Job 37
OGCTODAY’S ENGLISH VERSION
37 The storm makes my heart beat wildly.
2 Listen, all of you, to the voice of God, to the thunder that comes from his mouth.
3 He sends the lightning across the sky;
from one end of the earth to the other.
4 Then the roar of his voice is heard,
the majestic sound of thunder, and all the while, the lightning flashes.
5 At God’s command amazing things happen,
wonderful things that we can-’t understand.
6 He commands snow to fall on the earth,
and sends torrents of drenching rain.
7 He brings the work of men to a stop;
he made them; he shows them that he is at work.
8 The wild animals go to their dens and stay. 9 The storm winds come from the south,
and the biting cold from the north.
10 The breath of God freezes the waters,
and turns them to solid ice.
11 Lightning flashes from the clouds, 12 which circle about, obeying God’s will.
They do all that God commands,
everywhere throughout the world.
13 God sends rain to water the earth;
he may send it to punish men,
or to show them his favor.
14 Pause a moment and listen, Job;
consider the wonderful things God does.
15 Do you know how God gives a command
and makes lightning flash from the clouds?
16 Do you know how clouds float in the sky,
the work of God’s amazing skill?
17 No, you can only suffer in the heat,
when the south wind oppresses the land.
18 Can you help God stretch out the sky
and make it as hard as polished metal?
19 Teach us what to say to God;
our minds are blank; we have nothing to say.
20 I won-’t ask God to let me speak;
why should I give him a chance to destroy me?
21 And now the light in the sky is dazzling,
too bright for us to look at it; and the sky has been swept clean by the wind.
22 A golden glow is seen in the north,
and the glory of God fills us with fear.
23 God’s power is so great that we cannot come near him;
he is righteous and just in his dealings with men.
24 No wonder, then, that everyone fears him,
and that he ignores those who claim to be wise.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 37:1-24
What is the general content of this chapter?
Elihu is full of wonder and praise before God. What has thus moved him?
How is God’s sovereignty expressed? What lesson is there in this for Jobi.e., according to Elihu?
It would seem that God is being presented to us as the Lord of all seasons. Show how spring, summer, fall and winter are all represented. Cf. Job 37:3-6.
What is the meaning of sealeth up the hand of every man in verse seven?
Discuss the imagery in verses nine and ten.
What is the meaning of the word straitened in verse ten?
The word lightnings in Job 37:11 could refer to something else. What?
What is the purpose behind God’s control of nature? What else is under the control of God?
Elihu turns from his hymn of praise to Job. To what purpose?
If lightning is under the direct control of God, what of those persons who are killed by it? Are they all the enemies of God?
What is meant by the reference to the balancing of the clouds?
Is there a title for God in Job 37:16? Discuss.
There is historical and physical confirmation of Job 37:17. What is it?
There is a most meaningful comparison in Job 37:18; don-’t miss it.
Elihu uses biting sarcasm in Job 37:19. To what purpose?
Elihu thinks it madness to want to even think of confronting God. Has Job been fairly represented by Elihu? Discuss.
Explain the point of Job 37:21.
To what does the reference to golden splendor refer in Job 37:22?
How does Elihu interpret God’s righteousness? Cf. Job 37:23.
Why assert that all men are beneath God’s notice?i.e., why did Elihu make this assertion? Cf. Job 37:24.
Job 37:1-13
F. THE CREATOR AND THE CREATION (Job 37:1-24)
- The marvelous activity of God in nature (Job 37:1-13)
**TEXT 37:1-13
37 Yea, at this my heart trembleth,
And is moved oat of its place.
2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,
And the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven,
And his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth;
He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not the lightnings when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice;
Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth;
Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man,
That all men whom he hath made may know it.
8 Then the beasts go into coverts,
And remain in their dens.
9 Out of the chamber of the south cometh the storm,
And cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given;
And the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture;
He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:
12 And it is turned round about by his guidance,
That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,
13 Whether it be for correction or for his land,
Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.**
COMMENT 37:1-13
**Job 37:1**In his final speech, Elihu describes his own feelings, and Job is not addressed until Job 37:14. Elihu’s heart leaps (see Brown, Driver, and BriggsLev 11:21; Habakkuk 3:6) with terror at God’s thunderstormPsa 18:13; Psalms 77:17-18; Exodus 9:22-35; Exodus 19:16; 1 Samuel 7:10; and Isaiah 30:30.[362] The RSV’S rendering of shook takes the verb as transitive and thus gives insight into the imagery of the second lineA. V. And is moved out of its place.
[362] This imagery has been much discussed since the discovery of the Ugaritic Myth of Baal-Hadad. The similarities apply to Elihu but not to Job; see F. M. Cross, Jr., Bulletin American Society of Oriental Research, 1950, pp. 19-21; and T. H. Gaster, Jewish Quarterly Review, 1946-47, pp. 54-67.
**Job 37:2**Elihu intones a hymn in praise of God who reveals Himself in the winter rains which bring fertility to the earth, and God’s gracious presence to menPsalms 8; Psalms 19:2-7; Psalms 29; Psalms 104; Psalms, 147. God’s voice is described as thunder in Job 28:26. The word rendered sound, or rumbling, appears in verb form in Isaiah 31:4 in describing the growling of a lion.
**Job 37:3**God’s sovereignty is expressed in that He sends thunder and lightning throughout the universe. The reference of it is to lightningJob 36:32in the second line, and the verb has a root meaning of loosen, i.e., send in the sense of letting it go to the corners (lit. wings) of the earth.
**Job 37:4**The antecedent of it is the lightning in Job 37:3. God’s voice roarsJdg 14:5; Amos 1:2; Amos 3:4; Amos 3:8; Psalms 104:21; Jeremiah 25:30; and Joe 3:16; but … He does not restrain the lightning when His voice is heard, R. S. V. The Hebrew word -ye-‘aqqebem means restrain them. The verb -aqab means hold by the heel, as in Hosea 12:3, and thus hold back or restrain. Even though God speaks in the thunder and lightning, He does not restrain everything in the universe merely because He speaks. Job needs to learn this fact, according to Elihu.
**Job 37:5**Elihu’s words echo both Job and EliphazJob 5:9; Job 9:10. Elihu makes transition to another dimension of God’s wonderful creationsnow and frost. God is presented lord of the winter, as He is the lord of the spring and summer in the previous verses. Dhorme provides insight into the verse without any emendationGod by his voice works (ya-‘amol) wonders. This rendering makes excellent transition from the thunderstorm to the winter snows.
**Job 37:6**The verb *-hw-’*to beis uniquely used he in the sense of fall. The Hebrew text has repetition of down-out of rain and downpour of rains, perhaps to emphasize the intensity of the rain which would refer to the heavy rain of the Syrian Palestinian winter.
**Job 37:7**The text says with the hand of every man he sealsJob 9:7; Genesis 7:16. The preposition beyad probably must be understood as with a similar verb as shut or seal. The meaning is that when it rains men must cease from their agricultural labors while the rain and snow prevail.[363]
[363] D. W. Thomas secures the word rest instead of know with minimal emendation; see Journal of Theological Studies, 1954, pp. 56ff. This makes excellent sense in this verse.
**Job 37:8**The imagery is concerned with the hibernation of animals for the winter. The A. V. renders the noun coverts, which could better be understood as lairs. The verb means to lie in wait. The word translated dens is used of God’s dwelling placePsa 76:2; of man’s homeJer 21:13; and of the lairs of wild beastsJob 38:40; Amos 3:4; Nahum 2:12; and Psalms 104:22.
**Job 37:9**There is also reference to the chambers (Heb. heder) of the south in Job 9:9. But of the south is not in the textJob 38:22 and Psalms 135:7. The unique word -mezarim is rendered by cometh in A. V., but it probably means to scatter or disperse. It might be a term for storehouse, as Pope suggests. This would make perfectly good sense in our present verse. Likewise the North yields its cold.
**Job 37:10**Elihu employs poetic imagery to express that ice and frost are the results of the cold-blast of God’s breath. Straitened of the A. V. is derived from word meaning become a solid mass, i.e., frozen solidIsa 40:7.
**Job 37:11**The clouds are loaded or burdened (A. V. ladeth ._from root meaning burden or weightIsa 1:14) with moisture. Instead of lightning as in A. V., this may refer only to light as in Hebrew text, i.e., to the sun, thus deriving the meaning that the sunlight dispels the clouds with their moisture (Heb. beri). However we understand the grammatical possibilities; the emphasis is on the manifestation of God’s power and controls of nature.
**Job 37:12**Elihu here explains that all of nature obeys the will of God and fulfills His purposes. The antecedent of it is the clouds from Job 37:11. The word -mithappek rendered turned around in A. V. appears in Genesis 3:24 where it describes the flaming sword turning round and round. The meaning of the entire verse centers on God’s control; though lightning appears to act capriciously, it is carrying out His divine directions.
**Job 37:13**Elihu asserts in conclusion to this section of his that God’s control of nature sometimes results in judgment, sometimes in blessing. Both wrath and mercy result from God’s control of nature; the same also applies to history. God’s universe is balanced between His correction or discipline and His covenant love (hesed). Dhorme’s emendation provides the verb which is lacking in the first part of the verse. Whether it be for punishment that He accomplishes His will, whether it be for mercy that He brings it to pass1 Corinthians 4:21.[364]
[364] For the suggestion that -le-‘arsorendered as for his land in A. V.should be translated as grace or favor, see M. Dahood, Psalms, Vol. II, note 3 on Psalms 58:3. This makes perfectly good sense, while land makes little sense in this verse.
Job 37:14-24
- Man should realize his insignificant position and fear God. (Job 37:14-24)
TEXT 37:14-24
**14 Hearken unto this, O Job:
Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them,
And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds,
The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments are warm,
When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky,
Which is strong as a molten mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him;
For we cannot set our speech in order by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.
22 Out of the north cometh golden splendor:
God hath upon him terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out:
He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him:
He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.**
COMMENT 37:14-24
**Job 37:14**Elihu turns from his hymn of praise to directly addressing Job once again. Can Job be brought submissively to God? This will be Elihu’s last effort. He presents polarized imagery of darkness and light as coming from the North, the traditional source of theophanyIsa 14:13; Ezekiel 1:4. Now, Job, will you consider the wonderful works of God? The ensuing questions are raised in hopes of exposing Job’s ignorance of how God works in His creation.
**Job 37:15**Like Yahweh in Chapter s 38ff, Elihu asks Job, Do you know how Godlit. puts upon them, i.e., lays charge upon them, probably the clouds? The antecedent is not clear.[365] Lightning is no longer a mystery; it is the direct activity of God, not the inanimate Laws of Nature.
[365] For possibilities, see G. R. Driver, Vetus Testamentum, Supplement, 1967, pp. 61ff.
**Job 37:16**God’s precision in the balancing of the clouds is wonderful testimony of His control of nature. The word balancing is from the same root as balance in Proverbs 16:11 and Isaiah 40:12. In Job 36:4 b Elihu uses the same expression as applied to himself rather than Godtemim de-‘im, i.e., the perfect in knowledge, which Blommerde takes as representing the divine title. He renders this verse Do you recognize the Most High by His outspread cloud, by his wonderful acts, the Perfect in Knowledge?
**Job 37:17**Elihu ironically emphasizes the smallness of man. During the sirocco, i.e., hot east or south winds, clothes feel dry and hot. W. M. Thomson, in his work The Land and The Book (Baker reprint, p. 536) gives a most striking description of the type of experience pictured in this verse. All the birds, animals, and men hide from the scorching heat, and wait for the clouds bearing the promise of cooling rain. Elsewhere the sirocco are called east wind.
**Job 37:18**The verb rendered spread out means beat outGen 1:6. Can you do that, Job?Exodus 28:8 and Deuteronomy 28:23. The shimmering heat of the day was compared with burnished copperDeu 28:23. Ancient mirrors were made of molten metal. The word rendered strong as in A. V. means hard or solid massJob 37:10. The verb means pour out or cast metals.
**Job 37:19**Job, what will you say in face of all these awesome facts? With biting sarcasm, Elihu challenges him to get his case ready, doubtless in reference to Job’s desire to encounter God in a court of lawJob 13:8; Job 23:4; Job 32:14; and Job 33:5. How can you prepare or order your case out of such ignorance, i.e., darknessEccl. 43:2ff.
**Job 37:20**Elihu finds it quite incredible that insignificant Job would think of confronting an incomprehensibly great God. Anyone so foolish is merely asking to be destroyed, i.e., swallowed up. Only an arrogant madman would conceive of such a thing.
**Job 37:21**Elihu returns to natural phenomena. Man cannot even look at the sun when the wind has drawn away the clouds. How would you imagine that you could possibly look upon the creator in all glory? Looking upon the dazzling majesty of His presence is beyond you, Job.
**Job 37:22**It is not impossible that this refers to the Aurora Borealis. The text has only gold, and the A. V. renders it golden splendor. At least this would make sense in light of the northern phenomena; the mysterious blazing golden beams could suggest the presence of God, so avers Driver.[366] Pope attempts to demonstrate an illusion to mythology associated with the North and gold, but the reference has nothing to do with the metal itself.
[366] See A. Guillaume, Annual of the Leeds University Oriental Society, Supplement II, 1968, 129, where he emends and obtains the translation out of the North comes golden splendour.
**Job 37:23**Elihu reasserts his conviction that God cannot perpetrate injustice, either directly or indirectlyJob 9:20-24; Job 11:7; and Job 23:8-9. God will not violate, afflict, or oppress. We cannot understand God, but He has abundant righteousness (Heb. lit. greatness of righteousness); and in His righteousness He is too inflexible to violate justice. Job completely misunderstands; he has no case against his creator. If he would but acknowledge it, he could be healed and restored to prosperity.
**Job 37:24**Even the wisest of men cannot see God. Men stand in awe before God because of His greatness and goodness. But all men are beneath God’s notice, even the wisest. The Hebrew phrase the wise in heart is found in Job 9:4 with a non-pejorative significance. Here it is clearly pejorative. This conclusion seems to be at variance with Elihu’s claim throughout his speeches. If God does not notice anyone, great or small, what does He have to do with punishment of the wicked, or the prosperity of the pious? With these words, Elihu disappears from the drama as abruptly as he first appeared.