7 The verb actually means “be” (found here in the Aramaic form). The verb “to be” can mean “to happen, to fall, to come about.”
8 Heb “and [to the] shower of rain and shower of rains, be strong.” Many think the repetition grew up by variant readings; several Hebrew delete the second pair, and so many editors do. But the repetition may have served to stress the idea that the rains were heavy.
9 Heb “Be strong.”
10 Heb “by the hand of every man he seals.” This line is intended to mean with the heavy rains God suspends all agricultural activity.
11 This reading involves a change in the text, for in “men” is in the construct. It would be translated, “all men whom he made” (i.e., all men of his making”). This is the translation followed by the and . Olshausen suggested that the word should have been אֲנָשִׁים (’anashim) with the final ם (mem) being lost to haplography.
12 D. W. Thomas suggested a meaning of “rest” for the verb, based on Arabic. He then reads אֱנוֹשׁ (’enosh) for man, and supplies a ם (mem) to “his work” to get “that every man might rest from his work [in the fields].”
13 The “driving winds” reflects the Hebrew “from the scatterers.” This refers to the north winds that bring the cold air and the ice and snow and hard rains.
14 The word “moisture” is drawn from רִי (ri) as a contraction for רְוִי (révi). Others emended the text to get “hail” () or “lightning,” or even “the Creator.” For these, see the various commentaries. There is no reason to change the reading of the when it makes perfectly good sense.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’

likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.

He seals up the hand of every man,

that all men whom he made may know it.

Then the beasts go into their lairs,

and remain in their dens.

From its chamber comes the whirlwind,

and cold from the scattering winds.

By the breath of God ice is given,

and the broad waters are frozen fast.

He loads the thick cloud with moisture;

the clouds scatter his lightning.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’

and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

So that everyone he has made may know his work,

he stops all people from their labor.

The animals take cover;

they remain in their dens.

The tempest comes out from its chamber,

the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice,

and the broad waters become frozen.

He loads the clouds with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through them.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For he says to the snow, “Fall to the earth,”

and the torrential rains, his mighty torrential rains,

serve as his sign to all mankind,

so that all men may know his work.

The wild animals enter their lairs

and stay in their dens.

The windstorm comes from its chamber,

and the cold from the driving north winds.

Ice is formed by the breath of God,

and watery expanses are frozen.

He saturates clouds with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through them.

NLTNew Living Translation

“He directs the snow to fall on the earth

and tells the rain to pour down.

Then everyone stops working

so they can watch his power.

The wild animals take cover

and stay inside their dens.

The stormy wind comes from its chamber,

and the driving winds bring the cold.

God’s breath sends the ice,

freezing wide expanses of water.

He loads the clouds with moisture,

and they flash with his lightning.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’;

and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain—

he stops all human beings from working

so that everyone whom he has made may know it.

Then the animal goes into its den,

and it remains in its den.

“The storm wind comes from its chamber

and cold from the north wind.

By God’s breath, ice is given,

and the broad waters are frozen.

Also, he loads down thick clouds with moisture;

his lightning scatters the clouds.

KJV 1900King James Version

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth;

Likewise to the small rain,

And to the great rain of his strength.

He sealeth up the hand of every man;

That all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens,

And remain in their places.

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind:

And cold out of the north.

By the breath of God frost is given:

And the breadth of the waters is straitened.

Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud:

He scattereth his bright cloud:

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