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85 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
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PriorBook = 'Esther';
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Title = 'The Book of Job';
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<p id="Chapter37" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>CHAPTER 37
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<p id="Job37_1"><a onclick="return mV('Job',37,'1-24');">Job 37:1-24</a>.
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<p><b>1. At this</b>—when I hear the thundering of the Divine Majesty. Perhaps the storm already had begun, out of which God was to address Job (<a onclick="return mV('Job',38,1);">Job 38:1</a>).
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<p id="Job37_2"><b>2. Hear attentively</b>—the thunder (noise), etc., and then you will feel that there is good reason to tremble.
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<br><br><b>sound</b>—<i>muttering</i> of the thunder.
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<p id="Job37_3"><b>3. directeth it</b>—however zigzag the lightning's course; or, rather, it applies to the pealing roll of the thunder. God's <i>all-embracing</i> power.
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<br><br><b>ends</b>—literally, "wings," "skirts," the habitable earth being often compared to an extended garment (<a onclick="return mV('Job',38,13);">Job 38:13</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',11,12);">Isa 11:12</a>).
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<p id="Job37_4"><b>4.</b> The thunderclap follows at an interval after the flash.
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<br><br><b>stay them</b>—He will not hold back the lightnings (<a onclick="return mV('Job',37,3);">Job 37:3</a>), when the thunder is heard [MAURER]. Rather, take "them" as the usual concomitants of thunder, namely, <i>rain and hail</i> [UMBREIT] (<a onclick="return mV('Job',40,9);">Job 40:9</a>).
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<p id="Job37_5"><b>5.</b> (<a onclick="return mV('Job',36,26);">Job 36:26</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',65,6);">Psa 65:6</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',139,14);">139:14</a>). The sublimity of the description lies in this, that God is everywhere in the storm, directing it whither He will [BARNES]. See <a onclick="return mV('Psa',29,'1-11');">Psa 29:1-11</a>, where, as here, the "voice" of God is repeated with grand effect. The thunder in Arabia is sublimely terrible.
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<p id="Job37_6"><b>6. Be</b>—more forcible than "fall," as UMBREIT translates <a onclick="return mV('Gen',1,3);">Gen 1:3</a>.
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<br><br><b>to the small rain,</b> etc.—He saith, Be on the earth. The shower increasing from "small" to "great," is expressed by the <i>plural</i> "showers" (<i>Margin</i>), following the <i>singular</i> "shower." Winter rain (<a onclick="return mV('Sgs',2,11);">Sgs 2:11</a>).
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<p id="Job37_7"><b>7.</b> In winter God stops man's out-of-doors activity.
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<br><br><b>sealeth</b>—closeth up (<a onclick="return mV('Job',9,7);">Job 9:7</a>). Man's "hands" are then tied up.
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<br><br><b>his work</b>—in antithesis to <i>man's own work</i> ("hand") which at other times engages men so as to make them liable to forget their dependence on God. UMBREIT more literally translates, That all men <i>whom He has made</i> (literally, "of His making") may be brought to acknowledgment."
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<p id="Job37_8"><b>8. remain</b>—rest in their lairs. It is beautifully ordered that during the cold, when they could not obtain food, many lie torpid, a state wherein they need no food. The desolation of the fields, at God's bidding, is poetically graphic.
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<p id="Job37_9"><b>9. south</b>—literally, "chambers"; connected with the south (<a onclick="return mV('Job',9,9);">Job 9:9</a>). The whirlwinds are poetically regarded as pent up by God in His southern chambers, whence He sends them forth (so <a onclick="return mV('Job',38,22);">Job 38:22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',135,7);">Psa 135:7</a>). As to the southern whirlwinds (see <a onclick="return mV('Isa',21,1);">Isa 21:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Zec',9,14);">Zec 9:14</a>), they drive before them burning sands; chiefly from February to May.
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<br><br><b>the north</b>—literally, "scattering"; the north wind <i>scatters</i> the clouds.
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<p id="Job37_10"><b>10. the breath of God</b>—poetically, for the ice-producing north wind.
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<br><br><b>frost</b>—rather, "ice."
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<br><br><b>straitened</b>—physically accurate; frost <i>compresses</i> or <i>contracts</i> the expanded liquid into a congealed mass (<a onclick="return mV('Job',38,29,30);">Job 38:29-30</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',147,17,19);">Psa 147:17-18</a>).
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<p id="Job37_11"><b>11-13.</b> How the thunderclouds are dispersed, or else employed by God, either for correction or mercy.
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<br><br><b>by watering</b>—by loading it with water.
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<br><br><b>wearieth</b>—<i>burdeneth</i> it, so that it falls in rain; thus "wearieth" answers to the parallel "scattereth" (compare, see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job037.html#Job37_9">Job 37:9</a>); a clear sky resulting alike from both.
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<br><br><b>bright cloud</b>—literally, "cloud of his light," that is, of His lightning. UMBREIT for "watering," etc., translates; "<i>Brightness</i> drives away the clouds, His <i>light</i> scattereth the thick clouds"; the parallelism is thus good, but the <i>Hebrew</i> hardly sanctions it.
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<p id="Job37_12"><b>12. it</b>—the cloud of lightning.
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<br><br><b>counsels</b>—guidance (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',148,8);">Psa 148:8</a>); literally, "steering"; the clouds obey God's guidance, as the ship does the helmsman. So the lightning (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job036.html#Job36_31">Job 36:31</a>, JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job036.html#Job36_32">Job 36:32</a>); neither is haphazard in its movements.
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<br><br><b>they</b>—<i>the clouds,</i> implied in the collective <i>singular</i> "it."
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<br><br><b>face of the world,</b> etc.—in the face of the earth's circle.
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<p id="Job37_13"><b>13.</b> Literally, "He maketh it (the rain-cloud) find place," whether for correction, if (it be destined) for His land (that is, for the part <i>inhabited by man,</i> with whom <i>God</i> deals, as opposed to the parts <i>uninhabited,</i> on which rain is at other times appointed to fall, <a onclick="return mV('Job',38,26,27);">Job 38:26-27</a>) or for mercy. "If it be destined for His land" is a parenthetical supposition [MAURER]. In <i>English Version,</i> this clause spoils the even balance of the antithesis between the "rod" (<i>Margin</i>) and "mercy" (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',68,9);">Psa 68:9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Gen',7,'1-24');">Gen 7:1-24</a>).
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<p id="Job37_14"><b>14.</b> (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',111,2);">Psa 111:2</a>).
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<p id="Job37_15"><b>15. when</b>—rather, "how."
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<br><br><b>disposed them</b>—<i>lays His charge on these</i> "wonders" (<a onclick="return mV('Job',37,14);">Job 37:14</a>) to arise.
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<br><br><b>light</b>—lightning.
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<br><br><b>shine</b>—flash. How is it that <i>light</i> arises from the <i>dark</i> thundercloud?
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<p id="Job37_16"><b>16.</b> <i>Hebrew,</i> "<i>Hast thou understanding</i> of the balancings," etc., how the clouds are poised in the air, so that their watery gravity does not bring them to the earth? The condensed moisture, descending by gravity, meets a warmer temperature, which dissipates it into vapor (the tendency of which is to ascend) and so counteracts the descending force.
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<br><br><b>perfect in knowledge</b>—God; not here in the sense that Elihu uses it of himself (<a onclick="return mV('Job',36,4);">Job 36:4</a>).
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<br><br><b>dost thou know</b>—how, etc.
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<p id="Job37_17"><b>17. thy garments,</b> etc.—that is, dost thou know how thy body grows warm, so as to affect thy garments with heat?
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<br><br><b>south wind</b>—literally, "region of the south." "When He <i>maketh still</i> (and sultry) the earth (that is, the atmosphere) by (during) the south wind" (<a onclick="return mV('Sgs',4,16);">Sgs 4:16</a>).
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<p id="Job37_18"><b>18. with him</b>—like as He does (<a onclick="return mV('Job',40,15);">Job 40:15</a>).
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<br><br><b>spread out</b>—given expanse to.
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<br><br><b>strong</b>—firm; whence the term "firmament" ("expansion," <a onclick="return mV('Gen',1,6);">Gen 1:6</a>, <i>Margin;</i> <a onclick="return mV('Isa',44,24);">Isa 44:24</a>).
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<br><br><b>molten looking glass</b>—image of the bright smiling sky. Mirrors were then formed of molten polished metal, not glass.
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<p id="Job37_19"><b>19.</b> Men cannot explain God's wonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. If Job thinks we ought, "let him teach us, what we shall say."
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<br><br><b>order</b>—frame.
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<br><br><b>darkness</b>—of mind; ignorance. "The eyes are bewilderingly blinded, when turned in bold controversy with God towards the sunny heavens" (<a onclick="return mV('Job',37,18);">Job 37:18</a>) [UMBREIT].
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<p id="Job37_20"><b>20.</b> What I a mortal say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told HIM. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (<a onclick="return mV('Job',13,3);">Job 13:3, '18-22'</a>).
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<br><br><b>if...surely he shall be swallowed up</b>—The parallelism more favors UMBREIT, "Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining) <i>that he is</i> (without cause) <i>being destroyed?</i>"
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<p id="Job37_21"><b>21. cleanseth</b>—that is, <i>cleareth</i> the air of clouds. When the "bright light" of the sun, previously not seen through "clouds," suddenly shines out from behind them, owing to the wind clearing them away, the effect is dazzling to the eye; so if God's majesty, now hidden, were suddenly revealed in all its brightness, it would spread darkness over Job's eyes, anxious as he is for it (compare, see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job037.html#Job37_19">Job 37:19</a>) [UMBREIT]. It is because now man sees not the bright sunlight (God's dazzling majesty), owing to the intervening "clouds" (<a onclick="return mV('Job',26,9);">Job 26:9</a>), that they dare to wish to "speak" before God (<a onclick="return mV('Job',37,20);">Job 37:20</a>). Prelude to God's appearance (<a onclick="return mV('Job',38,1);">Job 38:1</a>). The words also hold true in a sense not intended by Elihu, but perhaps included by the Holy Ghost. Job and other sufferers cannot see the <i>light</i> of God's countenance through the <i>clouds</i> of trial: but the wind will soon clear them off, and God shall appear again: let them but wait patiently, for He still shines, though for a time they see Him not (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job023.html#Job23_9">Job 23:9</a>).
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<p id="Job37_22"><b>22.</b> Rather, "golden splendor." MAURER translates "gold." <i>It</i> is found in northern regions. But <i>God</i> cannot be "found out," because of His "Majesty" (<a onclick="return mV('Job',37,23);">Job 37:23</a>). Thus the twenty-eighth chapter corresponds; <i>English Version</i> is simpler.
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<br><br><b>the north</b>—<i>Brightness</i> is chiefly associated with it (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job023.html#Job23_9">Job 23:9</a>). Here, perhaps, because the north wind clears the air (<a onclick="return mV('Pro',25,23);">Pro 25:23</a>). Thus this clause answers to the last of <a onclick="return mV('Job',37,21);">Job 37:21</a>; as the second of this verse to the first of <a onclick="return mV('Job',37,21);">Job 37:21</a>. Inverted parallelism. (See <a onclick="return mV('Isa',14,13);">Isa 14:13</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',48,2);">Psa 48:2</a>).
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<br><br><b>with God</b>—rather, "upon God," as a garment (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',104,1,2);">Psa 104:1-2</a>).
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<br><br><b>majesty</b>—splendor.
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<p id="Job37_23"><b>23. afflict</b>—oppressively, so as to "pervert <i>judgment</i>" as Job implied (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job008.html#Job8_3">Job 8:3</a>); but see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Job/Job037.html#Job37_21"></a>, end of note. The reading, "He answereth not," that is, gives no account of His dealings, is like a transcriber's correction, from <a onclick="return mV('Job',33,13);">Job 33:13</a>, <i>Margin.</i>
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<p id="Job37_24"><b>24. do</b>—rather, "<i>ought.</i>"
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<br><br><b>wise</b>—in their own conceits.
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