Job 38

Job · Chapter 38

Job 38:31

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loosen the belt of Orion?Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
¿ will you bind onהַֽ֭תְקַשֵּׁרHAT-ka-sherH7194
to conspire

קָשַׁר (qa.shar) 1) to bind, tie, bind together, league together, conspire 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bind, confine 1a2) to league together, conspire 1b) (Niphal) to be bound, be bound up 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to bind on 1c2) to bind fast 1c3) to bind, tie 1c4) to bind to oneself 1d) (Pual) robust, vigorous (participle) 1e) (Hithpael) to conspire

[the] bonds ofמַעֲדַנּ֣וֹתma-'a-da-NOTH4575
bond

מַעֲדַנּוֹת (ma.a.dan.nah) bonds, bands

Pleiadesכִּימָ֑הki-MAHH3598
Pleiades

כִּימָה (ki.mah) Pleiades, a constellation of seven stars

or?אֽוֹ־'ov-H0176A
or

אוֹ (o) 1) or, rather 1a) implying that the latter choice is preferred 1b) or if, introducing an example to be seen under a particular principle 1c) (in series) either...or, whether...or 1d) if perchance 1e) except, or else 2) whether, not the least, if, otherwise, also, and, then

[the] chains ofמֹשְׁכ֖וֹתmo-she-KHOTH4189
cord

מֹשֶׁכֶת (mo.she.khah) cord

Orionכְּסִ֣ילke-SILH3685G
Orion

כְּסִיל (ke.sil) Constellation of Orion

will you loosenתְּפַתֵּֽחַ׃te-fa-TE-achH6605A
to open

פָּתַח (pa.tach) 1) to open 1a) (Qal) to open 1b) (Niphal) to be opened, be let loose, be thrown open 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to free 1c2) to loosen 1c3) to open, open oneself 1d) (Hithpael) to loose oneself Aramaic equivalent: pe.tach (פְּתַח "to open" H6606)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.