Job 37:21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 37:21-24

Elihu here concludes his discourse with some short but great sayings concerning the glory of God, as that which he was himself impressed, and desired to impress others, with a holy awe of. He speaks concisely, and in haste, because, it should seem, he perceived that God was about to take the work into his own hands. 1. He observes that God who has said that he will dwell in the thick darkness and make that his pavilion (2 Chron. 6:1; Ps. 18:11) is in that awful chariot advancing towards them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 37:21

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds ,.... Here Elihu returns to his subject, it may be, occasioned by black clouds gathering in the heavens, as a preparation for the whirlwind, storm, and tempest, out of which the Lord is said to speak in the next chapter. And this is to be understood, not of the lightning in the cloud, which is not to be seen until it breaks out of it; nor the rainbow in the cloud, formed by the rays of light from the sun, which disappears when the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 37:21

And now men see not the bright light - Mr. Good gives the sense clearer: - "Even now we cannot look at the light When it is resplendent in the heavens. And a wind from the north hath passed along and cleared them." Elihu seems to refer to the insufferable brightness of the sun. Can any man look at the sun shining in his strength, when a clear and strong wind has purged the sky from clouds and vapours? Much less can any gaze on the majesty of God. Every creature must sink before him.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 37:1-24

It has been already remarked that there is no natural division between Job 36:1-33 and Job 37:1-24 .—the description of the thunderstorm and its effects runs on. From its effect on cattle, Elihu passes to its effect on man ( Job 37:1-5 ); and thence goes on to speak of other natural manifestations of God's power and marvellousness—snow, violent rain, whirlwind, frost, and the like ( Job 37:6-13 ). He then makes a final appeal to Job to acknowledge his own weakness and God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 37:1-24

Elihu to Job: 5. The wonderful works of God. I. WONDERFUL IN RESPECT OF THEIR VARIETY . Beginning with the thunderstorm (verse 2), with its quickly spreading clouds ( Job 36:29 ), its sharp, gleaming bolts (verse 3), its crashing and reverberating peals (verse 4), Elihu passes on to descant upon other natural phenomena—such as the falling of the snow and the rain upon the earth (verse 6); the sweeping of the whirlwind, or hot simoom, from the remote regions of the southern... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 37:14-24

Elihu ends with a personal appeal to Job, based on the statements which he has made. Can Job imagine that he understands the workings of God in nature? If not, how can he venture to challenge God to a controversy? Would it not be better to recognize that his ways are inscrutable? read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 37:21

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds; rather, and now men cannot behold the light which is bright in the skies. Now, i.e; here in this world, men cannot look straight at the sun, since he dazzles them. How much less, then, would they be able to face God on his throne in heaven! Yet this is what Job had proposed to do ( Job 9:32-35 ; Job 13:18-22 ; Job 22:3-7 , etc.). But the wind passeth, and cleanseth them ; rather, when the wind passeth and cleareth them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 37:21

Unbearable light. When clouds are cleared from the face of the sun we cannot bear to look up at the splendour of unveiled light. This is the case even in our thick and humid atmosphere; but it is much more so in the East, where the sun shines in its terrible strength. The unbearable light is a type of the majesty of God. I. GOD VEILS HIS GLORY IN CLOUDS . The day often beans with clouds about the sun. Then we can look at the splendour of the dawn, because the ever-shifting... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 37:21

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds - Either the lightning that plays on the clouds in an approaching tempest, or a glorious light spread over the sky on the approach of God. There is reason to believe that as Elihu delivered the sentiments recorded in the close of this chapter, he meant to describe God as if he were seen to be approaching, and that the symbols of his presence were discovered in the gathering tempest and storm. He is introduced in the following chapter... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 37:21

Job 37:21. And now Or, for now, as the particle ו , vau, is often rendered; the following words containing a reason of those which precede; men see not the bright light, &c. Men are not able to look upon the brightness of the sun when it shines in the heavens, after the winds have swept away the clouds which before obscured the clear sky. And therefore it is not strange if we cannot see God, or discern his counsels and ways. read more

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