Job 38:34-41

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 38:34

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:36

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts ?.... That is, of man, in his heart, as explained in the next clause; such wisdom as to guide the stars, know the ordinances of heaven, set their dominion on earth, manage and direct the clouds and lightning; no such wisdom is put in man: or who hath, given understanding to the heart ? to understand all the above things, and answer to the several questions put in this chapter; though, as these clauses may respect much one and the same thing, they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:37

Who can number the clouds in wisdom ?.... Or has such wisdom as to be able to count them when the heavens are full of them; hence they are used to denote a great multitude, Isaiah 55:8 ; or "declare" them F20 יספר "enarrabit", V. L. "vel explicabit", Mercerus, Schmidt. , set forth and explain the nature of them, their matter, motion, and use; none can do this perfectly or completely. Aben Ezra interprets it, who can make them as sapphire? in which he is followed by Mr. Broughton... read more

John Gill

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

When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? When the dust is attenuated, and ground, as it were, into powder; and the clods cleave together, as if glued, as in a drought for want of rain: or the bottles of heaven being unstopped and poured out; or "sprinkling the dust with this sprinkling,' as Mr. Broughton. Or rather, pouring on the dust with pouring; that is, pouring down rain, by unstopping the bottles of heaven. The dust, as meal, by water poured into it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:39

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion ?.... From meteors the Lord passes to animals, beasts, and birds, wherefore some here begin the thirty ninth chapter, which only treats of such; and he begins with the lion, the strongest among beasts, and most fierce; cruel, and voracious; and asks, who hunts his prey for him? Not man, who cannot; and if he could, durst not: but the Lord does; and, according to some writers F24 Thevenot's Travels, part 2. c. 13. , he has provided a small creature,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:40

When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? Which some understand of old lions, who, for want of strength, lie couchant in their dens, or in some covert place, waiting for any prey that passes by, to seize upon it. But the same pasture and places are used by younger lions, as well as old ones; who are emblems of wicked men, cruel persecutors, and bloodthirsty tyrants, who fill their palaces and kingdoms with murder and rapine; see Psalm 10:8 , Nahum 2:11 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 38:41

Who provideth for the raven his food ?.... Not man, but God; he feeds the ravens, creatures very voracious, mean, and useless, Luke 12:24 ; when his young ones cry unto God ; cry for want of food; which is interpreted by the Lord as a cry unto him, and he relieves them, Psalm 147:9 ; when deserted by the old ones; either left in their nests through forgetfulness, as some F26 Plin. apud Servium in Virgil. Georgic. l. 1. p. 189. ; or because they are not, till fledged, black like... 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

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