Job 37: Elihu on the thunder and God's wonders
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What happens?
Elihu says that his heart trembles at the voice of God in the thunder and the lightning, and that God sends snow, rain, ice and cold. He says God makes the cloud come whether for correction (in Hebrew, a rod), for his land or for loving kindness. He turns to Job by name and asks whether he knows the workings of the clouds, and whether he can spread out the sky with God. He ends by saying that we cannot reach the Almighty, who is exalted in power and does not oppress, and that people fear him.
Who is speaking?
God does not speak in this chapter, so nothing is in gold. Elihu speaks all of it, from verse 1 to verse 24, mostly about God. In verse 6 he says what God tells the snow, and that is Elihu's report, not God's own words. In verse 14 he turns to Job by name and asks him questions through verse 18. In verses 19 and 20 he speaks of what "we" and "I" would say to God. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
In plain English: Yes, at this my heart trembles, and leaps from its place.
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2Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
In plain English: Listen, listen to the raging (or: noise) of his voice, and the rumbling that comes out of his mouth.
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3He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
In plain English: He lets it loose under all the heavens, and his light (the WEB says lightning) to the corners of the earth.
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4After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard.
In plain English: After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty, and he does not hold them back (the WEB says anything) when his voice is heard.
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5God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.
In plain English: God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we do not know.
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6For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
In plain English: For he says to the snow, "Fall on the earth," and so to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
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7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.
In plain English: He puts a seal on the hand of every person, so that all the people he has made may know it (or: so that they may know his work).
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8Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.
In plain English: Then the animal goes into its lair, and stays in its dens.
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9Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north.
In plain English: Out of the chamber comes the storm wind, and cold from the scattering winds.
The Hebrew word: "The scattering winds" is mezareh, which the dictionary gives as "properly, a scatterer, i.e. the north wind (as dispersing clouds; only in plural)". It is in 1 verse of the Bible, this one, and the WEB says "north" here.
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10By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen.
In plain English: From the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is held in constraint (the WEB says frozen).
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11Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
In plain English: Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He scatters the cloud of his light (the WEB says lightning).
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12It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,
In plain English: It goes round about, turning every way by his guidance, so that they do all that he commands them over the surface of the world, toward the earth,
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13whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.
In plain English: whether for a rod (the WEB says correction), or for his land, or for loving kindness, he makes it come (the Hebrew says: he makes it find).
The Hebrew word: "Rod" is shebet, which the dictionary gives as "a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan". It is in 178 verses of the Bible and in 3 verses of Job. The WEB says "rod" in 2 of the 3 and "correction" in 1, this one.
What changes: With "rod" the line says he sends it for a rod, a stick for striking or punishing. With the WEB's word it says he sends it for correction.
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14“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
In plain English: Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wonders of God.
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15Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
In plain English: Do you know when (or: how) God appoints them, and makes the light of his cloud (the WEB says lightning) shine?
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16Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
In plain English: Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wonderful works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
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17You whose clothing is warm when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
In plain English: You whose clothes are hot when the earth is still from the south?
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18Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
In plain English: Can you spread out the skies (or: clouds) with him, hard like a molten mirror?
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19Teach us what we will tell him, for we can’t make our case by reason of darkness.
In plain English: Make known to us what we should say to him. We cannot set out our case because of darkness.
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20Will it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
In plain English: Will it be told to him that I speak? Or did anyone say that he would be swallowed up (or: should a man wish to be swallowed up)?
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21Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
In plain English: And now people do not see the light that is bright in the skies (or: clouds), but the wind passes by and cleans them.
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22Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.
In plain English: Out of the north comes gold (or: golden splendor). On (or: with) God is awesome majesty.
The Hebrew word: "Gold" is zahab, which the dictionary gives as "gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky". It is in 8 verses of Job, and the WEB says "gold" in 7 and "golden" in 1, this one.
What changes: The Hebrew word is the plain word for gold. With it the verse says gold comes out of the north. The WEB reads golden splendor. The text does not say more.
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23We can’t reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
In plain English: As for the Almighty, we cannot find him. He is exalted in power, and in justice and great righteousness he does not afflict (or: oppress).
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24Therefore men revere him. He doesn’t regard any who are wise of heart.”
In plain English: Therefore people fear him. He does not look at any who are wise of heart.
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