Job 37
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
My heart trembleth - This is what the Septuagint has anticipated; see under Job 36:28 (note). A proper consideration of God's majesty in the thunder and lightning is enough to appall the stoutest heart, confound the wisest mind, and fill all with humility and devotion. This, to the middle of Job 37:5, should be added to the preceding chapter, as it is a continuation of the account of the thunder and lightning given at the conclusion of that chapter. Our present division is as absurd as it is unfortunate.
Open source ↗(Job 37:1-24) At this--when I hear the thundering of the Divine Majesty. Perhaps the storm already had begun, out of which God was to address Job (Job 38:1).
Open source ↗At this also my heart trembleth,.... At the greatness and majesty of God, not only as displayed in those works of his before observed, but as displayed in those he was about to speak of: such terrible majesty is there with God, that all rational creatures tremble at it; the nations of the world, the kings and great men of the earth, and even the devils themselves, Isa 64:2. Good men tremble in the worship of God, and at the word of God; and even at the judgments of God on wicked men, and at the things that are coming on the churches of Christ. But Elihu has a particular respect to thunder and lightning, which are very terrible to many persons (s), both good and bad (t). At the giving of the law, there were such blazes of lightning and claps of thunder, that not only all the people of Israel in the camp trembled, but Moses himself also exceedingly feared and quaked, Exo 19:16. It is very probable, that at this time Elihu saw a storm gathering, and a tempest rising; some flashes of lightning were seen, and some murmurs (u) of thunders heard, which began to affect him; since quickly after we read that God spoke out of the whirlwind or tempest, Job 38:1; and is moved out of his place; was ready to leap out of his body. Such an effect had this phenomenon of nature on him; as is sometimes the case with men at a sudden fright or unusual sound, and particularly thunder (w). (s) , &c. Homer. Il. 10. v. 94, 95. (t) As it was to Augustus Caesar, who always carried about with him the skin of a sea calf, as a preservative; and, on suspicion of a storm rising, would betake himself to some secret and covered place: and to Tiberius, who wore his laurel to secure him from it: and to Caligula, who, on hearing it, would get out of bed and hide himself under it. Sueton. Vit. August. c. 90.…
Open source ↗1 Yea, at this my heart trembleth And tottereth from its place. 2 Hear, O hear the roar of His voice, And the murmur that goeth out of His mouth. 3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And His lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it roareth the voice of the thunder, He thundereth with the voice of His majesty, And spareth not the lightnings, when His voice is heard. 5 God thundereth with His voice marvellously, Doing great things, incomprehensible to us. Louis Bridel is perhaps right when he inserts after Job 36 the observation: L'clair brille, la tonnerre gronde. לזאת does not refer to the phenomenon of the storm which is represented in the mind, but to that which is now to be perceived by the senses. The combination שׁמעוּ שׁמוע can signify both hear constantly, Isa 6:9, and hear attentively, Job 13:17; here it is the latter. רגז of thunder corresponds to the verbs Arab. rḥz and rjs, which can be similarly used. The repetition of קול fo noititeper eh five times calls to mind the seven קולות (ἑπτὰ βρονταί) in Psa 29:1-11. The parallel is הגה, Job 37:2, a murmuring, as elsewhere of the roar of the lion and the cooing of the dove. The suff. of ישׁרהוּ refers to the thunder which rolls through the immeasurable breadth under heaven; it is not perf. Piel of ישׁר (Schlottm.), for "to give definite direction" (Ch2 32:30) is not appropriate to thunder, but fut. Kal of שׁרה, to free, to unbind (Ew., Hirz. and most others). What Job 37:3 says of thunder, Job 37:3 says of light, i.e., the lightning: God sends it forth to the edges, πτέρυγες, i.e., ends, of the earth. אחריו, Job 37:4, naturally refers to the lightning, which is followed by the roar of the thunder; and יעקּבם to the flashes, which, when once its rumble is heard, God does not restrain (עקּב = עכ…
Open source ↗Thunder and lightning, which usually go together, are sensible indications of the glory and majesty, the power and terror, of Almighty God, one to the ear and the other to the eye; in these God leaves not himself without witness of his greatness, as, in the rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, he leaves not himself without witness of his goodness (Act 14:17), even to the most stupid and unthinking. Though there are natural causes and useful effects of them, which the philosophers undertake to account for, yet they seem chiefly designed by the Creator to startle and awaken the slumbering world of mankind to the consideration of a God above them. The eye and the ear are the two learning senses; and therefore, though such a circumstance is possible, they say it was never known in fact that any one was born both blind and deaf. By the word of God divine instructions are conveyed to the mind through the ear, by his works through the eye; but, because those ordinary sights and sounds do not duly affect men, God is pleased sometimes to astonish men by the eye with his lightnings and by the ear with his thunder. It is very probable that at this time, when Elihu was speaking, it thundered and lightened, for he speaks of the phenomena as present; and, God being about to speak (Job 38:1), these were, as afterwards on Mount Sinai, the proper prefaces to command attention and awe. Observe here, 1. How Elihu was himself affected, and desired to affect Job, with the appearance of God's glory in the thunder and lightning (Job 37:1, Job 37:2): "For my part," says Elihu, "my heart trembles at it; though I have often heard it, often seen it, yet it is still terrible to me, and makes every joint of me tremble, and my heart beat as if it would move out of its place." Thunder and lightning…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
זֹאת (zôʼth, H2063) — this (often used adverb) לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… חָרַד (chârad, H2729) — to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety) נָתַר (nâthar, H5425) — to jump, i.e. be violently agitated; causatively, to terrify, shake off, untie מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);…
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… רֹגֶז (rôgez, H7267) — commotion, restlessness (of a horse), crash (of thunder), disquiet, anger קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound הֶגֶה (hegeh, H1899) — a muttering (in sighing, thought, or as thunder) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);…
Open source ↗יָשַׁר (yâshar, H3474) — to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant,… שָׁרָה (shârâh, H8281) — to free שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… אוֹר (ʼôwr, H216) — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.) כָּנָף (kânâph, H3671) — an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound שָׁאַג (shâʼag, H7580) — to rumble or moan רָעַם (râʻam, H7481) — to tumble, i.e. be violently agitated; specifically, to crash (of thunder); figuratively,… גָּאוֹן (gâʼôwn, H1347) — {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament} עָקַב (ʻâqab, H6117) — to seize by the heel; figuratively, to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) רָעַם (râʻam, H7481) — to tumble, i.e. be violently agitated; specifically, to crash (of thunder); figuratively,… פָּלָא (pâlâʼ, H6381) — properly, perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שֶׁלֶג (sheleg, H7950) — snow (probably from its whiteness) הָוָא (hâvâʼ, H1933) — to be (in the sense of existence) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מָטַר (mâṭar, H4306) — rain גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — a shower עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise)
Open source ↗חָתַם (châtham, H2856) — to close up; especially to seal יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,…
Open source ↗חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בְּמוֹ (bᵉmôw, H1119) — in, with, by, etc. אֶרֶב (ʼereb, H695) — ambuscade שָׁכַן (shâkan, H7931) — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) מְעוֹנָה (mᵉʻôwnâh, H4585) — {an abode, of God (the Tabernacle or the Temple), men (their home) or animals (their…
Open source ↗חֶדֶר (cheder, H2315) — an apartment (usually literal) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) סוּפָה (çûwphâh, H5492) — a hurricane קָרָה (qârâh, H7135) — coolness מְזָרֶה (mᵉzâreh, H4215) — properly, a scatterer, i.e. the north wind (as dispersing clouds; only in plural)
Open source ↗נְשָׁמָה (nᵉshâmâh, H5397) — a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely)… אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) קֶרַח (qerach, H7140) — ice (as if bald, i.e. smooth); hence, hail; by resemblance, rock crystal נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) רֹחַב (rôchab, H7341) — width (literally or figuratively) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מוּצַק (mûwtsaq, H4164) — narrowness; figuratively, distress
Open source ↗רִי (rîy, H7377) — irrigation, i.e. a shower טָרַח (ṭârach, H2959) — to overburden עָב (ʻâb, H5645) — properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a… פּוּץ (pûwts, H6327) — to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse) אוֹר (ʼôwr, H216) — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.) עָנָן (ʻânân, H6051) — a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud
Open source ↗הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert מֵסַב (mêçab, H4524) — a divan (as enclosing the room); abstractly (adverbial) around תַּחְבֻּלָה (tachbulâh, H8458) — (only in plural) properly, steerage (as a management of ropes), i.e. (figuratively)… פֹּעַל (pôʻal, H6467) — an act or work (concretely) צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… תֵּבֵל (têbêl, H8398) — the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or…
Open source ↗אָזַן (ʼâzan, H238) — to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen אִיּוֹב (ʼÎyôwb, H347) — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) בִּין (bîyn, H995) — to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand פָּלָא (pâlâʼ, H6381) — properly, perhaps to separate, i.e. distinguish (literally or figuratively); by… אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once all the doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose.
fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.
Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.
When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: