Job in the Whirlwind

The words

1. Cloud

   The sea is pictured as a newborn: cloud becomes its garment, thick darkness its swaddling band, and doors and bars set its boundary.

   Job 38:8–11 (opens a new tab)

2. Counsel

   God’s purposes, in the NET note.

   The LORD asks who obscures counsel through words without knowledge, then tells Job to prepare to answer questions.

   Job 38:2–3 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:2 (opens a new tab)

3. Darkness

   Darkness is paired with light as something having a place; the LORD asks whether Job knows its boundaries and the way to its house.

   Job 38:19–20 (opens a new tab)

4. Deep

   The LORD asks whether Job has entered the sea’s springs or walked through the deep’s recesses, moving from shore limits to hidden depths.

   Job 38:8–11 (opens a new tab) · Job 38:16 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:16 (opens a new tab)

5. Earth

   The LORD asks Job where he was when the earth’s foundations were laid, then asks who measured it and stretched the line.

   Job 38:4–5 (opens a new tab)

6. Foundation

   Earth’s beginning is pictured as a building project, with foundations fastened and a cornerstone laid while morning stars sing.

   Job 38:4–7 (opens a new tab)

7. Light

   The chapter asks where light dwells; later the KJV asks how light is parted, where the NET reads “lightning.”

   Job 38:19 (opens a new tab) · Job 38:24 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:24 (opens a new tab)

8. Mazzaroth

   An uncertain heavenly name, rendered constellations in the NET.

   The LORD asks whether Job can bring Mazzaroth out in season; the NET notes differing proposals for the Hebrew name.

   Job 38:32 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:31-32 (opens a new tab)

9. Morning

   The LORD asks whether Job has commanded the morning; the dawn’s reach is pictured as shaking the wicked from the earth.

   Job 38:12–15 (opens a new tab)

10. Orion

    A constellation, in NASA’s sky image.

    Job is asked whether he can loose Orion’s bands; the NET renders these as “cords,” keeping the binding image.

    Did you know?

    NASA’s Orion image caption describes a belt of three bright blue stars within the constellation.

    Job 38:31 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:31-32 (opens a new tab) · NASA: Orion Constellation (opens a new tab)

11. Pleiades

    An open star cluster, in NASA’s description.

    The KJV asks about binding the “sweet influences of Pleiades”; the NET instead asks whether Job can tie its “bands.”

    Job 38:31 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:31-32 (opens a new tab) · NASA: Pleiades (opens a new tab)

12. Rain

    The questions describe a channel for overflowing waters and rain falling where no one lives, making desolate ground bring forth growth.

    Job 38:25–27 (opens a new tab)

13. Stars

    As the earth’s cornerstone is laid, “the morning stars sang together” and the “sons of God” shout for joy in the LORD’s question.

    Did you know?

    The NET note reads the morning stars as possible angelic imagery or a poetic picture of all creation celebrating.

    Job 38:6–7 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:7 (opens a new tab)

14. Thunder

    The KJV asks about a way for “the lightning of thunder”; the NET describes “a path for the rumble of thunder.”

    Did you know?

    Later, lightning is pictured answering “Here we are” when sent, continuing the chapter’s habit of giving nature a voice.

    Job 38:25 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Job 38:25 (opens a new tab) · Job 38:35 (opens a new tab)

15. Whirlwind

    The LORD answers Job “out of the whirlwind,” then tells him to prepare for questions about the world and his knowledge.

    Job 38:1–4 (opens a new tab)