King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Can anyone fathom the spreading of the clouds, or the crashes that come from his canopy?
Berean Standard Bible:
Furthermore, who can understand how the clouds spread out, how the thunder roars from His pavilion?
American Standard Version:
Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Also can any understand{H995} the spreadings{H4666} of the clouds{H5645}, or the noise{H8663} of his tabernacle{H5521}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 37:16
- Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
Job 37:2
- Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound [that] goeth out of his mouth.
Job 37:5
- God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
Job 38:9
- When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
1 Kings 18:44
- And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
1 Kings 18:45
- And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
Psalms 104:3
- Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
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Commentary for Job 36:29
Job 36:29 is part of the Book of Job, which is one of the Wisdom Books in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Job deals with the problem of suffering and the nature of faith in God despite life's adversities. It tells the story of Job, a righteous man who loses everything—his wealth, his children, and his health—in a series of calamities.
In the verse, Elihu, one of Job's friends, is speaking. Elihu is the fourth friend to address Job, and he presents himself as an arbiter who will provide a more accurate perspective on Job's situation than the other three friends have offered. The verse is part of a longer speech in which Elihu is asserting the power and majesty of God, emphasizing that human beings cannot fully comprehend God's ways or the wonders of His creation.
The themes of Job 36:29 include the inscrutability of God's actions and the limitations of human understanding. Elihu challenges Job and his friends to consider whether they can understand the intricate workings of nature, such as the formation of clouds ("the spreadings of the clouds") or the thunderous sounds that accompany a storm ("the noise of his tabernacle"). These natural phenomena are used metaphorically to illustrate the grandeur and mystery of God's governance of the world. Elihu suggests that just as humans cannot fully grasp these natural events, they also cannot fully grasp God's purposes and actions.
The historical context of the Book of Job is somewhat uncertain, but it is generally believed to have been written during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE). This period was a time of great theological reflection for the Israelites, as they sought to understand God's role in their national suffering. The Book of Job, therefore, addresses universal questions about divine justice and human suffering that would have resonated with the experiences of the Israelite people during this tumultuous period.
In summary, Job 36:29 reflects on the limitations of human understanding in the face of God's vast and complex creation, a theme that is central to the Book of Job's exploration of human suffering and divine wisdom. Elihu's rhetorical questions highlight the awe-inspiring nature of God's works and serve as a reminder of the human tendency to overestimate our ability to comprehend the divine.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H995
There are 162 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּין
Transliteration: bîyn
Pronunciation: bene
Description: a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand; attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man). - Strong's Number: H4666
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִפְרָשׂ
Transliteration: miphrâs
Pronunciation: mif-rawce'
Description: from פָּרַשׂ; an expansion; that which...spreadest forth, spreading. - Strong's Number: H5645
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָב
Transliteration: ʻâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: (masculine and feminine); from עוּב; properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a (scud) cloud; also a copse; clay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare עֲבִי. - Strong's Number: H8663
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּשֻׁאָה
Transliteration: tᵉshuʼâh
Pronunciation: tesh-oo-aw'
Description: from שׁוֹא; a crashing or loud clamor; crying, noise, shouting, stir. - Strong's Number: H5521
There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֻכָּה
Transliteration: çukkâh
Pronunciation: sook-kaw'
Description: feminine of סֹךְ; a hut or lair; booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.