Job 38:1-41:34

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 38:1-3

Let us observe here, 1. Who speaks?The Lord, Jehovah, not a created angel, but the eternal Word himself, the second person in the blessed Trinity, for it is he by whom the worlds were made, and that was no other than the Son of God. The same speaks here that afterwards spoke from Mount Sinai. Here he begins with the creation of the world, there with the redemption of Israel out of Egypt, and from both is inferred the necessity of our subjection to him. Elihu had said, God speaks to men and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:1

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind ,.... As soon as Elihu had done speaking, who saw the tempest rising, and gave hints of it, Job 37:2 ; and hastened to finish his discourse. This was raised to give notice of the Lord being about to appear, and to display his majesty, and to command reverence and attention. The Targum calls it the whirlwind of distress, as it might be to Job; and a representation of the distressed and disturbed state and condition in which he was. The person... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:1

The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind - It is not סופה suphah , as in the preceding chapter, Job 37:9 ; but סורה searah , which signifies something turbulent, tumultuous, or violently agitated; and here may signify what we call a tempest, and was intended to fill Job's mind with solemnity, and an awful sense of the majesty of God. The Chaldee has, a whirlwind of grief, making the whole rather allegorical than real; impressing the scene on Job's imagination. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 38:1

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind . It is remarked, with reason, that the special mention of Job as the person answered "implies that another speaker had intervened" (Wordsworth); while the attachment of the article to the word "whirlwind" implies some previous mention of that phenomenon, which is only to be found in the discourse of Elihu ( Job 37:9 ). Both points have an important bearing on the genuineness of the disputed section, ch. 32-37. And said . The question... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 38:1

Job 42:6 The discourses of Jehovah. At length, in answer to the repeated appeals of Job, the Almighty appears, not to crush and overwhelm, as fear had often suggested, but to reason with his servant; to appeal to his spiritual intelligence, rather than to smite him into lower prostration by some thunderbolt of rebuke. "Come now, and let us reason together," is the gracious invitation of him who is Eternal Reason, amidst the wild clamours of our passion and despondency. At the same time,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 38:1

A theophany. At length Job has his wish. He has been longing to meet with God and praying for God to reveal himself. The time has now come for God to hear his prayer and make his will known. This is far more important than man's speculations. I. THE COMING OF GOD . 1 . The time of his coming. God comes last. The three friends have had their say, reiterating till they weary us. Job has been free to vent his grief and his despair. Elihu, more enlightened, yet not quite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 38:1-3

Jehovah to Job: the first answer-the theophany. I. THE LORD 'S APPEARANCE TO JOB . 1 . The time of this appearance. At the close of Elihu's address. Not too soon, when neither had Elihu finished his expositions nor had Job's heart been suitably prepared for such an interview as he was on the eve of obtaining, but precisely at the moment when the purpose of his coming was most likely to be effected. God never mistimes any of his visits to his people, whether he comes for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 38:1-41

The tone of the appeal is sustained at a high pitch, and the entire passage is one of extraordinary force and eloquence. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 38:1

Then the Lord answered Job - This speech is addressed particularly to Job, not only because he is the principal personage referred to in the book, but particularly because he had indulged in language of murmuring and complaint. God designed to bring him to a proper state of mind before he appeared openly for his vindication. It is the purpose of God, in his dealings with his people, “to bring them to a proper state of mind” before he appears as their vindicator and friend, and hence, their... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 38:1

Job 38:1. Then the Lord answered Job No sooner had Elihu uttered the words last mentioned, but there was a sensible token of the presence of that dreadful majesty of God among them, spoken of Job 38:22, and Jehovah began to debate the matter with Job, as he had desired; out of the whirlwind Out of a dark and thick cloud, from which he sent a terrible and tempestuous wind, as the harbinger of his presence. The LXX. render the clause, δια λαιλαπος και νεφων , perturbinem et nubes, by a... read more

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