Job 37:6

KJV

¶ For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.

KJV (with Strong's)

For he saith {H559} to the snow {H7950}, Be thou {H1933} on the earth {H776}; likewise to the small {H4306} rain {H1653}, and to the great {H4306} rain {H1653} of his strength {H5797}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth!'-likewise to the light rain, also to the downpour.

Berean Standard Bible

For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’

American Standard Version

For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 37:6, embedded within Elihu's profound discourse, powerfully asserts God's absolute and direct sovereignty over all natural phenomena, specifically focusing on precipitation. By declaring that God "saith" to the snow and rain, the verse underscores His meticulous control, infinite power, and unsearchable wisdom, thereby inviting humanity to a posture of humility and awe before the Creator who orchestrates every detail of the cosmos.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 37:6 is situated within the climactic section of Elihu's speeches, spanning chapters 32-37. As the youngest of Job's interlocutors, Elihu enters the debate with a fresh perspective, aiming to vindicate God's justice and wisdom, often contrasting divine omnipotence with human limitation. His discourse builds on the declaration in [Job 36:26](/job/36-26 "Job 36:26 - God's Unsearchable Greatness"), "God is great, and we know him not." Chapter 37 specifically elaborates on God's control over various atmospheric phenomena—thunder, lightning, clouds, wind, and here, snow and rain—as tangible evidence of His majestic power and purposeful will. Elihu uses these overwhelming natural forces to humble Job and all humanity, emphasizing that nature is not a product of random chance but operates under precise divine command, revealing the Creator's unapproachable greatness and intricate design. This sets the stage for God's own dramatic appearance in the whirlwind in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God Answers Job from the Whirlwind"), which further underscores His sovereign control over creation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, weather phenomena, particularly rain, were understood as direct manifestations of divine favor or judgment. Unlike surrounding pagan cultures that attributed weather to a pantheon of often capricious deities (e.g., Baal as the storm god), the biblical worldview consistently presents Yahweh as the sole, sovereign controller of all natural forces. For an agricultural society heavily dependent on seasonal rains for survival, the ability to command "small rain" (gentle, life-giving showers) and "great rain of his strength" (powerful, potentially destructive downpours) was the ultimate demonstration of power and providence. This context highlights the profound theological significance of God's direct command: it's not merely a description of meteorological processes but a theological assertion of God's unique, personal, and absolute authority over the very elements that determined life and death in their world. The mention of snow also points to the diverse climatic conditions within the broader region, further illustrating the comprehensive scope of God's dominion.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Job and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it champions **Divine Sovereignty over Nature**, asserting that God is not merely an observer but the active commander of the natural world. He "saith" to the snow and rain, indicating direct, authoritative, and personal control over every aspect of creation. Secondly, it highlights **God's Omnipotence and Wisdom**. The ability to orchestrate complex and varied weather patterns, from gentle drizzles to powerful, enduring storms, demonstrates God's limitless power and intricate wisdom. This control extends to every flake and drop, underscoring His meticulous oversight and purposeful design. Thirdly, it fosters **Human Humility and Dependence**. Faced with such overwhelming divine command over the elements, humanity is reminded of its own limitations, frailty, and absolute dependence on the Creator. This perspective cultivates a profound sense of awe and reverence for God's unapproachable majesty, echoing the truth found in [Psalm 33:9](/psalm/33-9 "Psalm 33:9 - God Spoke, and It Was Done"), "For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." Elihu's argument here is that if humanity cannot comprehend or control the weather, how much less can it comprehend or challenge the justice of the One who commands it all.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **saith (Hebrew, _'amar'_):** This verb signifies a direct, authoritative, and intentional command. It is not merely a statement but an active, creative utterance. The use of "saith" here emphasizes God's personal agency and the immediate, obedient response of creation to His word, highlighting His absolute control rather than a passive observation of natural processes.
* **small rain (Hebrew, _matar'_):** This is a general term for rain, often implying a gentle, life-sustaining shower. Its inclusion alongside "great rain" indicates the full spectrum of precipitation being under God's command, from the delicate and nourishing to the powerful and overwhelming.
* **great rain of his strength (Hebrew, _geshem ethan'_):** This phrase combines _geshem_ (גֶּשֶׁם), meaning heavy rain or downpour, with _ethan_ (אֵיתָן), which conveys ideas of enduring, strong, or mighty. The combination emphasizes that this powerful, intense, and persistent rainfall is a direct manifestation of God's inherent strength, enduring might, and purposeful will, not a random or chaotic event. It speaks to the purposeful force behind the storm.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth;":** This clause establishes God's direct, personal, and authoritative command over even the most delicate and seemingly random forms of precipitation—snow. The "Be thou" is a divine imperative, echoing the creative commands in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), demonstrating that His word is sufficient to bring about its physical manifestation on earth. It highlights His meticulous control over every detail of creation.
* **"likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.":** This extends God's sovereign command to all forms of rain. "Small rain" represents the gentle, life-giving showers essential for agriculture, while "great rain of his strength" refers to powerful, perhaps even torrential, downpours. The phrase "of his strength" explicitly attributes the intensity and power of the heavy rain directly to God's inherent might, reinforcing that all precipitation, in all its forms and intensities, is a direct emanation of His purposeful will and power.

#### Literary Devices
Job 37:6 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. Central to the verse is **Personification**, where God is depicted as actively "speaking" to inanimate elements like snow and rain, commanding them into existence and operation. This gives a vivid, anthropomorphic sense of God's direct and personal involvement in the natural world, emphasizing His active agency rather than a distant, deistic role. The pairing of "small rain" and "great rain" functions as a **Merism**, a rhetorical device where two contrasting parts represent the whole. By mentioning both the gentle shower and the powerful downpour, Elihu encompasses the entire spectrum of precipitation, thereby underscoring the comprehensive and absolute nature of God's control over all forms of weather. Furthermore, the detailed focus on God's command over such specific and varied natural phenomena serves as a form of **Emphasis** or **Hyperbole**, magnifying God's power and wisdom beyond human comprehension. This serves Elihu's broader purpose of humbling Job and all humanity before the unsearchable greatness of God, whose power is so vast that even the elements obey His voice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 37:6 profoundly articulates God's active and meticulous involvement in His creation, asserting that the natural world is not governed by impersonal laws or chance, but by His direct command. This verse extends the theme of divine sovereignty beyond mere creation to ongoing sustenance and governance, portraying God as intimately engaged with the earth's cycles. It teaches us that every snowflake and raindrop is an expression of His purposeful will, serving His broader plans for provision, judgment, or blessing. This understanding fosters a deep sense of awe and reverence, reminding humanity of its finite nature before an infinite God. It also underpins the biblical concept of divine providence, assuring believers that if God meticulously controls the weather, He certainly orchestrates the circumstances of their lives with equal care and purpose.

* [Psalm 147:8](/psalm/147-8 "Psalm 147:8 - God Provides Rain for the Earth")
* [Matthew 5:45](/matthew/5-45 "Matthew 5:45 - God Sends Rain on the Just and Unjust")
* [Amos 4:7](/amos/4-7 "Amos 4:7 - God Withholds Rain as Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 37:6 invites us to look at the natural world with new eyes, transforming our perception of weather from mere meteorological events into profound revelations of divine power and purpose. When we witness a gentle snowfall or a torrential downpour, this verse calls us to recognize them as direct expressions of God's sovereign will and active command. This perspective cultivates a deeper sense of awe and worship, moving us beyond a detached observation to an engaged reverence for the Creator. Practically, understanding that God commands even the most intricate aspects of nature can strengthen our faith in His control over all circumstances in our lives. Just as He directs the rain and snow, He orchestrates our paths, providing comfort and assurance that we are under His meticulous and loving care, even amidst life's storms. This truth encourages a posture of humility and dependence, reminding us that our human limitations are vast compared to the One who holds all power in His hands, prompting us to trust His wisdom and timing in every season of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does reflecting on God's command over natural elements deepen your sense of awe and worship?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender control and trust in God's sovereign orchestration, just as He controls the weather?**
* **How might a renewed understanding of God's power over nature impact your response to environmental concerns or natural disasters?**

### FAQ
**Why does Elihu focus so much on weather phenomena in his discourse?**

Answer: Elihu's extensive focus on weather phenomena in Job 37 serves multiple critical purposes. Firstly, in the ancient world, weather was a primary and undeniable force directly impacting human life, agriculture, and survival. It was a tangible, visible, and often unpredictable manifestation of power, making it an ideal medium to demonstrate God's unsearchable greatness and absolute control. Secondly, by detailing God's meticulous command over elements like snow, rain, thunder, and lightning, Elihu aimed to humble Job and his friends, highlighting the vast chasm between human understanding and divine wisdom. If humanity cannot comprehend or control the weather, how much less can it comprehend or challenge the justice and ways of the One who commands it all? This serves as a powerful argument for God's sovereignty and righteousness in the face of Job's suffering and questioning, preparing the way for God's own direct address from the whirlwind in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God Answers Job from the Whirlwind"), which also heavily emphasizes His control over creation.

**Does this verse imply God micromanages every snowflake and raindrop, or is it a more general statement about His control over natural laws?**

Answer: Job 37:6, particularly through the phrase "For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength," strongly implies God's meticulous and absolute control, extending to the specific instances and types of natural phenomena, not just general laws. The verb "saith" (Hebrew _'amar'_) denotes a direct, personal, and authoritative command, suggesting an an active and immediate divine will behind each occurrence. This is consistent with the biblical concept of divine providence, where God is intimately involved in sustaining and governing every detail of His creation. While God certainly establishes natural laws, this verse emphasizes His ongoing, active, and specific involvement in the execution of those laws, demonstrating His detailed oversight. It highlights that nothing in creation operates outside of His direct command and purposeful will, reinforcing His omnipotence and omnipresence. This detailed control is also seen in passages like [Matthew 10:29](/matthew/10-29 "Matthew 10:29 - Not a Sparrow Falls Without God"), where Jesus states that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father's will.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 37:6, with its declaration of God's absolute command over snow and rain, finds its ultimate fulfillment and most profound revelation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The divine power Elihu attributes to God the Father is perfectly embodied and demonstrated by Jesus, who is the very Word of God through whom all things were created and are sustained. [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer") explicitly states that "by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." This means that the "he" who "saith to the snow" is none other than the pre-incarnate Christ, the active agent of creation. During His earthly ministry, Jesus powerfully demonstrated this divine authority over nature, echoing the very power described in Job. He famously calmed a raging storm with a mere word, commanding the wind and waves, "Peace! Be still!" ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). This act was a tangible manifestation of the same sovereign power that commands snow and rain, revealing His divine identity to His astonished disciples. Furthermore, [Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things") affirms that Christ "upholds the universe by the word of his power," signifying His ongoing, active sustenance of creation, just as He commanded it into being. Thus, Job 37:6 points forward to Christ as the divine Lord of creation, the one in whom the power to command the elements resides, and through whom God's majestic sovereignty over all things is perfectly revealed and accomplished.

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

Job 38:22

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

Job 36:27

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

Ezekiel 13:13

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend [it] with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in [my] fury to consume [it].

Psalms 147:16

He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Psalms 147:18

He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, [and] the waters flow.

Amos 9:6

[It is] he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD [is] his name.

Genesis 7:10

And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.