Job 37:16

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

Dost thou know {H3045} the balancings {H4657} of the clouds {H5645}, the wondrous works {H4652} of him which is perfect {H8549} in knowledge {H1843}?

Do you know how he balances the clouds? These are marvels of him who knows everything!

Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Job 37:16 (KJV) presents a profound rhetorical question from Elihu to Job, challenging human comprehension in the face of God's immense wisdom and control over the natural world. This verse is part of Elihu's extensive discourse aimed at helping Job understand God's justice and sovereignty, particularly through His majestic works in creation.

Context

This verse is situated within the latter part of Elihu's speeches (Job chapters 32-37), which precede God's direct address to Job. Elihu, a younger man, steps in to offer his perspective on Job's suffering and God's character, believing that both Job and his three friends have missed crucial insights. In chapter 37, Elihu focuses on God's power as revealed in weather phenomena, such as snow, rain, wind, and clouds. He uses these natural wonders to underscore God's incomprehensible greatness and perfect knowledge, urging Job to humble himself before the Creator. This builds the anticipation for God's grand revelation of Himself in Job 38 and 39.

Key Themes

  • God's Omniscience and Omnipotence: The core message is that God possesses perfect knowledge and unlimited power, evident in His intricate management of the cosmos. The "balancings of the clouds" point to a sophisticated, precise divine engineering that humans cannot replicate or fully grasp.
  • The Incomprehensibility of God: Elihu highlights that God's ways and works are beyond human understanding. The rhetorical question "Dost thou know...?" implies a resounding "No," emphasizing the vast gap between human intellect and divine wisdom.
  • Divine Sovereignty over Creation: The verse affirms God's absolute control over natural processes. He is not merely a creator but an active sustainer, meticulously governing even the most seemingly mundane elements of nature. This theme resonates with other biblical passages that speak of God's glory declared by creation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "balancings of the clouds" (Hebrew: מִפְלְשֵׂי עָב, miphlesei 'ab) refers to the precise, almost weightless suspension of massive amounts of water in the atmosphere. It evokes the idea of God's intricate control over atmospheric pressure, temperature, and condensation, allowing clouds to form, hold their moisture, and move without immediately collapsing. This highlights the scientific precision embedded within God's natural laws. The description of God as "him which is perfect in knowledge" (תְּמִים דֵּעִים, tĕmîm dê'îm) emphasizes His absolute, complete, and flawless understanding of all things, past, present, and future.

Practical Application

Job 37:16 serves as a powerful reminder of God's majesty and our human limitations. It encourages humility and awe in the face of His creation. When we observe the intricate workings of nature, from the smallest atom to the grandest galaxy, we are invited to acknowledge the hand of a perfectly wise and powerful Creator. This verse prompts us to trust in God's wisdom even when we don't understand His ways, especially during times of suffering or confusion, just as Job was challenged to do. It reinforces the truth that the God who balances the clouds is also the God who holds our lives in His hands, with perfect knowledge and purpose.

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.

  • Job 36:4

    For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.

  • Jeremiah 10:12

    He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

  • Jeremiah 10:13

    When he uttereth his voice, [there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

  • Proverbs 3:19

    The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

  • Proverbs 3:20

    By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

  • Job 36:29

    Also can [any] understand the spreadings of the clouds, [or] the noise of his tabernacle?

  • Psalms 104:2

    Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

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