Job 38:26

To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;

To cause it to rain {H4305} on the earth {H776}, where no man {H376} is; on the wilderness {H4057}, wherein there is no man {H120};

causing it to rain where no one is, in a desert without anyone there,

to bring rain on a barren land, on a desert where no man lives,

To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

Context

This powerful verse is part of God's direct address to Job from the whirlwind, found in Job chapters 38-41. After enduring immense suffering and questioning God's justice and wisdom, Job receives no easy answers but a profound demonstration of divine power and knowledge. God challenges Job's limited understanding by posing a series of rhetorical questions about the natural world, a realm far beyond human comprehension or control. Verse 26 highlights God's sovereign control over even the most remote parts of creation, contrasting sharply with Job's human-centric view of the world.

Key Themes

  • God's Universal Providence and Sovereign Control: This verse powerfully illustrates that God's dominion is not limited to human civilization or needs. He causes rain to fall even "on the wilderness, wherein there is no man." This emphasizes His comprehensive and independent care for all creation, sustaining ecosystems and life forms regardless of human presence or utility. It speaks to a divine plan that extends far beyond anthropocentric concerns.
  • God's Unfathomable Wisdom and Knowledge: By pointing to phenomena like rain in uninhabited wilderness, God reveals a wisdom that operates on a scale incomprehensible to Job. While Job was focused on his personal suffering and human concepts of justice, God demonstrates His intricate knowledge of the entire cosmos. This challenges Job to recognize the vastness of God's ways, which are not bound by human logic or understanding, as highlighted in Isaiah 55:9.
  • The Humbling of Human Pride: The rhetorical questions in Job 38-41, including this verse, are designed to humble Job and all humanity. They underscore the vast disparity between God's infinite power and knowledge and humanity's finite limitations. It's a call to acknowledge that God's purposes are grander and more complex than we can grasp, leading to Job's eventual repentance and silence in Job 40:4-5.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "To cause it to rain" translates the Hebrew verb לְהַמְטִיר (lehamṭir), which is a Hiphil infinitive construct from the root מָטַר (matar), meaning "to rain." The Hiphil stem is causative, strongly emphasizing God's direct and active agency in initiating and bringing about the rain. It is not a passive natural process but a direct act of divine will. The repetition of "no man" (לֹא־אִישׁ, lo-ish) further stresses the complete absence of human involvement or benefit, underscoring God's independent and comprehensive care for His creation.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound lessons for contemporary believers:

  • Trust in God's All-Encompassing Care: We are reminded that God's providence extends far beyond our immediate circumstances. He sustains the entire universe, even its unseen and uninhabited parts. This should bolster our trust in His care for our individual lives, knowing that His wisdom and power are infinite.
  • Cultivate Humility: In a world that often exalts human achievement and knowledge, Job 38:26 serves as a powerful reminder of our limitations. It encourages us to approach God with humility, recognizing that His ways are higher than ours and His understanding is beyond our grasp.
  • Appreciate God's Creation: The verse invites us to see the natural world not merely for its utility to humanity but as a testament to God's glory and intricate design. Every drop of rain, even in the most desolate wilderness, speaks of His active presence and sustaining power, prompting us to marvel at His creation and its inherent value. Just as Psalm 147:8 speaks of God preparing rain for the earth, this verse highlights His continuous provision for all things.

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 14:22

    Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

  • Psalms 107:35

    He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

  • Hebrews 6:7

    For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

  • Hebrews 6:8

    But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.

  • Isaiah 43:19

    Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert.

  • Isaiah 43:20

    The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

  • Psalms 104:10

    ¶ He sendeth the springs into the valleys, [which] run among the hills.