Job 38:34

← Job 38:33 Job 38:35 →

Job 38:34 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?

King James Version KJV

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

American Standard Version ASV

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?

Bible in Basic English BBE

Is your voice sent up to the cloud, so that you may be covered by the weight of waters?

Free Bible Version FBV

Can you shout to the clouds and command them to pour rain down on you?

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Canst thou lift vp thy voice to the cloudes that the aboundance of water may couer thee?

Young's Literal Translation YLT

Dost thou lift up to the cloud thy voice, And abundance of water doth cover thee?

World English Bible WEB

“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Canst thou lift thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that an abundance of waters may cover thee?

Translation for Translators T4T

“Can you shout to the clouds and cause rain to pour down on you?

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights

God & Jesus

Holy Spirit

Divine Actions

Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Job 38:34

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Job 38:34 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB הֲ/תָרִ֣ים לָ/עָ֣ב קוֹלֶ֑/ךָ וְֽ/שִׁפְעַת מַ֥יִם תְּכַסֶּֽ/ךָּ

הֲ/תָרִ֣ים rûwm H7311 to exalt Part | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms

לָ/עָ֣ב ʻâb H5645 cloud Prep | N-cs

קוֹלֶ֑/ךָ qôwl H6963 voice N-ms | Suff

וְֽ/שִׁפְעַת shiphʻâh H8229 abundance Conj | N-fs

מַ֥יִם mayim H4325 Water (Gate) N-mp

תְּכַסֶּֽ/ךָּ kâçâh H3680 to cover V-Piel-Imperf-3fs | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.

Hebrew Word Reference — Job 38:34

הֲ/תָרִ֣ים rûwm H7311 "to exalt" Part | V-Hiphil-Imperf-2ms

This verb can mean to lift something or someone up, like a parent lifting a child, or to exalt oneself in pride. In the Bible, it's used to describe God lifting up the humble and bringing down the proud.

Definition: 1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be high, be set on high 1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted 1a3) to be lifted, rise 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up 1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt 1b3) to exalt, extol 1c) (Polal) to be lifted up 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high 1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove 1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute 1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished 1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself Aramaic equivalent: rum (רוּם "to rise" H7313)

Usage: Occurs in 184 OT verses. KJV: bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, ([idiom] a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), [phrase] presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms. See also: Genesis 7:17; Psalms 46:11; Psalms 3:4.

לָ/עָ֣ב ʻâb H5645 "cloud" Prep | N-cs

In the Bible, this word means a dark cloud or a thicket, often used to describe a place of refuge or a sign of God's presence, as seen in 2 Chronicles 4:17. It can also refer to a cloudy or thick atmosphere. The word is used to describe natural phenomena and is found in various KJV translations.

Definition: 1) darkness, cloud, thicket 1a) dark cloud 1b) cloud mass 1c) thicket (as refuge)

Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: clay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare H5672 (עֲבִי). See also: Exodus 19:9; Psalms 18:13; Psalms 18:12.

קוֹלֶ֑/ךָ qôwl H6963 "voice" N-ms | Suff

A voice or sound, it can refer to the sound of a person speaking, an animal, or a musical instrument. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's voice or the sound of praise and worship.

Definition: : sound/noise 1) voice, sound, noise 1a) voice 1b) sound (of instrument)

Usage: Occurs in 436 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell. See also: Genesis 3:8; Judges 5:11; Job 4:10.

וְֽ/שִׁפְעַת shiphʻâh H8229 "abundance" Conj | N-fs

This word also means abundance, but can refer to a large group of people or things. It is used to describe a multitude or copiousness. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's blessings.

Definition: abundance, quantity, multitude

Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: abundance, company, multitude. See also: 2 Kings 9:17; Job 38:34; Isaiah 60:6.

מַ֥יִם mayim H4325 "Water (Gate)" N-mp

This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.

Definition: This name means water, refreshment

Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.

תְּכַסֶּֽ/ךָּ kâçâh H3680 "to cover" V-Piel-Imperf-3fs | Suff

To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.

Definition: 1) to cover, conceal, hide 1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be covered 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cover, clothe 1c2) to cover, conceal 1c3) to cover (for protection) 1c4) to cover over, spread over 1c5) to cover, overwhelm 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be covered 1d2) to be clothed 1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself

Usage: Occurs in 149 OT verses. KJV: clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare H3780 (כָּשָׂה). See also: Genesis 7:19; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 32:5.

Study Notes — Job 38:34

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Job 38:34 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Job 38:34
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 38:34
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 38:34
Trapp's Commentary on Job 38:34
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 38:34
Cambridge Bible on Job 38:34
Barnes' Notes on Job 38:34
Whedon's Commentary on Job 38:34
Sermons on Job 38:34

Context — The LORD Challenges Job

32Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear and her cubs? 33Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?

35Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’? 36Who has put wisdom in the heart or given understanding to the mind?

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Job 22:11	it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
2	Job 36:27–28	For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist, which the clouds pour out and shower abundantly on mankind.
3	Amos 5:8	He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns darkness into dawn and darkens day into night, who summons the waters of the sea and pours them over the face of the earth— the LORD is His name—
4	1 Samuel 12:18	So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
5	James 5:18	Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.
6	Zechariah 10:1	Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field.

Job 38:34 Summary

This verse is asking if we can control the weather, and the answer is no, only God can do that. It's a reminder that God is all-powerful and wise, and we should trust and obey Him. Just like Job, we need to recognize our limitations and God's power, as seen in Psalm 135:7, and approach Him with humility and reverence, as encouraged in Proverbs 9:10. By doing so, we can learn to trust God and acknowledge His sovereignty in our lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is God asking Job to do in this verse?

God is asking Job if he can command the clouds to bring a flood of water, which highlights Job's limitations and God's power, as seen in Psalm 135:7, where God is described as the one who brings forth the clouds.

Is God being confrontational with Job in this verse?

While God's question may seem confrontational, it is actually an invitation for Job to recognize and acknowledge God's sovereignty and power, as expressed in Isaiah 55:9, where God's ways are higher than our ways.

How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Job?

This verse is part of God's response to Job's questions and complaints, and it serves to remind Job of God's power and wisdom, as seen in Job 42:3, where Job acknowledges God's wisdom and power.

What can we learn from God's question to Job in this verse?

We can learn that God is all-powerful and wise, and that we should approach Him with humility and reverence, as seen in Proverbs 9:10, where the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Reflection Questions

What are some areas in my life where I try to control or command things that are beyond my power, and how can I learn to trust God in those areas?
How does recognizing God's power and sovereignty impact my daily life and decisions?
In what ways can I acknowledge and worship God's wisdom and power in my life, as Job did in Job 42:3?
What are some ways that I can cultivate humility and reverence in my approach to God, as encouraged in Proverbs 9:10?

Gill's Exposition on 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

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 38:34

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou at will command the clouds to send down abundance of rain?

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 38:34

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds; either thundering in them, or calling to them with a loud voice, commanding them to rain? May cover thee, i.e. thy land, when it needs and requires rain.

Trapp's Commentary on Job 38:34

Job 38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?Ver. 34. Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds?] Thy commanding voice, as Numbers 9:23. Some render it, Thy thunder. Will the clouds obey thee, and rain upon thee at thy pleasure? Something thou mayest get by thy prayers, as Elias did, James 5:17, and the thundering legion in the ecclesiastical history, but nothing by command or compulsion. The monarch of Mexico is a mad man to take an oath at his coronation, that it shall be what weather soever he pleaseth all the time of his reign (Lopez de Gomara).

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 38:34

Verse 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!

Cambridge Bible on Job 38:34

4–38. A survey of the inanimate creation, the wonders of earth and sky—the earth, Job 38:4-18; the heavens, Job 38:18-38

Barnes' Notes on Job 38:34

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? - That is, canst thou command the clouds so that they shall send down abundant rain?

Whedon's Commentary on Job 38:34

γ. Maybe Job can legislate for the firmament by wielding the thunder, draw down and empty the cloud, or by a word give life to the lightnings, that they may fulfil his behests, Job 38:34-35.34.

Sermons on Job 38:34

	Sermon	Description
	Studies in Job-01 Job-1 by William MacDonald	In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Job and the suffering that Job endures. He highlights the remarkable precision of the heavenly bodies and how they serve as a rem
	December 22. 1678. S O L O M O N. by Jane Lead	Jane Lead preaches about the deep wisdom and mysteries found in the Word of Life, encouraging listeners to enter into the secret place of God's presence to receive profound revelat
	Wonders of God-02 Psalm 8-the Starry Heavens by William MacDonald	In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the beauty and power of God's creation, specifically focusing on the sun and the stars. He emphasizes that God's understanding is infinite a
	About Astrology by Jack Hayford	Jack Hayford addresses the topic of astrology, emphasizing the Bible's rejection and condemnation of it, warning of the confusion and tragic consequences that come with practicing
	The Poor of the Land and the Pride of Jacob by John Piper	John Piper preaches on the message of Amos, a shepherd turned prophet, who delivered a warning of coming judgment upon the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite Amos' faithful procla
	Getting Ready for the End of All Things by David Wilkerson	This sermon emphasizes the importance of preparing for the end times by focusing on spiritual readiness rather than physical provisions. It highlights the need for forgiveness, lov
	Special Meetings 03 4 Precious Titles by John W. Bramhall	In this sermon, the preacher discusses four names that are significant in understanding the nature of God. The first name is "the battle-boy," emphasizing that God is our protector