1God out of the whirlwind challengeth Job to answer; 4and by an enumeration of his mighty works convinceth Job of ignorance, 31and of weakness.
1THEN the LORD answered Job out of 1the whirlwind, and said,
1 Whereby God gave Job to understand His presence and made him attentive and humble before His majesty. See similar examples Exod. 19:16, 18, 22, etc.; Deut. 4:11; 1 Kings 19:11, 12; Ezek. 1:4; Nahum 1:3.
2Whoais this that 2darkeneth 3counsel by words without knowledge?
a Job 42:3.
2 Namely, to accuse by him of any deficiencies unjustly and foolishly.
3 Understand the decrees and judgments of God. Also Psalm 33:11; Prov. 19:21; Isa. 28:29; Acts 2:23.
34Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and 5answer thou me.
4 That is, make thyself ready to enter into debate with Me, according as thou hast desired. A manner of speaking, taken from those who used to wear long garments, which they must tuck up when they would make themselves ready to go about any work. Compare the annotation at 1 Kings 18 on verse 46.
5 God speaks ironically here to Job, to humble him through the consideration of human frailty and nothingness compared with the Divine majesty, wherewith it seemed he would have wanted to enter in a dispute. See 1 Kings 22 on verse 15.
4Where wast thou whenb I 6laid the foundations of the earth? declare, 7if thou hast understanding.
b Prov. 8:29.
6 That is, when I made the same and laid the foundation of it. See Job 26:7 and the annotation. He wants to say: Nowhere. This and what follows are borrowed speeches taken from the manner and resemblance of setting up some great buildings.
7 Hebr. if thou knowest understanding, that is, be strong in understanding, much experience and discernment. Compare 1 Chron. 12:32; 2 Chron. 2:12; Isa. 29:24.
5Who hath laid the 8measures 9thereof, 10if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the 11line upon it?
8 That is, circuit or breadth and depth.
9 Namely, the measures of the earth.
10 God speaks again in an ironical way to him, as in verse 3. Other, if thou knowest it.
11 Namely, that she would have her due proportion, shape and beauty. Compare Psalm 19 on verse 4.
6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who 12laid the 13corner stone thereof;
12 Hebr. cast.
13 Hebr. the stone of her corner, that is, that which knits and fastens the work together. Compare Psalm 118:22; Mat. 21:42.
7When the 14morning stars sang together, and all 15the sons of God shouted for joy?
14 Some understand by these the most bright and shining stars. Compare Psalm 148:3. Others gather from the sequel that it must likewise be understood of the blessed angels. Of the stars properly taken see verses 31, 32.
15 That is, the holy angels. See Job 1:6; 2:1.
8Or 16who 17shutc up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the 18womb?
16 This word is here inserted from the previous 5th verse.
17 Hebr. covered, that is, kept in, or, enclosed, that it would not overflow its set bounds.
c Gen. 1:9; Job 26:10; Psalm 33:7; 104:9; Prov. 8:29; Jer. 5:22.
18 That is, out of the ordinance and the command of God in a moment, as the child is delivered into the world out of the mother’s womb. Others understand by the mother’s body the abyss or deeps wherewith the face of the earth was covered at the beginning, Gen. 1:2.
9When 19I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
19 God, to show His mighty power, compares the sea to a young child, which must be clothed and swathed. The garments of the sea are the clouds which cover it; the swaddlingband are all obscurities, vapors, mists and shadows.
10And brake up 20for it my decreed 21place, and set 22bars and doors,
20 That is, for the sea; namely, to make it run into the deeps of the earth.
21 That is, made hollowness, concavities within it, whereby part of those waters did enter the earth; from which so many rivers and inland-waters have their sources. Other, when I decreed my ordinance over it, namely, which is related in the sequel. Or thus: Should I break my decree then over it? I have set bolts and doors, and said, etc.
22 Understand the dunes and shores of the sea, which keep the waters in that they cannot transgress the bounds to overflow the earth anymore, Jer. 5:22.
11And 23said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here 24shall thy proud 25waves be stayed?
23 Of God’s saying see Gen. 1 on verse 3.
24 Namely, the bar, spoken of in the previous verse, that is, sand, cliffs, shore of the sea.
25 The Hebrew word is likewise taken in Psalm 89:9; Isa. 48:18; Zech. 10:11.
12Hast thou 26commanded the morning 27since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know 28his place;
26 Or, commanded the time of the morning, namely, that he would break forth before the rising of the sun, according to the order which one is able to observe in nature.
27 That is, from or since the beginning of thy life. Compare Job 27:6.
28 That is, that place of heaven where he is to arise every day of the year, according to the rising and going down of the sun.
13That 29it might take hold of the 30ends of the earth, that the wicked might be 31shaken out of it?
29 Namely, the dawn.
30 Hebr. wings. Also Job 37:3; see the annotation. Understand the uttermost parts and corners of the earth, to which reach the beams of the sun.
31 That is, destroyed, like dust shaken out, Neh. 5:13, or as something else that is shaken and cast forth out of its place, Exod. 14:27. Or, are shaken out, namely, because they shun the daylight, committing their wickedness for the most part by night, and therewith covering the same, Job 24:13, 14; John 3:20; likewise, because they use to be punished with death by the magistrate on a clear day and as such to be taken away out of the world.
14It is turned as 32clay to the seal; and 33they stand as a garment.
32 Hebr. the clay of the seal, that is, where the seal is imprinted. The meanings is: As the clay has no peculiar form or shape of itself, but it is when a seal is printed into it; so is the earth without any apparent form and shape by night, because of the darkness; but by day, the light of the sun does alter her condition, showing forth variety of shapes and features in the things that are upon her.
33 Namely, the creatures, which are upon the earth and cover and decorate the same as a garment. Other, and they are set, as covered with a garment; understand this of the wicked, spoken off in the previous verse, who are brought and set before the judgment, where the lawsuit is made against them. The criminals were usually to be covered with a garment at that time, Esther 7:8. Other, and they are set, that is, hindered to proceed in their evil practices, as if their hands and feet were wound with some garment.
15And from the wicked their 34light is withholden, and the 35high arm shall be 36broken.
34 That is, well-being, wealth and honor. See Job 18 on verse 5.
35 That is, their violence, insolence and tyranny, whereby they are exalted in state and high places, and commit all manner of oppression without control. Also a man of the arm for one who practices violence, Job 22:8; see the annotation there.
36 That is, crushed, destroyed. Also Psalm 10:15; Ezek. 30:22.
16Hast thou entered into the 37springs of the sea? or hast thou walked 38in the search 39of the depth?
37 Hebr. tears or weepings. Understand the deepest bottoms, spring-veins and well-springs from which the most and mightiest floods and streams break forth and issue.
38 Hebr. in the examination, that is, in the place of the sea where she is the deepest and where you may cast a plummet indeed, but never finds a bottom.
39 Compare Gen. 1 on verse 2 and Job 28 on verse 14.
17Have the 40gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
40 Understand the lowermost places of the earth, and the paths leading to them, so called, because the dead lie hid under the earth. The same is to be understood by the doors of the shadow of death. Compare Job 3 on verse 5 and Job 10 on verse 21.
18Hast thou perceived 41the breadth of the earth? 42declare if thou knowest it 43all.
41 Namely, to comprehend and to observe what is going on in all the corners and places thereof. Or also, why the earth is not broader or narrower.
42 Compare verse 4.
43 Namely, what I have asked and set before thee thus far.
19Where is the way 44where 45light dwelleth? and as for 46darkness, where is the place thereof,
44 That is to come to the place where the light dwells; namely, so as to set bound unto and confine that light and the darkness, and to sustain and govern them in that condition. For this, and what follows, is not to be understood merely of the knowledge, which man may have of these things, but of the ordering, managing and governing thereof, which only and entirely belongs to God.
45 Understand the sun. Also Job 25:3; see the annotation there.
46 Namely, which is caused through the absence and going down of the sun.
20That thou shouldest 47take 48it to the 49bound thereof, and that thou shouldest 50know the 51paths to the 52house thereof?
47 Hebr. would take; that is, take and bring, or taking bring. See Gen. 12 on verse 15
48 Namely, the light, or also the darkness, of which is spoken in the previous verse.
49 Wherewith the course of the sun is circumscribed, namely, into one natural day, consisting of 24 hours, or into one year by both the solstices, when in winter it makes the shortest and in summer the longest day.
50 Understand such an observation, which is accompanied with the managing and governing of the light.
51 Understand the way or course, which the sun runs through in making a natural day and year.
52 Understand the place where it rises and sets, as also where it begins and ends the year.
2153Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
53 This is spoken ironically by God to Job. Also verses 3, 5; see the annotation on verse 3. Other, Didst thou know that when thou shouldest be born, and thy days shouldest be many in number?
22Hast thou entered into the 54treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
54 God speaks by similitude to show His great power, whereby He, whenever it pleases Him, is able to bring forth a great abundance of snow and hail, as if He had great treasures of them laid up in store and locked up against such times, as He thinks good to use and spend them.
23Which I have reserved against 55the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
55 Namely, to execute therewith My righteous judgments. See examples thereof in Exod. 9:18; Joshua 10:11; 1 Sam. 7:10.
24By what 56way is the 57light parted, which scattereth the 58east wind upon the earth?
56 Understand by the way all reasons, means, accidents, courses, conditions, operations and final causes of what happens in the air; and that not only in a general regard, but especially also in particular.
57 That is, that lightning, fire-flashes, shooting meteors or kindled vapors, etc., do begin in the air, and cease, and vary in such places, hours, qualities, events, etc.
58 Under one sort of wind all the rest are understood; for how it comes to pass that all of them do blow so differently, now this, now that, this is fully known to none but God. Of the east wind particular see Gen. 41 on verse 6 and Exod. 10 on verse 13. Compare John 3:8.
25Who hath divided a 59watercourse for the 60overflowing of waters, or 61a way 62for the lightning of thunder;
59 Namely, whereby the waters, falling down out of the air, have their course upon the earth to moisten such or such a land.
60 Or, shower of rain. Hebr. overflowing.
61 Compare Job 28:26.
62 Other, for the rushing flash. Hebr. lightning or flash of voices.
26To cause it to rain on the earth, where 63no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
63 Namely, to moisten the land by the labor of the workmen.
27Tod satisfy 64the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
d Psalm 107:35.
64 That is, which is very barren, being dry and unfruitful of itself, and besides made desolate and uninhabited of men by wars and robberies. Compare Job 30:3 and the annotations.
2865Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
65 God wants to say: Not he, but only I do bring him forth. Also in the sequel.
29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the 66hoarye frost of heaven, who hath genderedf it?
66 The Hebrew word is also taken in this signification in Exod. 16:14; Psalm 147:16.
e grey or white in color*
f produced
30The waters are 67hid as with a stone, and the 68face of the deep 69is frozen.
67 Namely, by means of the frost, which makes that there seems to be no water, but mere stones, under which the unfrozen water is taking shelter.
68 That is, the superficies, or surface of the sea, or of the deep waters.
69 That is, environed and held fast by the frost, as if it were imprisoned, being so hemmed by the cold that it cannot flow away.
31Canst thou 70bind the sweet influences ofg Pleiades, or loose the 71bands of Orion?
70To bind is as much here as to hinder or to retain, that this Pleiades shall not rise, and bring the pleasantness of the spring along with it. See of this starry sign Job 9:9.
g Job 9:9; Amos 5:8.
71 Understand by these bands the attractive powers whereby Orion brings on clouds, rains, cold and stormy weather in November. To lose them is to hinder and withhold their operations and influences.
32Canst thou bring forth 72Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide 73Arcturus with 74his sons?
72 What stars or constellation this may be, opinions vary much. Some understand thereby the stars about the South pole, Job 9:9, called inner chambers, but here Mazzaroth, from nazar (to sever or separate), as being very remote from Europe and the place also where Job dwelled. Some on the contrary take this Mazzaroth for northern stars, drawn into that opinion by the likeness of the word mezarim, Job 37:9, which signifies scattering, namely, winds coming from the north. Others take them to be the Mazzaloth, that is, the planets, or the twelve signs of Zodiak, whereof see 2 Kings 23:5. There are some also which hold them to be the celestial sign, called the Crowns.
73 See of this sign Job 9 on verse 9.
74 Understand some lesser stars, placed around the Arcturus, as the children about the mother.
33Knowesth thou 75the ordinances of heaven? 76canst thou set the 77dominion thereof in the earth?
h Jer. 31:35.
75 That is, the order which God keeps with these heavenly lights and signs and their courses to execute His pleasure by them.
76 That is, art thou able there on earth to rule the course and the movements of heaven?
77 Hebr. government.
34Canst thou 78lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
78 Namely, to command them how much water they shall pour out, and when and where.
35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, 79Here we are?
79 Namely, ready to execute thy commands. See Gen. 22 on verse 1.
36Whoi hath put wisdom in the 80inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the 81heart?
i Job 32:8; Eccl. 2:26; Dan. 1:17.
80 The Hebrew word is taken for the reins. By reins is understood the inmost, or most inward of man’s spirit. Compare Job 19 on verse 27. The Hebrew word is also in Psalm 51:6, and see the annotation there.
81 Other, to the mind.
37Who can number 82the clouds in wisdom? or who can 83stay the 84bottles of heaven,
82 That is, fully declare their motions, powers, operations and the entire nature. The Hebrew verb in Psalm 22:17 is used for numbering. Other, Who can make the heaven like a sapphire, that is, most clear and bright all over.
83 That is, hold up, that they pour out no more water; that is, who can make the rain to cease but God alone? It is a comparison taken of such vessels, as must be lifted up in pouring out the moisture contained in them, and set down again when one refrains from pouring out. Other, make to sleep.
84 Understand the clouds, forasmuch as the water is kept in them, as it were in bottles, which afterwards they pour out as the Lord is pleased.
38When the 85dust groweth 86into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
85 That is, the earth, turned into dust by long continued drought.
86 That is, when, by abundance of rain that fell, the dust is made to close together again, and turn into clods, which hang and stick close to another.
39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the 87lion? orj88fill the 89appetite of the young lions,
87 Namely, which has but little strength left to obtain his prey. The sense is: that the same is prepared for him by God’s Providence, and not by the care and labor of man, Psalm 104:21, for otherwise he must perish, Job 4:11.
j Psalm 104:21.
88 Namely, when they are forsaken or forgotten by the old ones. Compare Psalm 147:9.
89 Hebr. the life. Understand the greedy desire and appetite which the young lions have towards their prey. The Hebrew word chajah is in this book sometimes of the same signification with the nephesh soul, as may be seen Job 33:18, 20, 22. Now, nephesh is sometimes so much as longing and desire towards something, as in Psalm 27:12; 109:9; Prov. 23:2; Isa. 56:11. Other, fully supply the young lions their food or sustenance?
40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the 90covert 91to lie in wait?
90 Hebr. hut or tent, that is, hiding place, cave or den.
91 That is, to spy out some animals, which they may catch and tear and devour. Other, in the lurking places, namely, out of which they do lurk; also Job 37:8.
41Who provideth for thek raven his 92food? when his 93young ones cry 94unto God, they 95wander for lack of meat.
k Psalm 147:9; Mat. 6:26.
92 The Hebrew word signifies properly such meat or food as is gotten by hunting. See Gen. 27:3 and the annotation.
93 Hebr. born ones.
94 That is, when they cry in their nest for food; which is called a cry unto God, because God takes care to provide food for the young ravens. They write that they are forsaken by the old ones because they have at first white down of feathers, until they are black; and in the meanwhile they are wonderfully fed by God with certain small worms which grow out of the raven’s dung in the nest. Compare Psalm 147:9.
95 Namely, about the nest, being forsaken by the dam.