1.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
answered. See note on Job 4:1 . We now have Jehovah ' s own ministry, and the theme is Himself. Elihu ' s ministry furnishes the text: "God is greater than man "(Job 33:12 ). This leads up to "the end of the Lord" (James 5:11 ). "How should mortal man be just with God? "See Job 4:17 ; Job 9:2 ; Job 15:14 ; Job 33:9 ; Job 34:5 . How different from the ministry of the three friends, which, like most ministries of to-day, consists in the effort to make men "good" by persuasion.
2.
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Who is this . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
darkeneth. Hebrew. hashak. See note on Job 3:6 .
3.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
man. Hebrew. geber . App-14 .
answer thou Me = cause Me to know.
4.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
hast understanding = knowest.
5.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6.
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
foundations = sockets.
fastened = sunk.
7.
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
stars sang. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 . See App-12 .
sons of God = angels. See note on Genesis 6:2 , and the eight occurrences of the expression in O.T. See also App-23 and App-25 .
8.
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?
9.
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
thick darkness. Hebrew. 'araphel. See note on Job 3:6 .
10.
And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
brake up = assigned.
11.
And 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;
the morning. See the Alternation below, verses: Job 38:12-14 .
13.
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
the wicked = lawless. All the ancient versions and early printed editions read "the lawless"
14.
It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
16.
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
search = secret.
17.
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
doors = gates.
18.
Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
19.
Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
way. Supply Ellipsis: "Where is the way [to the place where] light", &c.
20.
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21.
Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22.
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
treasures = treasuries.
23.
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
against the day, &c. . - e.g. as in Joshua 10:10 .
24.
By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
part = divide up into parts: as the rays of light in a prism.
25.
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26.
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
man. Hebrew ' ish . App-14 .
man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .
27.
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28.
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
dew = night mist. See note on Psalms 133:3 .
29.
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30.
The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31.
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Pleiades. Hebrew. kimah. See App-12 .
Orion. Hebrew kesil. App-12 .
32.
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
Mazzarotli = the twelve signs of the Zodiac marking the path of the sun in the heavens. App-12 . Arcturus. Hebrew. 'ayish the greater sheepfold: known to day as "the great bear". See App-12 .
33.
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
ordinances = statutes.
the = his.
34.
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35.
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36.
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
in the inward parts. Hebrew. tuchoth: Occurs only here and Psalms 51:6 . See note on Job 28:28 and Proverbs 1:7 .
37.
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38.
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39.
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40.
When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41.
Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.