Job 37:1

¶ At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

At this {H2063} also my heart {H3820} trembleth {H2729}, and is moved out {H5425} of his place {H4725}.

"At this, my own heart trembles and leaps out of its place.

“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place.

Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place.

Job 37:1 KJV captures the profound emotional and spiritual reaction of Elihu as he contemplates the overwhelming power and majesty of God, particularly as revealed through natural phenomena. The verse states, "At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place." It marks a transition in Elihu's discourse, emphasizing the awe-inspiring, sometimes terrifying, aspects of the Almighty.

Context

This verse comes from the latter part of Elihu's speeches (chapters 32-37), which precede God's direct address to Job from the whirlwind (Job 38:1). Elihu, the youngest of Job's four comforters, offers a unique perspective. Unlike the other three, he doesn't accuse Job directly of specific sins but rather focuses on God's righteousness, wisdom, and sovereignty in all circumstances, often using the grandeur of creation as evidence. The "this" Elihu refers to is the impending description of God's mighty acts in nature—thunder, lightning, and storms—which he details in the verses that follow, building up to a crescendo of divine power.

Key Themes

  • Awe and Reverence for God's Power: Elihu's physical and emotional reaction highlights the immense and uncontainable power of the Creator. His trembling heart is a natural response to contemplating such overwhelming might, far beyond human comprehension or control.
  • Human Limitation: The verse underscores humanity's inherent smallness and inability to fully grasp or manipulate God's vast works. It speaks to the mystery of God's ways, which often transcend human understanding.
  • Divine Sovereignty: Elihu's discourse, culminating in this expression of awe, reinforces the theme of God's absolute control over all creation, including the most powerful natural forces. This serves to humble humanity and exalt God.
  • The Fear of the Lord: This is not a cowering fear but a profound, reverential respect and deep understanding of God's majesty and holiness. Such fear is often described in Scripture as the beginning of wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "my heart trembleth" translates the Hebrew word charad (חָרַד), which means to quake, shudder, or be terrified. It denotes an intense physical and emotional response to something awe-inspiring or frightening. "Moved out of his place" is an idiomatic expression, translating nataq (נָתַק), meaning to pull up, tear off, or break away. This conveys a sense of profound disorientation, being dislodged, or utterly unsettled by the magnitude of God's presence and power. It's a powerful depiction of spiritual and physical perturbation.

Practical Application

Job 37:1 invites believers today to cultivate a similar sense of awe and reverence for God. In a world that often seeks to explain away the miraculous or diminish the divine, Elihu's response reminds us to stand in humble wonder before our Creator. It encourages us to recognize God's hand in the natural world, from the quiet beauty of a sunrise to the raw power of a storm, knowing that He is sovereign over all. This verse calls us to move beyond intellectual understanding to a heart-level experience of God's greatness, fostering deeper worship and trust in His unfathomable wisdom and power. Just as Elihu was overwhelmed by God's manifest power in creation, we are called to acknowledge that same power at work in our lives and in the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 16:26

    And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

  • Habakkuk 3:16

    ¶ When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.

  • Jeremiah 5:22

    Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  • Job 21:6

    Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

  • Acts 16:29

    Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

  • Job 4:14

    Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

  • Job 38:1

    ¶ Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
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