poem. Unless all was to remain hopelessly uncertain and dark, there could be no solution of the questions so fiercely and obstinately debated but by the intervention of Him whose government was the matter in dispute. And so the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, or tempest: that is to say, the tempest which had been long gathering, and which had been the subject of Elihu’s remarks. The one... 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 38:1

38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the {a} whirlwind, and said,(a) That his words might have greater majesty, and that Job might know with whom he had to do. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:1-41

Marvellously, God Himself directly intervenes in this discussion so early in the history of man. The storm that had been brewing as Elihu spoke becomes a whirlwind, and God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind. Job had felt his whole life to be in the vortex of a whirlwind, but he little realised that God was speaking in the very troubles he faced, therefore God spoke directly to him. This was miraculous, of course, and there was no possibility that Job would not listen. It may seem amazing... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Job 38:1-41

WORDS OF ELIHU ; WORDS OF GOD Elihu now comes forward with apparent modesty, and yet great pretensions. Young and inexperienced, he is nevertheless indignant at the manner in which the friends of Job have sought to reply to him. Professing that his views have been revealed from above, he undertakes to clear up all the difficulties in the case. Afflictions are for the good of the sufferer is his dictum, a thought which he exhibits in various lights. He, too, reflects upon Job for his... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Job 38:1-41

The Theophany Job 38-41 We have now come to the portion of the Book of Job which is known as the Theophany, or Appearance, that is to say, the appearance of the Divine Being. Let us set forth the sacred speech in its fulness and unity: 1. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind [a voice without a form], and said, 2. Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3. Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 4. Where wast thou when... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Job 38:1

CONTENTS Hitherto, through the subject of dispute, we have been attending to the words of Job and his friends. In this chapter God himself becomes the speaker; and a most solemn address it forms. God challengeth Job, from the whirlwind, on divers subjects, by way of showing Job's nothingness, and the Lord's sovereignty; and this in such language as manifests the wisdom of the Speaker, beyond all possible conception, of man's weakness, and the Lord's strength. Job 38:1 (1) ¶ Then the LORD... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Job 38:1

Then. Septuagint, "After Eliu had ceased to speak." (Haydock) --- Lord. That is, an angel speaking in the name of the Lord. (Challoner) --- The name Jehova (Haydock) here occurs, though it never does in the speeches; whence many have inferred that the Lord spoke in person; which argument, however, is not conclusive; and that this work was written after the apparition in the burning bush. (Calmet) --- The Hebrew edition would at least be given after that event. --- Whirlwind, designed to... read more