Job 38:27

KJV

To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

KJV (with Strong's)

To satisfy {H7646} the desolate {H7722} and waste {H4875} ground; and to cause the bud {H4161} of the tender herb {H1877} to spring forth {H6779}?

Complete Jewish Bible

drenching the waste and desolate [ground], till the tender grass sprouts?

Berean Standard Bible

to satisfy the parched wasteland and make it sprout with tender grass?

American Standard Version

To satisfy the waste and desolate ground, And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 38:27 is a profound rhetorical question posed by God to Job, challenging Job's limited understanding by showcasing the Almighty's boundless wisdom and meticulous control over the natural world. This verse highlights God's providential power and comprehensive care, extending even to the most remote, uninhabited, and seemingly unproductive parts of creation, demonstrating His ability to bring forth life and sustenance in barren landscapes independent of human presence or utility.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within God's first majestic discourse to Job, which commences in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Speaks from the Whirlwind") and extends through [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - The Leviathan"). After Job and his friends have exhausted their human arguments regarding the cause of suffering, God intervenes, not to provide a direct explanation for Job's affliction, but to reorient Job's perspective toward His own incomparable majesty, sovereignty, and wisdom. God confronts Job with a series of unanswerable rhetorical questions concerning the creation and maintenance of the cosmos, the earth, and various natural phenomena. Job 38:27 specifically follows questions about the sources of rain and dew, fitting seamlessly into the larger theme of God's absolute control over weather patterns and the intricate processes of life and growth, even in regions untouched by human activity. The very structure of the questions implicitly asks Job if he possesses such knowledge or power, thereby humbling him and exalting God as the sole orchestrator of creation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the control of weather, particularly rain, was often attributed to various deities, and fertility cults were common. However, the book of Job, set against a backdrop that predates the Mosaic Law, presents a singular, transcendent God who alone holds absolute sway over all creation. In a largely agrarian society dependent on rainfall for survival, the concept of divine control over precipitation was paramount. Job 38:27 expands this understanding beyond human utility, emphasizing that God's care is not limited to cultivated fields or populated areas. It speaks to a divine economy that values all of creation, including the wilderness, which was often perceived as a place of desolation and danger. The ability to bring forth life in such places would have been seen as an extraordinary display of power and benevolence, reinforcing the unique and unparalleled nature of Yahweh's sovereignty and His intrinsic delight in sustaining all life.
* **Key Themes:** Job 38:27 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores **God's absolute and universal sovereignty over nature**. The fact that God directs rain "to satisfy the desolate and waste ground" and causes "the bud of the tender herb to spring forth" in uninhabited regions demonstrates that His operations are not contingent on human presence or benefit, but are an intrinsic part of His comprehensive governance of creation. This echoes the divine order established in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account") where God brings forth life from chaos. Secondly, the verse highlights **divine provision and life-giving power**. Even in barren places, God's rain brings forth growth, symbolizing His ongoing faithfulness to provide and His power to bring life out of seemingly dead or unproductive situations. This theme resonates with passages like [Psalm 145:15-16](/psalms/145-15-16 "Psalm 145:15-16 - God Provides for All Creatures"), which speaks of God feeding all creatures in due season. Thirdly, the rhetorical question format serves to emphasize the **incomprehensible wisdom and power of God**, which far exceed human comprehension. Humans cannot command the rain or orchestrate the delicate process of growth in the wilderness; only God can. This reinforces the idea that God's ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than human ways, as articulated in [Isaiah 55:9](/isaiah/55-9 "Isaiah 55:9 - God's Thoughts are Higher than Ours").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Satisfy (Hebrew, _sâbaʻ'_):** From the primitive root H7646, this word means "to sate," "to fill to satisfaction," or "to suffice." In the context of Job 38:27, it implies an abundant and complete provision of rain, not merely a minimal amount. God's rain doesn't just sprinkle the desolate ground; it thoroughly "satisfies" it, indicating a generous and sufficient supply that enables the transformation from barrenness to life, demonstrating His overflowing generosity even to the unobserved parts of creation.
* **Desolate (Hebrew, _shôwʼ'_):** Derived from H7722, this term signifies a tempest, and by implication, devastation or wasteness. When paired with "waste," it intensifies the image of a land utterly devoid of life or human activity, a place of profound barrenness and abandonment. This underscores the extraordinary reach of God's care, extending even into the most unpromising and forgotten corners of His creation, where human intervention is absent.
* **Bud (Hebrew, _môwtsâʼ'_):** From H4161, this word literally means "a going forth," "an egress," or "a source or product." In this context, it refers to the nascent, emerging plant life—the tender shoot or sprout. The "bud of the tender herb" emphasizes new, delicate, nascent life. This stands in stark contrast to the "desolate and waste ground," powerfully illustrating God's ability to bring forth beauty, vitality, and sustenance from conditions that seem utterly incapable of supporting life, highlighting the miraculous nature of His creative power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground];"**: This clause highlights God's comprehensive and indiscriminate provision. The rain is sent not just to cultivated fields or for the benefit of humanity, but also to the wilderness, the uninhabited, and seemingly unproductive regions. This demonstrates God's care for all of creation, valuing even those parts that offer no direct utility to humans. It speaks to a divine economy that extends beyond anthropocentric concerns, revealing God's intrinsic delight in sustaining all life and His sovereign control over every inch of the earth, even where no human eye observes.
* **"and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?"**: This second clause emphasizes God's life-giving power and His ability to transform barrenness into vitality. From the "desolate and waste" ground, God brings forth delicate, new growth. This is a miraculous act of creation and sustenance, showcasing God's meticulous involvement in the smallest details of the natural world. It implies that even in the most unpromising circumstances, God possesses the power to initiate and sustain life, bringing forth beauty and fruitfulness where none could naturally exist. The rhetorical question challenges Job to consider if he could ever orchestrate such a profound transformation, underscoring the vast chasm between divine and human capabilities.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Job 38:27, as throughout God's discourse in Job 38-41, is the **Rhetorical Question**. God poses questions that are unanswerable by Job, not because He seeks information, but to highlight Job's limited understanding and to underscore His own infinite wisdom, power, and sovereignty. The effect is to humble Job and to re-establish the vast chasm between human knowledge and divine omnipotence. Furthermore, the verse uses powerful **Juxtaposition** and **Contrast** by placing "desolate and waste ground" directly against "the bud of the tender herb." This stark contrast vividly illustrates God's transformative power, His ability to bring life out of death, and beauty out of barrenness. This also contributes to the rich **Imagery** of the verse, painting a picture of life-giving rain falling on parched land, resulting in miraculous new growth. This imagery is not merely descriptive but serves a profound theological purpose, demonstrating God's active, benevolent, and meticulous involvement in the natural world.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 38:27 profoundly reveals the character of God as the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all life, whose wisdom and power extend beyond human comprehension or utility. It emphasizes that God's providential care is not limited to humanity or cultivated lands but encompasses the entirety of His creation, including the wilderness. This verse challenges an anthropocentric view of God's activity, asserting that God values and sustains every part of His cosmos, bringing life and beauty even to the most desolate places. It underscores His faithfulness and His ability to bring forth life from barrenness, a theme that resonates throughout scripture as a testament to His transformative power and His intrinsic delight in creation.

* [Psalm 104:13-14](/psalms/104-13-14 "God Waters the Mountains and Causes Grass to Grow")
* [Isaiah 55:10-11](/isaiah/55-10-11 "Isaiah 55:10-11 - God's Word Like Rain and Snow")
* [Matthew 5:45](/matthew/5-45 "Matthew 5:45 - God Sends Rain on the Just and Unjust")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 38:27 offers profound lessons for believers today, particularly when facing seasons of desolation or barrenness in their own lives. It reminds us that God's care extends far beyond our immediate needs or perceived utility. Even when our own lives feel like a "desolate and waste ground"—a spiritual wilderness of doubt, grief, or stagnation—God is still actively at work. He continues to provide the "rain" of His grace, His presence, and His sustaining power, enabling "tender herbs" of hope, healing, and new growth to spring forth. This verse encourages us to trust in God's universal and constant provision, even when circumstances seem barren or beyond human control. It calls us to marvel at His wisdom and power, acknowledging that He is sovereign over all aspects of creation and our lives, capable of bringing life and beauty out of any situation. It is an invitation to humility, recognizing that our understanding is limited, and to faith, resting in the boundless wisdom of the One who sustains even the wilderness, demonstrating His faithfulness even when we cannot perceive His immediate purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you currently feel "desolate and waste," and how might Job 38:27 encourage you to trust in God's unseen work?**
* **How does God's care for the uninhabited wilderness challenge your perception of His priorities or the scope of His love and attention?**
* **What "tender herbs" of new life or hope has God caused to spring forth in your life from seemingly barren circumstances, demonstrating His transformative power?**
* **How can reflecting on God's immense power and meticulous care over nature deepen your trust in His sovereignty over your personal struggles and unanswered questions?**

### FAQ
**Why does God focus on the "desolate and waste ground" instead of human-inhabited areas?**

Answer: God's focus on the "desolate and waste ground" serves to emphasize His universal and comprehensive sovereignty, demonstrating that His care and power extend beyond human utility or presence. It highlights that God values all of His creation intrinsically, not just those parts that directly benefit humanity. By showing His meticulous control over the uninhabited wilderness, God underscores that His wisdom and power are boundless and that His operations are not limited by human perception or need. It's a powerful statement about the intrinsic value of creation to the Creator, and His ability to bring life and order to every corner of the cosmos, even those unseen by human eyes.

**How does this verse relate to suffering, the main topic of Job?**

Answer: While Job 38:27 does not directly explain the reason for Job's suffering, it serves a crucial purpose in reorienting Job's perspective. After Job and his friends have debated humanly concocted reasons for suffering, God intervenes to display His own incomparable majesty, wisdom, and power. By posing rhetorical questions about His control over the vast and intricate natural world, God implicitly asks Job if he possesses such knowledge or power. The verse suggests that if God governs the seemingly insignificant and remote aspects of creation with such meticulous care and wisdom, then He surely has a purpose in human suffering, even if that purpose remains beyond human comprehension. It calls Job, and us, to humble trust in a God whose ways are infinitely higher than our own, and whose wisdom encompasses all things, seen and unseen, even in the midst of profound pain and confusion, echoing the sentiment of [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts are Higher than Ours").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 38:27, with its depiction of God bringing life to desolate places, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Just as God sends rain to transform barren ground, Christ came as the ultimate source of spiritual life, bringing renewal to souls that are "desolate and waste" due to sin. He is the [Living Water](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus, the Living Water") who satisfies the deepest spiritual thirst, and from whom flow [rivers of living water](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water") for those who believe. Jesus' ministry consistently demonstrated God's power to bring life out of spiritual barrenness, transforming broken lives and offering hope where there was none. His power over nature, seen in Him [calming the storm](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm") or [multiplying loaves and fish](/john/6-11 "John 6:11 - Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand"), echoes the Creator's dominion over the elements. Ultimately, the "bud of the tender herb" springing forth from the "waste ground" finds its most glorious fulfillment in Christ's resurrection. From the desolate tomb, the ultimate barren place, God caused the tender bud of new life—Christ Himself—to spring forth, conquering death and offering the promise of [newness of life](/romans/6-4 "Newness of Life Through Christ's Resurrection") to all who are united with Him. He is the [wisdom of God](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God"), embodying the very knowledge and power that Job could not comprehend, and through Him, God's life-giving provision is poured out upon all creation, both natural and spiritual, culminating in the [restoration of all things](/acts/3-21 "Acts 3:21 - The Restoration 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

Psalms 107:35

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

Psalms 104:14

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;