Job 38

King James Version

Full text for Job Chapter 38

1¶ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

2Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

4¶ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?

9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,

11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12¶ Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know his place;

13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] the place thereof,

20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof?

21Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?

22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25¶ Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;

27To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?

36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

In Job 38, the LORD answers Job out of a whirlwind, challenging his understanding and wisdom. God begins by questioning Job's presence and knowledge during the creation of the earth, the containment of the sea, and the establishment of the morning. Through a series of rhetorical questions, God highlights His own omnipotence and Job's profound limitations in comprehending the natural world and its intricate workings.

Medium Summary

The LORD initiates His discourse by rebuking Job for darkening counsel with words lacking knowledge, then commands Job to prepare himself to answer. God immediately launches into a series of interrogations concerning the foundational acts of creation, asking Job where he was when the earth was laid, or when the sea was confined. The divine questioning extends to the command of the morning, the springs of the sea, the gates of death, and the dwelling places of light and darkness. God further challenges Job regarding the treasures of snow and hail, the division of watercourses, and the origin of rain and dew. This extensive interrogation serves to underscore God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, contrasting sharply with Job's finite human experience and knowledge.

Long Summary

Job 38 marks the beginning of the LORD's direct response to Job, speaking from a whirlwind. God immediately confronts Job, asking who darkens counsel without knowledge, and challenges Job to gird up his loins and answer. The divine interrogation commences with fundamental questions about creation: where Job was when the earth's foundations were laid, when the morning stars sang, and when the sea was shut up with doors and its proud waves stayed. God then probes Job's ability to command the morning, enter the springs of the sea, or perceive the breadth of the earth. The questions continue, delving into the mysteries of light and darkness, the treasures of snow and hail reserved for times of trouble, and the pathways of the east wind. The LORD further inquires about the division of watercourses for rain in desolate lands, the father of rain, the begetter of dew, and the origin of ice and hoary frost. Celestial phenomena are also brought forth, with God asking if Job can bind Pleiades, loose Orion, bring forth Mazzaroth, or guide Arcturus. The discourse concludes with questions about the wisdom placed in man's inward parts, the numbering of clouds, and God's provision for wild creatures like lions and ravens, all serving to demonstrate God's immeasurable power, wisdom, and providential care, which far transcend human comprehension.

Core Concepts

  • Divine ChallengeThe LORD directly addresses Job from a whirlwind, challenging his understanding and wisdom through a series of profound rhetorical questions. This marks the first time God speaks directly in the book.
  • Cosmic CreationGod questions Job's presence and knowledge during the foundational acts of creation, including the laying of the earth's foundations and the containment of the tumultuous sea. This highlights God's sole authorship of the universe.
  • Control of NatureThe chapter emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over natural phenomena, such as commanding the morning, controlling light and darkness, storing snow and hail, and orchestrating rain, dew, and ice. These examples demonstrate His meticulous governance of the world.
  • Human LimitationThrough the extensive questioning, God underscores Job's finite human understanding and inability to comprehend or control the vast complexities of creation. Job is shown to be utterly incapable of performing or even understanding God's works.
  • Celestial OrderGod references His control over constellations like Pleiades, Orion, Mazzaroth, and Arcturus, illustrating His dominion over the celestial bodies and their seasons. This points to a divine order beyond human manipulation.
  • Divine ProvidenceThe LORD concludes by highlighting His provision for wild animals, such as hunting prey for lions and feeding ravens when their young cry out. This illustrates God's ongoing care for all living creatures.