Job 38:13

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

That it might take hold {H270} of the ends {H3671} of the earth {H776}, that the wicked {H7563} might be shaken out {H5287} of it?

so that it could take hold of the edges of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

that it might spread to the ends of the earth and shake the wicked out of it?

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?

Commentary

Job 38:13 is part of the Lord's powerful discourse to Job, where God challenges Job's understanding of the universe and His own divine wisdom and power. After Job's lengthy laments and arguments with his friends, God finally speaks from the whirlwind, asserting His absolute sovereignty over all creation.

Context

This verse follows God's question to Job in Job 38:12: "Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place?" Here, God continues to describe the irresistible power and reach of the dawn. The "it" in verse 13 refers to this morning light or dayspring. God is illustrating how the very act of daybreak, something Job cannot control or even fully comprehend, serves a divine purpose, reaching every corner of the earth and impacting even the moral order.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty Over Creation: The verse vividly portrays God's absolute control over natural phenomena. The dawn is not a random occurrence but an obedient force that God commands to reach "the ends of the earth." This emphasizes that God's power is not limited to specific regions or events, but extends universally.
  • Light as a Revealer and Purifier: The coming of light is depicted as an agent of divine judgment and purification. Just as physical light dispels darkness, God's moral order and presence expose and challenge wickedness. The imagery of the wicked being "shaken out" suggests an inability for evil to hide or thrive in the presence of divine truth and righteousness. This concept resonates with other biblical passages where light exposes darkness.
  • God's Omnipresence and Omniscience: The phrase "take hold of the ends of the earth" underscores God's boundless reach and comprehensive knowledge. Nothing is hidden from His sight, and no place is beyond the scope of His command or judgment.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Ends of the earth" (ื›ึผึทื ึฐืคึฃื•ึนืช ื”ึธืึธึ‘ืจึถืฅ - kanphot ha'aretz): The Hebrew word kanaph (ื›ึผึธื ึธืฃ) often means "wing" or "extremity." Here, it signifies the outermost boundaries or farthest reaches of the world, emphasizing the global and pervasive nature of the dawn's influence and, by extension, God's power.
  • "Shaken out" (ื•ึฐื™ึดื ึผึธืขึฒืจึ–ื•ึผ - veyinna'aru): The verb na'ar (ื ึธืขึทืจ) means to shake, cast off, or sweep away. It conveys a strong sense of expulsion or removal, suggesting that the wicked are dislodged or rendered powerless in the light of God's order, much like dust or dirt is shaken off a garment.

Practical Application

Job 38:13 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that despite the prevalence of darkness and evil in the world, God remains sovereign. His divine order will ultimately prevail, and wickedness cannot forever hide from His penetrating light. This verse encourages us to live transparently, knowing that God's presence exposes all things. It also serves as a powerful reminder that God's justice is sure, and though it may not always be immediate, His purposes for exposing and removing evil are at work throughout creation, just as He controls the daily cycle of the sun.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 104:35

    Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.

  • Job 37:3

    He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

  • Exodus 14:27

    And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

  • Psalms 104:21

    The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

  • Psalms 104:22

    The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

  • Psalms 139:9

    [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

  • Psalms 139:12

    Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].
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