Job 36:30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 36:24-33

Elihu is here endeavouring to possess Job with great and high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him into a cheerful submission to his providence. I. He represents the work of God, in general, as illustrious and conspicuous, Job 36:24. His whole work is so. God does nothing mean. This is a good reason why we should acquiesce in all the operations of his providence concerning us in particular. His visible works, those of nature, and which concern the world in general, are such as we admire and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 36:30

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it ,.... Upon his tabernacle; that is, upon the clouds, which are his tabernacle; either the light of the sun, whereby the clouds are dispersed and blotted out; an emblem of the blotting out of sin, or the forgiveness of it, Isaiah 44:22 , which is like a clear shining after rain, 2 Samuel 23:4 , or on a thin cloud, whereby the rainbow is formed, an emblem of peace and reconciliation by Christ; or lightning, which bursting out of the dark cloud is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 36:30

He spreadeth his light upon it - Or, as Mr. Good translates, "He throweth forth from it his flash." These two verses may both have an allusion to the sudden rarefaction of that part of the atmosphere whence the thunder proceeds, by the agency of the electric fluid; the rushing in of the air on each side to restore the equilibrium, which the passage of the fire had before destroyed. The noise produced by this sudden rushing in of the air, as well as that occasioned by the ignition of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 36:1-33

The two chapters, Job 36:1-33 ; Job 37:1-24 , form a single discourse, and ought not to have been separated; or, at any rate, not so unskilfully as they are, in the middle of a description of a thunderstorm. They constitute a final appeal to Job, who is exhorted to submission, resignation, and patience, in consideration of God's inscrutability, and of his perfect justice, wisdom, and strength. Job 36:1-33 begins with a short preface ( Job 36:1-4 ), in which Elihu seeks to prove his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 36:22-33

Elihu to Job: 4. A sermon on the greatness of God. I. ABSOLUTE IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY . 1 . Ruling by his own power. "Behold, God exalteth" ( se. himself), i.e. showeth himself to be exalted, "acteth loftily" (Delitzsch) "in his strength" (verse 22). The universal empire of God is based on his omnipotence. With him might and right are co-ordinate and coextensive. "He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves" ( Psalms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 36:26-33

Elihu passes now to a description, which must be allowed to be eloquent, of the power and providence of God, and especially of his power in the natural world. It is suggested that the storm, which ultimately broke at the theophania ( Job 38:1 ), was already beginning to gather, and turned the thoughts of Elihu in this direction. He begins with the consideration of how rain is generated, passes rapidly to the gathering of the clouds from all quarters, and thence to the loud crashing of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 36:30

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it . God flashes the weird brilliance of his lightning over the heaven—not over himself, as some translate (Rosenmuller, Cook). He lights up the whole sky at once with the electric splendour, and even covereth with it the bottom (literally, the roots ) of the sea. This is, of course, hyperbole; but it seems to be Elihu's meaning. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 36:30

Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it - That is, upon his tabernacle or dwelling-place - the clouds. The allusion is to lightning, which flashes in a moment over the whole heavens. The image is exceedingly beautiful and graphic. The idea of “spreading out” the light in an instant over the whole of the darkened heavens, is that which Elihu had in his mind, and which impressed him so forcibly. On the difficulty in regard to the translation of the Septuagint here, see Schleusner on the word ἡδὼ... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 36:29-30

Job 36:29-30. Can any understand the spreadings of the clouds? Hebrew, of a cloud: whence it comes to pass that a small cloud, no bigger than a man’s hand, suddenly spreads over the whole heavens: how the clouds come to be suddenly gathered and so condensed as to bring forth thunder and lightning. Or the noise of his tabernacle The thunder produced in the clouds, which are often called God’s tent or tabernacle. Behold, he spreadeth his light That is, the lightning, fitly called God’s... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 36:1-33

God’s unknowable purposes (36:1-37:24)Elihu, believing he has all the answers to Job’s questions, says he will now answer Job on God’s behalf (36:1-4). Certainly, God punishes the wicked, but he does not despise all who suffer. If the afflicted are truly righteous, they will soon be exalted (5-7). The reason he afflicts them is to show them their sin. If they repent, they will enjoy renewed and unbroken contentment; if not, they will suffer horrible deaths (8-12).Only the ungodly rebel against... read more

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