Job 38:8

KJV

Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?

KJV (with Strong's)

Or who shut up {H5526} the sea {H3220} with doors {H1817}, when it brake forth {H1518}, as if it had issued out {H3318} of the womb {H7358}?

Complete Jewish Bible

"Who shut up the sea behind closed doors when it gushed forth from the womb,

Berean Standard Bible

Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,

American Standard Version

Orwho shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 38:8 is a powerful rhetorical question posed by God to Job from the whirlwind, challenging Job's capacity to comprehend the divine orchestration of creation. This verse specifically highlights God's absolute and effortless control over the primordial, chaotic forces of the sea, depicting Him as the one who "shut up the sea with doors" when it first emerged, establishing its boundaries and demonstrating His unparalleled wisdom and sovereignty over all things.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the opening of God's first speech to Job, commencing in [Job 38:1](/job/38-1 "Job 38:1 - God Answers Job from the Whirlwind"). After chapters of Job's lamentations and debates with his friends, God finally intervenes, not to explain Job's suffering, but to confront Job with His own infinite power, wisdom, and knowledge. The divine interrogation begins by questioning Job's presence and understanding at the very foundations of the earth ([Job 38:4](/job/38-4 "Job 38:4 - God's Question About Earth's Foundations")), then moves to the sources of light and darkness, the storehouses of snow and hail, and climaxes with the majestic and often terrifying forces of nature, such as the sea in [Job 38:8](/job/38-8 "Job 38:8 - God's Control Over the Sea"). Each question serves to underscore the vast chasm between human comprehension and divine omnipotence, systematically dismantling Job's presumption to question God's ways.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the sea was often perceived as a symbol of primordial chaos, an untamed and potentially destructive force. Many creation myths from surrounding cultures depicted deities engaging in fierce battles with monstrous sea creatures or personified waters to establish order. Against this backdrop, the biblical portrayal of God's control over the sea is profoundly significant. He does not struggle or fight; instead, He effortlessly "shuts up" the sea with "doors," as if containing a child within a room. This imagery emphasizes God's unique, uncontested, and absolute sovereignty, contrasting sharply with the limited power of human rulers or the tumultuous struggles of pagan deities. It reinforces the monotheistic understanding of a single, all-powerful Creator who brings order out of chaos simply by His command.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 38:8](/job/38-8 "Job 38:8 - God's Sovereign Control Over the Sea") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is **God's Sovereign Control Over Creation**, illustrating His unparalleled power to manage and contain even the most formidable elements of the natural world. The sea, often a metaphor for chaos, is depicted as being divinely regulated, emphasizing that all of creation operates under His precise decree. This leads directly to the theme of **Divine Wisdom and Human Ignorance**. God's ability to orchestrate the sea's emergence and confinement highlights His infinite wisdom, which stands in stark contrast to Job's limited human perspective and inability to grasp even the simplest mechanics of the universe. Finally, the imagery of the sea "issuing out of the womb" followed by God's containment reflects the theme of **Order from Chaos**. This echoes the creation narrative in [Genesis 1](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"), where God separates the waters and sets boundaries, bringing form and order to the formless void ([Genesis 1:9-10](/genesis/1-9 "Genesis 1:9-10 - God Separates the Waters and Gathers Them")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **shut up (Hebrew, _sakhakh'_):** This verb means "to hedge about," "to fence in," "to cover," or "to protect." In the context of the sea, it conveys a deliberate and powerful act of containment, suggesting that God actively enclosed and set boundaries for the vast waters. It implies not just restriction but also a protective covering, ensuring the sea remains within its appointed bounds.
* **doors (Hebrew, _delatayim'_):** This is the dual form of the Hebrew word for "door" or "gate," emphasizing two strong, formidable barriers. The use of "doors" for the sea is a striking anthropomorphism, transforming the immense, fluid ocean into something that can be physically contained and controlled by human-like structures, thereby highlighting the absolute ease and authority with which God manages it.
* **womb (Hebrew, _beten'_):** This word refers to the belly or womb, often used metaphorically to denote the source or origin of something, or a confined space from which something emerges. Comparing the sea's emergence to a birth from a "womb" vividly portrays its initial, forceful, and perhaps chaotic outpouring, which God then precisely regulated and confined, much like a midwife attending a birth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or [who] shut up the sea with doors":** This opening phrase is a rhetorical question, implicitly asserting that only God possesses the power and authority to perform such a feat. It challenges Job (and by extension, humanity) to consider the immense power required to contain the vast, potentially destructive ocean. The imagery of "doors" emphasizes a deliberate, strong, and even effortless act of confinement, demonstrating God's complete mastery over the natural world.
* **"when it brake forth":** This clause describes the sea's initial, powerful, and perhaps uncontrolled emergence. It suggests a moment of raw, untamed force, highlighting the inherent might of the waters before divine intervention. The verb "brake forth" (יָצָא, _yatza'_) implies a gushing or bursting out, underscoring the formidable nature of what God subsequently controlled.
* **"[as if] it had issued out of the womb?":** This simile vividly compares the sea's emergence to a birth. It suggests a natural, yet forceful and perhaps initially formless, outpouring. This metaphor not only humanizes the sea's origin but also subtly implies that its very existence and initial "birth" were part of God's creative design, even as He then set its precise boundaries. It points to God as the ultimate source and regulator of all life and elemental forces.

#### Literary Devices
[Job 38:8](/job/38-8 "Job 38:8 - God's Control Over the Sea") is rich with literary artistry. The most prominent device is the **Rhetorical Question**, which God uses throughout His speech to challenge Job's understanding and humility, implying that only God could have performed such a feat. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "shut up the sea with doors," attributing human-like structures (doors) to a natural element, thereby making God's control more tangible and relatable, yet simultaneously emphasizing His transcendent power over even the most immense forces. A powerful **Simile** compares the sea's emergence to a birth, "as if it had issued out of the womb," which vividly portrays its initial, forceful, and perhaps chaotic outpouring. This metaphor not only humanizes the sea's origin but also underscores the idea of God as the ultimate Creator and orchestrator of all life and elemental forces, bringing order out of primeval emergence. The verse also employs striking **Imagery**, painting a picture of the vast, surging sea being effortlessly contained by divine command, evoking awe and wonder at God's omnipotence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty and meticulous design in creation. It moves beyond a simple statement of power to reveal a divine wisdom that not only brings forth immense forces but also precisely limits and orders them. The theological implication is that if God can so effortlessly control the chaotic expanse of the sea, then His control over all other aspects of creation, including the seemingly chaotic circumstances of human life, is equally absolute and purposeful. This truth serves as a foundational pillar for trust in God's providence, even when His ways are inscrutable to human understanding. It reminds us that the same God who set the boundaries for the oceans also governs the trajectory of history and the details of individual lives.

* [Psalm 104:9](/psalms/104-9 "Psalm 104:9 - God Set Boundaries for the Waters")
* [Proverbs 8:29](/proverbs/8-29 "Proverbs 8:29 - Wisdom Present at Creation's Boundaries")
* [Jeremiah 5:22](/jeremiah/5-22 "Jeremiah 5:22 - God's Unbreakable Boundary for the Sea")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 38:8 calls us to a profound posture of humility and trust before the Almighty. In a world often characterized by chaos, uncertainty, and overwhelming challenges, this verse offers a powerful anchor: the same God who effortlessly "shut up the sea with doors" is the one who holds all things in His sovereign hand. When we face circumstances that feel like an untamed ocean, threatening to consume us, we are reminded that God has already set boundaries for what seems boundless. This should lead us to abandon our attempts to fully comprehend or control every aspect of our lives and instead rest in the boundless wisdom and power of God. It encourages us to acknowledge our finite understanding and to place our complete trust in His infinite knowledge and perfect plan, knowing that His control extends to every detail, even when His purposes remain mysterious to us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does reflecting on God's control over the sea challenge my own desire for control in my life?**
* **In what "chaotic" areas of my life do I need to surrender control to the God who sets boundaries for the ocean?**
* **How does this verse deepen my trust in God's wisdom when I don't understand His ways or the reasons for my suffering?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a greater sense of humility and awe before God's omnipotence?**

### FAQ
**Why does God ask Job these rhetorical questions instead of directly answering his suffering?**

Answer: God's primary purpose in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech to Job") is not to explain the "why" of Job's suffering, but to re-establish His own divine authority and wisdom, and to humble Job by exposing the vast disparity between human understanding and divine knowledge. By asking Job questions about the fundamental operations of the cosmos—things Job could never have created or controlled—God demonstrates that if Job cannot even comprehend the mechanics of the natural world, how can he presume to understand or question God's complex dealings with humanity or the mysteries of His providence? The questions serve to shift Job's focus from his own pain and perceived injustice to the awe-inspiring majesty and incomprehensible wisdom of the Creator, ultimately leading Job to repentance and a deeper, more reverent faith ([Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Repentance and Confession")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 38:8, with its portrayal of God's absolute dominion over the chaotic sea, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament God who "shut up the sea with doors" is revealed in the New Testament as the very one who became flesh. Jesus, by His inherent divine authority, demonstrated this same power when He calmed the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee with a mere word: "Peace, be still!" ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). The disciples' astonished question, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ([Mark 4:41](/mark/4-41 "Mark 4:41 - Disciples' Awe at Jesus' Power")), echoes God's rhetorical questions to Job, revealing Jesus as the divine Creator in human form. Furthermore, the imagery of the sea "issuing out of the womb" points to the creative act, and the New Testament unequivocally identifies Jesus as the agent of creation, through whom "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible" ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - Christ as Creator")). He is the one who sustains all things by His powerful word ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things")). Thus, Job 38:8 is not merely a testament to God's ancient power, but a foreshadowing of the incarnate Christ, who perfectly embodies and exercises that same sovereign control over all creation, bringing order to chaos, both in the physical world and in the hearts of those who believe in Him, offering new life and peace where there was once spiritual tempest.

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

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.

Proverbs 8:29

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

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 104:8

They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

Psalms 104:9

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

Psalms 33:7

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

Job 38:10

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