Job 38:10

And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,

And brake up {H7665} for it my decreed {H2706} place, and set {H7760} bars {H1280} and doors {H1817},

when I made the breakers its boundary set its gates and bars,

when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors,

And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,

Job 38:10 is part of God's profound discourse to Job, where the Almighty challenges Job's understanding by demonstrating His unparalleled wisdom and power in creation. Following the description of the sea's birth, this verse continues the narrative of God's sovereign establishment of limits for the vast waters.

Context

In Job chapters 38 and 39, God speaks directly to Job out of a whirlwind, demanding an answer from him regarding the foundational elements of the universe. God's questions are rhetorical, designed to highlight His absolute authority and Job's limited human comprehension. Verses 8 and 9 describe the sea bursting forth from the womb, and verse 10 then details how God contained it. This imagery speaks to the very beginning of creation, specifically the separation of waters, as also described in Genesis 1:9-10, where God gathers the waters into one place and sets boundaries for them.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty over Creation: The primary message is God's absolute and unquestionable control over all elements of the natural world. He doesn't merely create; He actively manages and limits. The "decreed place" and "bars and doors" are metaphors for the impenetrable boundaries God set for the sea.
  • Order from Chaos: Before God's intervention, the sea is portrayed as a chaotic, untamed force. This verse emphasizes God's ability to bring order and structure to what would otherwise be destructive. This divine ordering is a testament to His wisdom and foresight.
  • God's Unchallengeable Power: The act of setting boundaries for the mighty ocean demonstrates a power far beyond human capability, underscoring the vast chasm between the Creator and His creation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "decreed [place]" comes from the Hebrew word choq (חֹק), which signifies a 'statute,' 'ordinance,' or 'boundary.' The KJV's addition of '[place]' in brackets correctly captures the implied meaning of a divinely appointed limit or sphere of existence. This term highlights that the boundaries are not arbitrary but are established by divine decree, reflecting God's deliberate and purposeful design. The "bars and doors" are vivid, anthropomorphic metaphors illustrating the strength and permanence of these divine limits, much like a fortified gate.

Practical Application

Job 38:10 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that the same God who set unyielding boundaries for the raging sea is also in control of the storms of our lives. When circumstances feel overwhelming or chaotic, this verse calls us to remember God's omnipotence and His ability to establish order even where we see none. It encourages a posture of humility and trust, knowing that our lives, like the vast oceans, are ultimately contained within the sovereign will and wise plan of God. This truth can bring peace, knowing that nothing is truly out of His control, as also affirmed in Psalm 104:9, which states, "Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth."

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.

  • 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?

  • Psalms 104:9

    Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

  • Job 26:10

    He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

  • Genesis 1:9

    ¶ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry [land] appear: and it was so.

  • Genesis 1:10

    And God called the dry [land] Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that [it was] good.

  • Psalms 33:7

    He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

  • Genesis 9:15

    And I will remember my covenant, which [is] between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

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