Job 36:27

KJV

For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

KJV (with Strong's)

For he maketh small {H1639} the drops {H5198} of water {H4325}: they pour down {H2212} rain {H4306} according to the vapour {H108} thereof:

Complete Jewish Bible

"He makes the droplets of water, which condense into rain from his mist.

Berean Standard Bible

For He draws up drops of water which distill the rain from the mist,

American Standard Version

For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 36:27, spoken by Elihu, serves as a profound testament to God's meticulous and magnificent control over the natural world, specifically illustrating the intricate process of the water cycle. Within Elihu's broader discourse defending divine justice and wisdom, this verse highlights how God orchestrates the minute details of atmospheric phenomena—from the formation of tiny water droplets to the pouring down of life-sustaining rain—as undeniable evidence of His immense power, perfect design, and unfathomable sovereignty over all creation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 36:27 is situated within Elihu's final and most expansive discourse (Job 32-37), where he attempts to provide a more nuanced theological explanation for Job's suffering than the three friends. Elihu argues that God is just and wise, often using natural phenomena as irrefutable proof of divine majesty and inscrutable ways. This particular verse falls within a section (Job 36:24-33) where Elihu urges Job and other listeners to "magnify His work, of which men have sung" (Job 36:24), focusing on God's control over storms, clouds, and rain. Elihu's aim is to humble Job by contrasting human limitations with God's infinite power and knowledge, thereby preparing the way for God's own direct address from the whirlwind in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's Challenge to Job"), where God similarly challenges Job's understanding of creation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, rain was not merely a meteorological event but a direct act of divine favor or judgment. Societies were agrarian, and their very survival depended on timely and adequate rainfall. Drought brought famine and death, while abundant rain brought prosperity. Unlike surrounding pagan cultures that attributed weather phenomena to capricious deities or impersonal forces, the biblical worldview consistently presents Yahweh as the sole and sovereign controller of the heavens and earth, including the rain. This understanding is deeply embedded in Israelite faith, where God's covenant faithfulness often included the promise of rain (e.g., [Deuteronomy 11:14](/deuteronomy/11-14 "Deuteronomy 11:14 - God will give rain in its season")). Elihu's description, therefore, is not just a scientific observation but a theological declaration, asserting God's absolute authority over the very elements that sustained life, contrasting with any human or idolatrous claims to such power.

* **Key Themes:** Job 36:27 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty over Nature**, demonstrating God's absolute and meticulous control over even the smallest atmospheric processes, from the invisible vapor to the visible rain. This highlights His supreme authority over all creation, as seen in passages like [Psalm 147:8](/psalms/147-8 "Psalm 147:8 - God covers the heavens with clouds and prepares rain"). Secondly, the verse reveals **God's Wisdom in Creation**. The precise mechanism described—water rising as vapor, forming small drops, and then falling as rain—points to an intricate, intelligent design. This underscores God's profound wisdom in engineering life-sustaining systems, a wisdom celebrated throughout Scripture, as in [Proverbs 3:19](/proverbs/3-19 "Proverbs 3:19 - The Lord by wisdom founded the earth"). Thirdly, by controlling the release of rain, which is essential for agriculture and sustaining life, God demonstrates His role as the ultimate **Divine Provider**, ensuring the Earth receives what it needs. This theme of God's provision for all living things is a consistent thread, exemplified by His care for all creatures (e.g., [Psalm 145:15-16](/psalms/145-15 "Psalm 145:15-16 - God opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Small (Hebrew, _dal_):** This word literally means "thin," "weak," "poor," or "insignificant." In this context, it emphasizes the minute, almost imperceptible nature of the individual water droplets as they form in the atmosphere. Elihu highlights God's meticulous attention to detail, showing that His power extends not just to grand phenomena but to the most delicate and tiny components of the natural world, revealing His precise engineering of the water cycle.
* **Vapour (Hebrew, _ed_):** This term refers to a mist or vapor, often associated with water rising from the earth. It appears notably in [Genesis 2:6](/genesis/2-6 "Genesis 2:6 - A mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground"), describing the initial watering of the ground before rain. In Job 36:27, "vapour thereof" points to the process of evaporation, where water ascends into the atmosphere, forming the source material for the subsequent condensation and precipitation. It signifies the initial, unseen phase of the water cycle, entirely under God's control.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he maketh small the drops of water:"** This clause describes the process of condensation. The "he" refers unequivocally to God, emphasizing His active role as the orchestrator. The "small drops of water" are the tiny droplets that form when water vapor cools and condenses in the atmosphere, becoming visible as clouds. This highlights the precision and delicacy of God's work; He is not merely a distant creator but actively involved in the ongoing maintenance of the natural world, meticulously forming each minute component.
* **"they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:"** This clause details the process of precipitation. The "they" refers to the "drops of water" which, having formed, coalesce and descend as rain. The phrase "according to the vapour thereof" indicates that the amount and nature of the rainfall are directly correlated to the amount of vapor that has ascended into the atmosphere. This demonstrates an ancient, yet remarkably accurate, understanding of the hydrological cycle: evaporation leads to condensation, which in turn leads to precipitation, all divinely ordered and regulated to ensure the earth receives its necessary moisture.

#### Literary Devices
Elihu's discourse in Job 36:27 employs several potent literary devices to convey his theological message. **Personification** is evident in the active verbs attributed to God: "he maketh small" and "they pour down," implying God's direct and continuous involvement in the water cycle, rather than a passive, deistic creation. The phrase "the vapour thereof" functions as a form of **Metonymy**, where the "vapour" stands for the entire process of evaporation and atmospheric moisture, representing the source from which rain is derived. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Imagery** to paint a vivid picture of a natural phenomenon, transforming a complex scientific process into a tangible demonstration of divine power and wisdom. The overall tone is one of **Didacticism**, as Elihu uses this natural example to instruct Job and the listeners about God's unsearchable greatness and His meticulous care for creation, urging them to humble themselves before such an awesome Creator.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 36:27 serves as a profound theological statement, asserting God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous involvement in the natural world. It reminds us that the seemingly mundane processes of nature are not random occurrences but are precisely orchestrated by a wise and powerful Creator. The water cycle, essential for all life, stands as a perpetual testament to God's faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to sustaining His creation. This intricate design, described by Elihu, points to a God who is not distant or disengaged but intimately involved in every detail, ensuring the provision necessary for life to flourish. This divine control over life-giving rain underscores God's role as the ultimate Provider and Sustainer, inviting humanity to trust in His unfailing care.

* [Psalm 104:13](/psalms/104-13 "Psalm 104:13 - God waters the mountains from His chambers")
* [Jeremiah 14:22](/jeremiah/14-22 "Jeremiah 14:22 - God alone gives rain")
* [Amos 5:8](/amos/5-8 "Amos 5:8 - God calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 36:27 calls us to cultivate a profound sense of awe and reverence for God, not just in grand, miraculous displays, but in the everyday wonders of His creation. In a world prone to taking natural processes for granted, this verse reminds us that the intricate dance of the water cycle—from invisible vapor to life-giving rain—is a direct testament to God's meticulous design and ongoing, active involvement in sustaining His world. This should lead us to greater humility, recognizing the vastness of divine knowledge and power compared to our limited understanding. Furthermore, just as God faithfully orchestrates the water cycle to provide for the earth's needs, we are encouraged to place our trust in His unfailing provision for our own lives, knowing that His wisdom and power are boundless. It fosters a spirit of gratitude for every drop of rain, every green blade of grass, and every breath we take, all sustained by His sovereign hand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does observing the intricate processes of the natural world, like the water cycle, deepen your appreciation for God's wisdom and power?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to cultivate greater trust in God's faithful provision, as demonstrated by His consistent control over creation?**
* **How does the complexity and precision of God's creation, as highlighted in Job 36:27, foster humility in your understanding of divine knowledge versus human comprehension?**

### FAQ

**How does Job 36:27 demonstrate scientific accuracy in an ancient text?**

Answer: Job 36:27, while primarily a theological statement, remarkably describes the core elements of the hydrological cycle that were not fully understood scientifically until much later. Elihu speaks of water rising as "vapour" (evaporation), forming "small drops" (condensation), and then "pour[ing] down rain" (precipitation). This sequence accurately outlines the three fundamental phases of the water cycle. The text attributes this precise operation directly to God's active hand, implying a profound, divinely inspired insight into natural processes. It's not a scientific treatise, but rather a testament to God's intimate knowledge of His creation, demonstrating that the Creator understands the mechanics of His universe perfectly, long before human discovery. This aligns with other biblical passages that hint at the water cycle, such as [Ecclesiastes 1:7](/ecclesiastes/1-7 "Ecclesiastes 1:7 - All streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place the streams come from, there they return again").

**What is Elihu's primary purpose in speaking about the water cycle here?**

Answer: Elihu's primary purpose in Job 36:27 and the surrounding discourse is to defend God's justice, wisdom, and unsearchable greatness against Job's complaints and the limited understanding of the other friends. By pointing to God's absolute and meticulous control over the natural world, particularly the complex and vital water cycle, Elihu aims to:
1. **Humble Job:** He seeks to show Job the vast chasm between human understanding and divine knowledge and power. If God can manage such intricate and powerful natural systems with perfect precision, how much more can He righteously govern human affairs, even in ways that seem mysterious to us?
2. **Exalt God's Majesty:** Elihu uses the wonders of creation as irrefutable evidence of God's supreme authority and wisdom, urging Job to "magnify His work" ([Job 36:24](/job/36-24 "Job 36:24 - Magnify His work")).
3. **Correct Misconceptions:** He implicitly challenges the idea that God is either unjust or indifferent, asserting that God's ways are beyond human comprehension but always righteous and purposeful, even when they involve suffering or seemingly inexplicable events. This prepares the ground for God's direct intervention in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's direct challenge to Job").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 36:27 extols the Creator God's power and wisdom in orchestrating the water cycle, its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning are found in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is not merely an agent of God, but God Himself, the very **Logos** through whom all things were made. As [John 1:3](/john/1-3 "John 1:3 - All things were made through Him") declares, "All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." This means the very process Elihu describes—the formation of tiny water droplets and the pouring down of rain—was designed and is continually sustained by Christ. [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16-17 - All things created by and for Christ, and in Him all things hold together") further affirms that "in him all things were created... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." The same divine power that governs the water cycle is demonstrated in Jesus's earthly ministry when He commanded the winds and waves, and they obeyed Him ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus calms the storm")), revealing His inherent authority over creation. Moreover, Jesus is the ultimate "living water" ([John 4:10-14](/john/4-10 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus offers living water")), offering spiritual sustenance that far surpasses physical rain, quenching the deepest thirst of the human soul. Just as God provides physical rain for the earth, Christ provides eternal life and spiritual nourishment, fulfilling the theme of divine provision in its most profound sense, promising that from those who believe in Him, "rivers of living water will flow" ([John 7:37-38](/john/7-37 "John 7:37-38 - Rivers of living water flow from believers")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 147:8

Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

Job 38:25

¶ Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

Job 38:28

Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

Job 5:9

Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

Psalms 65:9

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

Psalms 65:13

The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

Psalms 148:8

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: