Job 38:34-41

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 38:36

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? - There is great variety in the interpretation of this passage. Jerome renders it, Quis posuit in visceribus heminis sapienttam? Vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam? “Who hath put wisdom in the inner parts of man? Or who has given to the cock intelligence?” Just as strangely, the Septuagint has: “Who hath given to women skill in weaving, and a knowledge of the art of embroidering?.” One of the Targums renders it, “Who has given to the woodcock... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 38:37

Who can number the clouds? - The word here rendered “clouds” (שׁחקים shachaqiym) is applied to the clouds as made up of “small particles” - as if they were composed of fine dust, and hence, the word number is applied to them, not as meaning that the clouds themselves were innumerable, but that no one could estimate the number of particles which enter into their formation.In wisdom - By his wisdom. Who has sufficient intelligence to do it?Or who can stay the bottles of heaven? - Margin, as in... read more

Albert Barnes

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

When the dust groweth into hardness - Margin, “is poured, or, is turned into mire.” The words used here relate often to metals, and to the act of pouring them out when fused, for the purpose of casting. The proper idea here is, “when the dust flows into a molten mass;” that is, when wet with rain it flows together and becomes hard. The sense is, that the rain operates on the clay as heat does on metals, and that when it is dissolved it flows together and thus becomes a solid mass. The object is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 38:39

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? - The appeal here is to the instincts with which God has endowed animals, and to the fact that he had so made them that they would secure their own food. He asks Job whether he would undertake to do what the lion did by instinct in finding his food, and by his power and skill in seizing his prey. There was a wise adaptation of the lion for this purpose which man could neither originate nor explain.Or fill the appetite of the young lions - Margin, as in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 38:40

When they couch in their dens - For the purpose of springing upon their prey.And abide in the covert to lie in wait? - The usual posture of the lion when he seeks his prey. He places himself in some unobserved position in a dense thicket, or crouches upon the ground so as not to be seen, and then springs suddenly upon his victim. The common method of the lion in taking his prey is to spring or throw himself upon it from the place of his ambush, with one vast bound and to inflict the mortal blow... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 38:41

Who provideth for the raven his food? - The same thought is expressed in Psalms 147:9,He giveth to the beast his food,And to the young ravens which cry.Compare Matthew 6:26. Scbeutzer (in loc.) suggests that the reason why the raven is specified here rather than other fowls is, that it is an offensive bird, and that God means to state that no object, however regarded by man, is beneath his notice. He carefully provides for the needs of all his creatures.When his young ones cry unto God, they... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 38:34-35

Job 38:34-35. Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds? Either thundering in them, or calling to them with a loud voice, and commanding them to rain. That abundance of waters may cover thee? That is, may cover thy land, when it needs and requires rain. Canst thou send lightnings that they may go? At thy pleasure, and upon thy errand? and say, Here we are? Ready to do thy will, as servants to obey their master. “Nothing can be more elevated and sublime than this verse. How strong the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 38:36

Job 38:36. Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Namely, of a man; who gave thee that understanding which thou hast, and which thou now usest so arrogantly as to contend with me, and censure my dispensations? Or who hath given understanding to the heart? Considered by the Hebrews as the seat of understanding, and commonly put for it in Scripture. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 38:37-38

Job 38:37-38. Who can number the clouds in wisdom? Who can wisely search, and exactly find out, the number of the clouds? which are indeed numberless, and filled with water as the next clause implies. Or who can stay the bottles of heaven? Can prevent the rain from being poured upon the earth out of the clouds, in which it is kept as in bottles; when the dust groweth into hardness When the earth grows very hard, in the time of a great drought; and the clods cleave fast together Become... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 38:39-40

Job 38:39-40. Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Is it by thy care and providence that the lions, who live in desert places, are furnished with necessary provisions? This is justly mentioned as another wonderful work of God. When they couch in their dens When, through age and infirmity, they cannot range abroad for prey as the young lions do, but lie still in their dens, as it were, expecting their food from God, from whom also they receive it. And abide in the covert, to lie in wait ... read more

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