1God is terrible in his great works: 15his wisdom is unsearchable in them: 23the excellence of his perfections ought to impress men with lowly fear.
1AT 1this also my heart trembleth, and is 2moved out of his place.
1 Namely, about the works of God, which I am about to relate now.
2 Hebr. is transposed or dislocated.
23Hear attentively thea noise of 4his voice, and the 5sound 6that goeth out of his mouth.
3 Hebr. hearing hear.
a Psalm 29:3.
4 Namely, of God. Understand the thunder. Also verses 4, 5; Psalm 29:3.
5 Other, rumbling, or, resounding. Hebr. speech.
6 That is, which is made at His command. Compare Deut. 8:3 and the annotation.
37He directeth 8it under the whole heaven, and 9his lightning unto the 10ends of the earth.
7 Namely, God.
8 Namely, the sound of thunder.
9 That is, God’s lightnings and fiery flashes. Also Job 36:30.
10 Hebr. wings. Also Job 38:13; Isa. 11:12.
411After it 12a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay 13them when his voice is heard.
11 Namely, after the sending forth the lightning; mentioned in the previous verse.
12 That is, with the thunder. Elihu does not mean that the rattling of the thunder is naturally after the lightning, but he speaks of it in that order in which it is presented to the human senses; for, the flash of lightning sooner appears to the eyes than the sound of thunder is conveyed to the ears.
13 Namely, the rain, hail, wind and other storms, which uses to be accompanied with thunder. Or, one may insert here the word lightnings.
5God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he,b which we cannot comprehend.
b Job 5:9; 9:10; 36:26.
6Forc he 14saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to 15the small rain, and to 16the great rain of his strength.
c Psalm 147:16.
14 God’s saying is His doing. See Gen. 1 on verse 3.
15 Namely, God commands that it would fall upon the earth.
16 Hebr. the showers of the rain of his strength.
717He 18sealeth up the hand 19of every man; that all men 20may know his work.
17 Namely, when God snows or rains very much.
18 That is, He shuts up and stays the hands that they are not able to work in the field by reason of the storm and tempest. Hebr. in or upon the hand.
19 Namely, of all those who work in the field.
20 That is, in order that the farmer, on the occasion of the cessation of the work, may inform himself at home at his ease from each of his laborers how all the work has thrived in the field. Other, for the knowledge of all men which he made.
821Then the beasts go into 22dens, 23and remain in their places.
21 Namely, when it is thunderous weather, as in the previous verse.
22 The Hebrew word signifies those places wherein the beasts do not only shelter themselves in time of severe weather, but also lurk and watch for their prey. Compare Job 38:40.
23 Hebr. dwelleth in his habitations.
9Out of the 24south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of 25the north.
24 Compare Job 9:9 and the annotation. Some do understand hereby the thick clouds, or other hidden treasuries, from which the winds do come forth. Hebr. Out of the chamber.
25 Hebr. the scattering wind, as in dispersing the clouds.
10Byd26the breath of God frost is given: and the 27breadth of the waters is straitened.
d Job 38:29, 30; Psalm 147:17, 18.
26 Understand the wind, which is likewise so called, 2 Sam. 22:16; Psalm 18:15. Hebr. through God’s blowing doth he give the frost.
27 Hebr. the breadth of the waters in curding, or pressing, or stiffening, or fastening, that is, driven close together and, as it were, curded within itself through cold.
11Also 28by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth 29his bright cloud:
28 Namely, to rarefy and to distribute and to scatter them through the beams of the sun. Other, through moistening the earth; that is, whilst He is dissolving the clouds to pour out their water; by which the clouds, by a similitude of those who do much work, are said to become wearied.
29 That is, whereby He brings forth light and brightness, when it is scattered. Or, understand the cloud of his lightning or flashings, whereby God does shoot or dart forth the lightnings. Other, He scattereth the clouds of his rain. Compare Job 36:30 with the annotations.
12And 30it is turned 31round about by his 32counsels: that 33they may do whatsoever he 34commandeth them 35upon the face of the world in the earth.
30 Namely, the cloud, spoken of in the previous verse.
31 Namely, whereby the cloud is driven and hurried about from one place in the air into the other, according to the order which He has established in nature by God’s Providence.
32 The Hebrew word signifies mostly a diligent prudence and advisedness in governing; as the pilots at sea are able to steer their ships with singular readiness, thus to bring them into the desired harbor. Also here, and Prov. 1:5; 11:14; 20:18; 24:6. Elsewhere it is taken in an ill sense for the wily and mischievous devices and counsels of the wicked, as Prov. 12:5.
33 Namely, not the cloud only, but likewise all the other aforementioned creatures, as the winds, the snow, the frost, the rain, etc.
34 That is, whatsoever He does by them. See Job 36 on verse 32.
35 Or, upon the plains of the world. Compare Gen. 1 on verse 2.
13He 36causeth 37it to come, whether fore38correction, or for 39his land, or for 40mercy.
36 Hebr. make to find.
37 Namely, the cloud.
e Exod. 9:18, 23; 1 Sam. 12:18, 19; Ezra 10:9; Job 36:31.
38 That is, chastisement and punishment for the people. See Job 9 on verse 34.
39 Namely, to visit the land with all the creatures which are contained therein, according to His good pleasure. They are called his, that is, of God, because they belong unto Him, being created by Him.
40 Namely, this to be shown towards the people.
14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Dost thou know when God 41disposed 42them, and caused the 43light of his cloud to shine?
41 Namely, to work by them; or, setteth his heart upon them, that is, does observe them with a purpose by the same, either to show and impart His benefits, or to inflict and execute His judgments.
42 Namely, clouds. Other, miracles.
43 That is, the lightning and fire flashes; also verse 3 and Job 36:30. He wants to say, because Job was not able to comprehend such natural things perfectly, that therefore he was much more unable to find out the basis of God’s judgments.
16Dost thou know the 44balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works 45of him which is perfect in knowledge?
44 That is, of the manner how the clouds are hung in the air, as in an even balance, that they do not fall entirely to the ground.
45 That is, of God, Whose wisdom is perfect in the disposition, and power in the execution of all His works. Compare 1 Sam. 2:3.
1746How thy garments are warm, when 47he 48quieteth the earth 49by the south wind?
46 As if he said: Are you able to comprehend fully such a small thing as how the clothes upon the body grow warm through air which is warmed? No doubt Job was able enough to understand it in some degree, but Elihu speaks here of a perfect and thorough search of every circumstance to know exactly and fully, how, wherefore, when, where for or over whom the Lord may or does effect the same.
47 Namely, God.
48 That is, makes it without the winds upon it, which cause the cold.
49 That is, by means of the sun shining from the south.
18Hastf thou 50with him spread out the sky, which is 51strong, and 52as a molten looking glass?g
f Gen. 1:6.
50 Namely, with God, as if thou hadst been His companion in creating the world.
51 Namely, notwithstanding that they are of a very thin and subtle, transparent substance.
52 Namely, by reason of their brightness and luster. Elihu wants to say, since Job had not made this great work of creation, or was able to produce it, that he ought in reason to humble himself under that Almighty Power, especially seeing one must, by the perfection of His power, judge also of the perfection of His justice.
g mirror*
19Teach us what we shall say unto 53him; for we cannot 54order our speech by reason of 55darkness.
53 Namely, God, if we would enter into contention and variance with Him, as yourself is about now, as you want then, to defend your right against Him. See Job 13:3; 23:3, 4, etc.; 31:35.
54 Namely, finding thereto neither matter of reasons, nor ability for words, nor the art of composition.
55 Namely, of our understanding, which is not able to comprehend fully the works of God, much less to stand it out in debate of words and plea against His wisdom.
20Shall it be told 56him that I 57speak? 58if a man 59speak, surely he shall be 60swallowed up.
56 Namely, God; that is, shall any dare to inform and represent it unto God, of that which I would have purposed to speak evil of God?
57 Namely, as you, O Job, has spoken of God and His government.
58 Namely, that he would dare to deliver such words to God.
59 Hebr. saith, namely, in his heart, that is, thinks someone. See Gen. 20 on verse 11. Or, saith he, namely, with the mouth.
60 Namely, by the Majesty of God.
21And now men see not the bright 61light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and 62cleanseth them.
61 That is, the sun, when he is in his full splendor and spreads his beams through the air. See Job 25 on verse 3. The sense is: Seeing we are not able to look with our eyes upon the sun, when it shines most bright, how much less shall we be able to endure the infinite majesty of God and to comprehend His secret judgments by our understanding.
62 Namely, the heavens or sky.
2263Fair weather 64cometh out of the 65north: with God is 66terrible majesty.
63 Or, Gold. Understand fair and clear weather with sunshine, which is compared to gold for its brightness and pureness. Compare Zech. 4:12, with the annotation.
64 That is, spreads itself through the air.
65 Namely, when the air is cleansed and purified by the north wind. Compare verse 9.
66 Namely, which brightness is infinitely more than of the sun. Other, by the dreadful God is majesty.
23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellenth in power, 67and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
h Job 9:4; 12:13, 16; 36:5; Psalm 99:4.
67 That is, although He is omnipotent, nevertheless He will not make use of His great power, to deal, according to the utmost rigor of His justice, here with man. Other, he is great of power, and of judgment, and of great justice, he oppresseth not.
24Men do therefore fear him: 68he respecteth not any that are 69wise of heart.
68 The sense is, that God is not moved to show His mercy and kindness to men for anything that He sees in man, although he were the wisest of men, but only of and for His love which He bears unto us in the Messiah, and that for the glorifying of His holy Name.
69 That is, who have a wise and prudent understanding. Also Exod. 28:3; 31:6; 35:25. Compare also Job 9:4 and the annotation. Other, he seeth not any wise of heart, or, shall he not regard all wise of heart?: that is, take notice of them who are truly wise?