Cycles in Job Table

38:1 Yahweh answered Job from the storm Theophanies (appearances of God to people) often include displays of the power of nature. God’s appearance at Mount Sinai was accompanied by thunder, lightning, and clouds (Exod 19:16–20). Fire is also often associated with theophanies (Exod 3:2; Deut 5:24). Here, God appears to Job in a whirlwind.

Theophany in the Old Testament

Old Testament Theophanies Table

38:2 Who is this darkening counsel Elihu used darkness to express limitation (Job 37:19). Because of darkness, he—along with Job’s other friends—felt unqualified to challenge God the way Job had.

by words without knowledge Twice, Elihu accused Job of speaking without knowledge (34:35; 35:16). Even though God rebukes Job for speaking ignorantly, He also asserts that Job spoke correctly of him. See 42:7 and note; 42:8 and note.

38:3 Prepare yourself for a difficult task like a man The Hebrew phrase used here, which may be literally rendered as “gird your loins like a man,” refers to how people in the ancient Near East would tie their garments into their belt to ensure that they could run quickly (compare 2 Kgs 4:29; Jer 1:17).

you shall declare to me Just as Job challenged God, God now challenges Job to answer His questions (compare Job 13:22). God’s questions, however, are designed to reveal His power in such a way that Job cannot answer them. Job’s eventual response reflects this (see 40:4–5; 42:2–6).

38:4 laying the foundation of the earth In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the earth was thought to be supported by pillars sunk into the sea (e.g., 1 Sam 2:8; Psa 104:5).

38:7 the morning stars were singing together Laying a foundation stone was a cause for celebration (Ezra 3:10–11). Here, God describes the heavenly celebration that accompanied the setting of the foundation of the earth. The Psalms describe scenes of the stars and angels singing praise together (e.g., Pss 19:1; 148:1–4).

the sons of God Refers to the members of the heavenly host. The prologue describes this same group presenting themselves to Yahweh (see Job 1:6; 2:1). Here, they rejoice at God’s amazing acts of creation.

38:8 who shut the sea in Ancient Near Eastern creation accounts, like the Enuma Elish, describe the supreme deity subduing the sea, which was depicted as a force of chaos (compare Job 7:12; 9:13). Biblical accounts of creation often allude to these accounts to show the power of Israel’s God—demonstrating both His superiority over nature and other deities (e.g., Pss 77:16; 104:6–9).

38:9 my making the clouds its garment Rather than merely subduing the sea, God brought it into existence. Here, God describes caring for the mighty sea as if it were an infant, clothing it with clouds. This is likely a reference to the horizon line on a cloudy day, when it looks as if the clouds are touching the sea.

38:13 the earth’s skirts Describes the farthest reaches of the earth (compare Job 37:3). People in the ancient Near East thought the earth was spread out flat like a carpet with four corners and that the earth stood on pillars or foundations (compare Isa 11:12).

the wicked might be shaken off from it The image of shaking out a garment appears elsewhere in Neh 5:13 and Acts 18:6. Before God, the wicked have no dark place to hide their sins (compare Job 24:13–17).

38:16 the recesses of the deep In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the earth was thought to sit atop the deep waters (or the great deep)—this describes both this place and by extension the depths of the oceans (or seas). See Gen 7:11 and note.

38:17 the gates of death This seems to be a reference to Sheol, the place of the dead according to Hebrew thought (compare Job 3:13; 14:13 and note).

the gates of deep shadow This could be a reference to Sheol or to the depths mentioned in v. 16. The point is that, in comparison to God, Job does not know anything about death, creation, or how the world works and functions.

38:31 Orion The Hebrew term used here, kesil, normally refers to a fool (e.g., Psa 49:10; Prov 1:22; 3:35), but here it probably refers to the constellation Orion (see Job 9:9; Amos 5:8). For this reason, some translations refer to Orion’s belt here.

38:32 the southern constellations Since this word is parallel to “Bear” in the next line, this Hebrew word may be the name of an unknown constellation. Alternatively, it may refer to constellations in general.

the Bear Likely refers to the constellation Ursa Major (compare Job 9:9 and note).