Job 38:32-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 38:25-41

Hitherto God had put such questions to Job as were proper to convince him of his ignorance and short-sightedness. Now he comes, in the same manner, to show his impotency and weakness. As it is but little that he knows, and therefore he ought not to arraign the divine counsels, so it is but little that he can do, and therefore he ought not to oppose the proceedings of Providence. Let him consider what great things God does, and try whether he can do the like, or whether he thinks himself an... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:32

Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season ?.... Which are thought to be the same with "the chambers of the south", Job 9:9 ; the southern pole F13 David de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 77. 3. with its stars, signified by chambers, because hidden from our sight in this part of the globe; and here by Mazzaroth, from, "nazar", to separate, because separated and at a distance from us; some think F14 Vatablus, Codurcus, Schultens; so Suidas in voce μαζουραθ . the twelve signs of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:33

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven ?.... Settled by the decree, purpose, and will of God, and are firm and stable; see Psalm 148:6 ; the laws and statutes respecting their situation, motion, operation, influence, and use, which are constantly observed; these are so far from being made by men, and at their direction, that they are not known by them, at least not fully and perfectly; canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth ? or over it; of the heavens over the earth; not such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:34

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Thy gardens, fields, and farms; canst thou, in a magisterial way, call to and demand of the clouds to let down rain in large quantities, sufficient to water them and make them fruitful? no, thou canst not: thou mayest cry and call as long as thou wilt, not a cloud will stir, nor a drop of water be let down; rain is to be had in a suppliant way, through the prayer of faith, as by Elijah, but not in a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:35

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are ? Thy humble servants; we have been where thou didst send us, and have executed what we were bid to do, and are returned, and here we are waiting further orders; see Matthew 8:9 ; no; lightnings are only at the command of God, and there have been some awful instances of it, Leviticus 10:1 ; but not in the power of men; indeed we have an extraordinary instance in Elijah, who, at the motion, and under the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:32

Mazzaroth in his season? - This is generally understood to mean the signs of the zodiac. מזרות Mazzaroth , according to Parkhurst, comes from מזר mazar , to corrupt; and he supposes it to mean that pestilential wind in Arabia, called simoom, the season of which is the summer heats. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:33

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? - Art thou a thorough astronomer? Art thou acquainted with all the laws of the planetary system? Canst thou account for the difference of their motions, and the influence by which they are retained and revolve in their orbits? And canst thou tell what influence or dominion they exercise on the earth? Sir Isaac Newton has given us much light on many of these things; but to his system, which is most probably the true one, gravity is essential; and yet... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:34

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds - Canst thou produce lightning and thunder, that water may be formed, and poured down upon the earth? Thunder is called קלות koloth , voices; for it is considered the voice of God: here then Job's voice, קולך kolecha , is opposed to the voice of Jehovah! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 38:35

Canst thou send lightnings - We have already seen that the lightning is supposed to be immediately in the hand and under the management of God. The great god of the heathen, Jupiter Brontes, is represented with the forked lightnings and thunderbolt in his hand. He seems so to grasp the bickering flame that, though it struggles for liberty, it cannot escape from his hold. Lightnings - How much like the sound of thunder is the original word: ברכים Berakim ! Here are both sense and sound. ... 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

Group of Brands