Job 37:6

Job 37:6

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4 After it ^aa voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
^aHe does great things which we cannot comprehend.

6 For ^aHe says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’;
Likewise to the¹ gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

7 He seals the hand of every man,
^aThat ^ball men may know His work.

8 The beasts ^ago into dens,
And remain in their lairs.

9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.

10 ^aBy the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.

11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His¹ bright clouds.

12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may ^ado whatever He commands them
On the face of¹ the whole earth.

13 ^aHe causes it to come,
Whether for¹ correction,
Or ^bfor His land,
Or ^cfor mercy.

14 “Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and ^aconsider the wondrous works of God.

15 Do you know when God¹ dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

<< Job 37:5

Job 37:7 >>

For he saith to the snow - That is, the snow is produced by the command of God, and is a proof of his wisdom and greatness. The idea is, that; the formation of snow was an illustration of the wisdom of God, and should teach people to regard him with reverence. It is not to be supposed that the laws by which snow is formed in the atmosphere were understood in the time of Elihu. The fact that it seemed to be the effect of the immediate creation of God, was the principal idea in the mind of Elihu in illustrating his wisdom. But it is not less fitted to excite our admiration of his wisdom now that the laws by which it is produced are better understood; and in fact the knowledge of those laws is adapted to elevate our conceptions of the wisdom and majesty of Him who formed them. The investigations and discoveries of science do not diminish the proofs of the Creator' s wisdom and greatness. but every new discovery tends to change blind admiration to intelligent devotion; to transform wonder to praise. On the formation of snow, see the notes at Job 38:22.

Be thou on the earth - There is a strong resemblance between this passage and the sublime command in Genesis 1:3, "And God said, Let there be light, and there was light." Each of them is expressive of the creative power of God, and of the ease with which he accomplishes his purposes.

Likewise to the small rain - Margin, "and to the shower of rain, and to the showers of rain of his strength." The word which is used here in the Hebrew ( ׁ geshem ), means "rain" in general, and the phrase "small rain" ( ׁ ( mâṭâr geshem ), seems to be used to denote the "rain" simply, without reference to its violence, or to its being copious. The following phrase, "the great rain of his strength" ( ּ ׁ geshem mâṭârôt ‛ôzû ) refers to the rain when it has increased to a copious shower. The idea before the mind of Elihu seems to have been that of a shower, as it commences and increases until it pours down torrents, and the meaning is, that alike in the one case and the other, the rain was under the command of God, and obeyed his will. The whole description here is that which pertains to winter, and Elihu refers doubtless to the copious rains which fell at that season of the year.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Job 37:6:**

Job 5:10
Psalms 147:16

<< Job 37:5

Job 37:7 >>

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