King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
Complete Jewish Bible:
You know, of course, because you were born then; by now you must be very old!
Berean Standard Bible:
Surely you know, for you were already born! And the number of your days is great!
American Standard Version:
Doubtless, thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Knowest{H3045} thou it, because thou wast then born{H3205}? or because the number{H4557} of thy days{H3117} is great{H7227}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 15:7
- [Art] thou the first man [that] was born? or wast thou made before the hills?
Job 38:4
- ¶ Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:12
- ¶ Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 38:21
Job 38:21 is part of a larger discourse in the Book of Job, where God is responding to Job's questions about suffering and justice. The book itself is set in a time of ancient patriarchs, traditionally believed to be around the time of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, though its exact historical context is difficult to determine. It is one of the Wisdom books in the Hebrew Bible and is known for its profound exploration of theodicy—the question of why a good God permits evil and suffering.
In the verse, God is challenging Job's understanding and knowledge, particularly in relation to the created world. The rhetorical questions posed by God— "Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?"—highlight the limitations of human wisdom and experience. God is essentially asking Job if his birth or longevity has granted him special insight into the mysteries of creation and the divine governance of the world.
The themes of this verse include the vastness of God's knowledge contrasted with the finite understanding of humans, the humility required when questioning divine providence, and the recognition of the proper limits of human inquiry. The verse underscores the idea that the complexity and grandeur of the universe are beyond human comprehension, and it calls for a reverent acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. It serves as a reminder that human beings, with their limited lifespan and perspective, are not in a position to fully grasp the reasons behind the workings of the world or to demand answers from the Creator.
In summary, Job 38:21 is a poignant part of God's speech that emphasizes human finitude and the presumption of questioning the ways of the divine. It invites reflection on human limitations and the need for trust in God's wisdom and justice, despite the apparent contradictions experienced in life.
*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: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). - Strong's Number: H4557
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִסְפָּר
Transliteration: miçpâr
Pronunciation: mis-pawr'
Description: from סָפַר; a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration; [phrase] abundance, account, [idiom] all, [idiom] few, (in-) finite, (certain) number(-ed), tale, telling, [phrase] time. - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H7227
There are 439 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַב
Transliteration: rab
Pronunciation: rab
Description: by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).