Job 28 25

Job 28:25 kjv

To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

Job 28:25 nkjv

To establish a weight for the wind, And apportion the waters by measure.

Job 28:25 niv

When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,

Job 28:25 esv

When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,

Job 28:25 nlt

He decided how hard the winds should blow
and how much rain should fall.

Job 28 verses

Job 28 25 Meaning

Job 28:25 asserts God's absolute and precise sovereign control over the most formidable natural elements: wind and water. It depicts God as the divine Architect and Engineer, who by His unparalleled wisdom, measured, weighted, and proportioned these forces with exactitude during creation. This meticulous ordering of the natural world demonstrates His comprehensive understanding and possession of wisdom, a wisdom that eludes human discovery. The verse underscores that God's wisdom is not an abstract concept but is palpably manifest in the established, immutable laws governing the universe.

Job 28 25 Context

Job 28 is a profound poetic interlude within the book of Job, shifting from the cyclical debates between Job and his friends to a meditative hymn on the elusive nature of true wisdom. Chapters 1-27 explore human suffering and divine justice, but Job 28 abruptly elevates the perspective to address humanity's persistent quest for understanding. The preceding verses (28:1-11) describe human ingenuity in mining the earth's hidden treasures—silver, gold, jewels, and deep veins—feats that demonstrate mankind's ability to conquer and understand the physical world. However, this human capacity, though impressive, is explicitly contrasted with the unsearchable depth of divine wisdom (28:12-21). Mankind cannot find, purchase, or comprehend wisdom from any earthly source. It is "hidden from the eyes of all living" (28:21). The climax arrives in 28:23-27, where it is revealed that "God understands its way, and He knows its place." Job 28:25 then illustrates this divine understanding by detailing God's meticulous, primordial ordering of natural phenomena—the wind and the waters. Historically and culturally, this passage directly challenges polytheistic beliefs of the ancient Near East, where forces like wind and water were often attributed to multiple capricious deities or chaotic cosmic forces. It asserts a singular, intelligent, and sovereign God who governs creation with deliberate precision, reflecting His unparalleled wisdom.

Job 28 25 Word analysis

• When He: This immediately attributes the action to God (implied by "He" in the context of divine wisdom), signifying a singular, active agent.
• imparts (לָשׂוּם, lasum): To set, put, place, appoint. Here, it conveys the idea of God establishing a fixed quality or assigning a determined property to the wind, not merely "giving" it temporarily. It implies an initial, authoritative decree that brings order and stability.
• a weight (מִשְׁקָל, mishqal): Literally "weight" or "measure." This term goes beyond mere physical mass; it denotes the precise calibration, established significance, and ordered function. It implies that even something as seemingly intangible and variable as wind has been assigned specific properties, patterns, and limits, by divine design. It refers to the fixed laws and proportions that govern the wind.
• to the wind (רוּחַ, ruach): Refers to the atmospheric force. In Hebrew, ruach can also mean "spirit" or "breath," but here the context of natural phenomena ("waters") clearly points to literal wind. The wind, often perceived as unpredictable and powerful, is portrayed as completely under God's control and regulation.
• And metes out (תִּכֵּן, tikken): To weigh, measure, regulate, fix, establish. This verb conveys extreme precision and methodical arrangement. It's a foundational act of ordering chaos, setting boundaries, and establishing laws.
• the waters (מַיִם, mayim): Refers to vast bodies of water, like oceans, rivers, and the water cycle itself. These represent another powerful, often uncontrollable natural force.
• by measure (מִדָּה, middah): This noun signifies standard, proportion, rule, or determined amount. It reinforces the idea of precise calculation, not haphazard distribution. The waters were not unleashed without limit, but were allocated their specific dimensions, depths, and boundaries within creation.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• When He imparts a weight to the wind: This phrase illustrates God's unseen hand governing the very nature and behavior of wind. It speaks of divine regulation that goes beyond superficial control; it’s an intrinsic quality, a built-in calibration by which wind operates within a preordained cosmic order. The "weight" implies both specific physical properties (density, force) and conceptual boundaries, ensuring that this powerful element operates within established norms, preventing chaotic unpredictability.
• And metes out the waters by measure: This parallel phrase emphasizes God's exact quantification and boundary-setting for the massive and potentially destructive element of water. The act of "meting out" suggests precise allocation, while "by measure" highlights a meticulous standard. This is the divine act of establishing ocean depths, shorelines, river courses, and the water cycle—all according to a divine plan. It demonstrates that water's power is contained, channeled, and utilized according to divine design, not by chance or independent will.

Together, these phrases reveal God's universal wisdom manifest in the systematic ordering of seemingly uncontrollable natural phenomena. This meticulous establishment of the physical universe serves as proof of His inherent and unparalleled wisdom, a wisdom fundamentally beyond human grasp.

Job 28 25 Bonus section

The "weight" (מִשְׁקָל, mishqal) given to the wind in Job 28:25 hints at more than just physical weight or density. It can also imply significance, consequence, or established character. God didn't just create wind; He determined its inherent properties, its function within the ecological system, its strength, its direction, and its contribution to the earth's balance. This implies an intrinsic design, not merely external manipulation.

Similarly, "meting out the waters by measure" isn't just about the initial gathering of oceans. It speaks to the ongoing hydrological cycle—the precise evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and flow that sustain life on earth. This suggests that divine wisdom is perpetually active, not just in an initial creative burst, but in the sustained ordering and governing of the cosmos. This continuous, intelligent oversight reinforces the idea that true wisdom lies solely with God, encompassing not only creation but also providence. This perspective would have offered solace and reorientation to Job, who felt the chaos of his personal suffering. While Job found the "veins of earth's riches," he couldn't grasp the "veins of divine wisdom," which govern something far greater than earthly minerals. The final verses of Job 28 (v.28) reveal the practical outworking of this divine wisdom for humanity: "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to turn away from evil is understanding." This wisdom, unlike the unsearchable depths of creation's design, is made accessible to humans through reverent submission and moral action.

Job 28 25 Commentary

Job 28:25 stands as a cornerstone in the argument for God's unparalleled wisdom. In a chapter celebrating human achievement in exploring the earth's depths for material riches, this verse sharply contrasts mankind's limited dominion with God's absolute mastery over the fundamental forces of the cosmos. The divine act of assigning "weight" to the wind and "measuring out" the waters is not merely a description of creation but a testament to a wisdom that designed and sustains a universe governed by intricate laws.

This verse emphasizes that God's wisdom is practical, embedded within the fabric of creation itself. The precise calibration of elements like wind, which appears boundless, and water, which is immense, underscores His sovereign intellect. He did not create a chaotic world, but one ordered with perfect precision and balance. This divine wisdom predates creation, forms it, and continues to uphold it. Humans can discover natural laws, but they did not originate them; they can navigate and harness natural forces, but they do not control their fundamental nature as God does. The implications are profound: if God possesses such perfect knowledge to order the entire cosmos, then His understanding of human affairs, justice, and suffering (the very questions Job wrestles with) must also be equally profound and beyond human comprehension. This encourages trust in His ultimate plan and wisdom, even when understanding is absent. For instance, knowing God's precise control over nature can bring comfort during a storm or during personal chaos, as it signifies a steadfast hand behind all circumstances.