Job 38:26

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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};

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 38:26 is a profound declaration of God's sovereign control and meticulous care over all creation, extending even to the most remote and uninhabited parts of the earth. As part of God's direct address to Job from the whirlwind, this verse challenges Job's anthropocentric worldview by revealing a divine wisdom and providence that operates independently of human presence, utility, or understanding, highlighting God's comprehensive and unfathomable dominion over the natural world.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within God's first magnificent speech to Job, commencing in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Speaks from the Whirlwind"). After enduring unimaginable suffering and engaging in extensive theological debate with his friends, Job has repeatedly questioned God's justice and wisdom. Rather than offering a direct explanation for Job's suffering, God responds with an overwhelming display of His power, wisdom, and sovereign control over the cosmos. The entire speech (chapters 38-41) consists of a series of rhetorical questions designed to expose the vast chasm between God's infinite knowledge and Job's finite understanding, effectively humbling Job and calling him to trust in a wisdom far beyond his grasp. Verse 26 specifically highlights God's universal reach in governing natural phenomena, even in places seemingly irrelevant to human experience.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, rain was universally understood as a direct gift or withholding from the gods, essential for life and prosperity. However, the prevailing view often focused on rain's utility for human agriculture and settlement. Job 38:26 subverts this anthropocentric perspective by emphasizing God's provision of rain in the "wilderness, wherein there is no man." This challenges the common understanding that divine activity is solely for human benefit, asserting instead a God whose care extends to the entire created order, valuing it intrinsically. The "wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, _midbar_) was known as a desolate, uninhabited, and often dangerous place, yet even there, God's sustaining hand is active. This demonstrates a unique monotheistic understanding of a God whose dominion is truly universal, not confined to specific lands or peoples.

* **Key Themes:** Job 38:26 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores **God's Universal Providence and Sovereign Control**. God's dominion is shown to be comprehensive, not limited to human civilization or needs. He causes rain to fall even "on the wilderness, wherein there is no man," emphasizing His independent and active care for all creation, sustaining ecosystems and life forms regardless of human presence or utility. This speaks to a divine plan that extends far beyond anthropocentric concerns, echoing the broader declarations of God's creative and sustaining power found in [Psalm 104](/psalms/104 "God's Majesty in Creation"). Secondly, the verse highlights **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](/isaiah/55-9 "God's Thoughts are Higher"). Finally, the rhetorical questions in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "God's First Speech") are designed for **The Humbling of Human Pride**. 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](/job/40-4 "Job's Humble Response").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **To cause it to rain (Hebrew, _lehamṭir'_):** This is a Hiphil infinitive construct from the root מָטַר (_matar_), meaning "to rain." The Hiphil stem is causative, strongly emphasizing God's direct, active, and intentional agency in initiating and bringing about the rain. It is not a passive natural process or a random occurrence, but a deliberate act of divine will and power. This grammatical form underscores God's absolute control over meteorological phenomena.
* **wilderness (Hebrew, _midbar'_):** This term refers to an uninhabited, often arid or semi-arid region, typically used for pasturage but not for settled agriculture or human habitation. It signifies a place of desolation and remoteness, far from human civilization. The choice of this word emphasizes that God's providence is not limited to areas beneficial or known to humanity but extends to the most obscure and seemingly unproductive parts of the earth.
* **no man (Hebrew, _lo-ish'_):** The repetition of this phrase ("where no man is... wherein there is no man") serves as a powerful rhetorical device. It emphatically stresses the complete absence of human presence, involvement, or direct benefit. This repetition highlights the core message of the verse: God's actions are not solely anthropocentric; His care for creation is intrinsic and independent of human observation or utility.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"To cause it to rain on the earth":** This opening clause immediately establishes God as the active agent behind the phenomenon of rain. The Hiphil verb form emphasizes divine initiative and power. God doesn't merely allow rain to happen; He actively "causes" it, demonstrating His absolute control over the natural world. This sets the stage for the revelation that follows, showing the extent of His dominion.
* **"[where] no man [is; on] the wilderness":** This specifies the location of God's rain-causing activity. It's not just "on the earth" generally, but pointedly in places where humanity is absent. The "wilderness" signifies a remote, uninhabited, and often desolate area. This part of the verse directly challenges Job's (and humanity's) tendency to view creation primarily through a human-centric lens, revealing God's care for what seems to have no immediate human value.
* **"wherein [there is] no man;":** This final phrase serves as a powerful reiteration and intensification of the preceding clause. The repetition of "no man" underscores the absolute lack of human presence or benefit. It drives home the point that God's providence is not contingent on human observation or need; His creative and sustaining power is exercised universally, for the sake of the creation itself, and for His own glory.

#### Literary Devices
Job 38:26, as part of God's speech from the whirlwind, employs several potent literary devices. The overarching device is **Rhetorical Question**, as this verse is part of a series of unanswerable questions God poses to Job, designed to highlight God's incomparable wisdom and power and expose human limitations. The verse also utilizes **Repetition** with the phrase "no man," which emphatically underscores the absence of human presence and utility, thereby magnifying God's independent and comprehensive care for creation. Furthermore, there is an element of **Paradox** or **Irony**: God, in His infinite wisdom, expends divine energy on something that appears "useless" from a human perspective (rain in an uninhabited wilderness), thereby demonstrating the intrinsic value of all creation to Him, beyond its utility to humanity. This also serves as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the extreme remoteness and apparent lack of purpose for human eyes, to further highlight the vastness of God's domain and the depth of His wisdom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 38:26 is a profound theological statement on the nature of God's sovereignty and His relationship with creation. It asserts that God's care is not limited to humanity or to areas that directly benefit human existence. Instead, His providence extends to every corner of the cosmos, including the most desolate and uninhabited regions. This reveals a God whose wisdom is unfathomable, whose purposes transcend human understanding, and whose creation has intrinsic value to Him, independent of its utility to us. The verse challenges anthropocentrism, urging us to recognize that God's glory is displayed throughout all creation, not just in those parts we perceive as beneficial or beautiful. It speaks to a divine economy that sustains life and ecosystems for their own sake, reflecting the Creator's inherent delight in His handiwork.

This truth resonates with other biblical passages:
* [Psalm 147:8-9](/psalms/147-8 "God Provides for Nature")
* [Romans 1:20](/romans/1-20 "God's Invisible Attributes in Creation")
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 38:26 calls us to a deeper understanding of God's character and our place in His vast creation. In a world often consumed with human endeavors and concerns, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's dominion and care are infinitely broader than our immediate experiences. It invites us to cultivate a profound sense of humility, acknowledging that God's wisdom and ways far surpass our own. We are encouraged to trust in His comprehensive providence, knowing that if He meticulously cares for the uninhabited wilderness, He surely cares for every detail of our lives, even when we cannot discern His purpose. Furthermore, this verse fosters a renewed appreciation for the intrinsic value of creation, urging us to see the natural world not merely as a resource for human exploitation but as a testament to God's glory and a recipient of His ongoing, active sustenance. It challenges us to marvel at the intricate design and continuous operation of the natural world, recognizing God's active presence in every drop of rain, every growing plant, and every living creature, regardless of its direct benefit to humanity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job 38:26 challenge your anthropocentric (human-centered) view of the world and God's activity within it?**
* **What does God's care for uninhabited wilderness teach you about His attention to detail and His comprehensive providence in your own life?**
* **In what ways can acknowledging God's unfathomable wisdom, as revealed in this verse, lead to greater humility and trust in your walk with Him?**
* **How might this verse influence your perspective on environmental stewardship and the intrinsic value of nature?**

### FAQ

**Why does God cause it to rain on the wilderness where no man is?**

Answer: God causes rain in uninhabited wildernesses primarily to demonstrate His absolute sovereignty, unfathomable wisdom, and comprehensive care for all creation, independent of human presence or utility. This act highlights that God's purposes are not solely anthropocentric; He sustains ecosystems and life forms for their own sake, and for His own glory. It challenges the human-centric view that God's actions are always or only for human benefit, revealing a God who values and actively sustains every part of His created order, even those unseen or seemingly irrelevant to humanity. It underscores that God's dominion is universal and His wisdom extends far beyond human comprehension.

**What does this verse teach us about God's wisdom?**

Answer: Job 38:26 reveals God's wisdom as utterly comprehensive, meticulous, and beyond human grasp. It demonstrates that God's wisdom operates on a cosmic scale, orchestrating complex natural processes like rainfall in the most remote areas. This wisdom is not limited by human knowledge or understanding, nor is it constrained by human needs or observations. It highlights God's intricate knowledge of the entire created order, showing that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts, as declared in [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "God's Thoughts are Higher"). It's a wisdom that values all creation intrinsically, not just for its utility to humanity.

**How does Job 38:26 relate to human suffering, which is a major theme in the book of Job?**

Answer: While not directly addressing suffering, Job 38:26 contributes to God's larger argument to Job by putting human suffering into a broader cosmic perspective. God's rhetorical questions, including this verse, are designed to humble Job by revealing the vastness of God's power and wisdom, which far exceed Job's limited understanding. By demonstrating His meticulous care for the entire universe, including the uninhabited wilderness, God implicitly asks Job to trust His wisdom even when His ways are inscrutable. If God cares for every detail of the natural world, even where no human is present, then surely He is aware of and sovereign over Job's suffering, even if Job cannot comprehend the reasons. It's a call to faith in a God whose purposes are grander and more complex than human logic can grasp, leading to Job's eventual humble submission in [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job's Repentance and Confession").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 38:26, with its profound declaration of God's sovereign and meticulous care over all creation, even the unseen and uninhabited, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals that Christ is not merely an agent of God's will but is Himself the active Creator and Sustainer of all things. [Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16 "Christ as Creator and Sustainer") declares 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 very rain falling on the uninhabited wilderness, as described in Job 38:26, is caused and sustained by Christ's active power. He is the one who upholds the universe by the word of His power, as stated in [Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Christ Upholds All Things"). Furthermore, Christ's earthly ministry demonstrated this same comprehensive care, valuing not just humanity but also the seemingly insignificant parts of creation, noting that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father's will, and that He knows the very hairs on our heads ([Matthew 10:29-31](/matthew/10-29 "God's Care for Sparrows and Humanity")). His redemptive work also extends beyond humanity, encompassing the entire groaning creation that eagerly awaits its liberation ([Romans 8:19-23](/romans/8-19 "Creation's Groaning and Hope")). Thus, Job 38:26 foreshadows the universal, all-encompassing dominion and care of God, fully embodied and revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is both the Creator and the Redeemer of all things.

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

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.