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Job 37

Job book home•Chapter 37 of 42•24 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Job 37 Overview

Elihu continues describing thunder, lightning, snow, rain, wind, clouds, and the frightening majesty of God’s weather. He urges Job to stand still and consider God’s wondrous works, asking whether Job understands or controls them. The speech ends with God described as excellent in power and judgment.

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Before you read Job 37

Coming from

Chapter 36 shifted Elihu’s final speech toward the greatness of God displayed in weather and creation.

In this chapter

Elihu’s storm meditation strips away the illusion of human control and calls Job to consider powers he cannot govern.

Leads into

Chapter 38 begins when the LORD Himself answers Job out of the whirlwind.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Job never receives a transition such as “Elihu was correct about everything.” Instead the storm imagery becomes the stage for God’s direct speech. The reader should hear Elihu’s repeated questions as preparation for the far more authoritative questions God is about to ask.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Creation confronts human beings with realities they experience but cannot command.

Truth 2

God’s justice and power exceed the scale of human understanding.

Truth 3

Contemplation of God’s works can expose how narrow a human viewpoint becomes during debate.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Psalm 29 describes the voice of the LORD in storm imagery.

Connection 2

Psalm 147:16-18 speaks of snow, frost, ice, wind, and waters under God’s command.

Connection 3

Mark 4:39-41 shows Jesus commanding wind and sea, revealing divine authority over forces humans cannot master.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not treat every weather event as a decipherable message about a particular person’s sin.

Keep this clear 2

Elihu’s questions prepare for God’s speech but do not equal God’s speech in authority within the narrative.

Keep this clear 3

“Stand still, and consider” is a call to humility, not a command to stop seeking truth altogether.

Read Job 37 watching for…

The repeated references to God’s voice in thunder.

Weather phenomena beyond Job’s control.

The call to stand still and consider.

Questions about Job’s knowledge of creation.

The final emphasis on power joined with judgment.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-5Elihu trembles at God’s thunder and describes the power of his voice 6-13Snow, rain, cold, wind, and clouds move according to God’s command and purpose 14-20Elihu tells Job to stand still and consider God’s wondrous works 21-24Elihu closes by speaking of God’s terrible majesty, power, judgment, and justice

At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.

God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

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:

And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

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Job 37:5

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