Job 36 31

Job 36:31 kjv

For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

Job 36:31 nkjv

For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.

Job 36:31 niv

This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.

Job 36:31 esv

For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.

Job 36:31 nlt

By these mighty acts he nourishes the people,
giving them food in abundance.

Job 36 verses

Job 36 31 Meaning

Job 36:31 proclaims that through the powerful natural phenomena He orchestrates—such as rain, thunder, and lightning—God both governs and judges all peoples. Concurrently, by these very means, He bountifully provides food and sustenance, demonstrating His dual attributes of sovereign judgment and sustaining grace over the entire world.

Job 36 31 Context

Job 36:31 is part of Elihu's discourse (Job 32-37), where he presents his understanding of God's ways to Job and his friends. Elihu emphasizes God's majesty, wisdom, and omnipotence, particularly as revealed in nature. Unlike the previous friends, Elihu proposes that suffering is often a corrective tool for God, meant to refine and teach, rather than solely a punishment for sin. In the immediate context of Job 36:26-33, Elihu focuses on the incredible power of God manifested in weather phenomena—clouds, rain, thunder, and lightning—which are beyond human comprehension. He highlights God's sovereignty over these natural elements (vv. 29-30) and then connects them directly to divine governance over humanity. Verse 31 succinctly captures Elihu's argument that these powerful, awe-inspiring natural forces serve both as instruments of judgment and as sources of provision, demonstrating God's consistent and comprehensive control over all creation and all nations. Elihu is setting the stage for the direct appearance of God, whose revelation will primarily occur through manifestations in a whirlwind and natural wonders.

Job 36 31 Word analysis

• For: Hebrew: כִּי (ki). Meaning: "for, because, surely." It serves as a conjunction, connecting this verse's statements to the preceding descriptions of God's power in natural phenomena (Job 36:26-30). It indicates a causal or explanatory relationship.
• by these: Hebrew: בָּם (bam). Meaning: "by/in/through them." The suffix '-ām' (them) refers back to the natural phenomena Elihu has just described: clouds, thunder, lightning, and rain. These are the means through which God exercises His dominion.
• He judges: Hebrew: יָדִין (ya-din). From the root דִּין (din), meaning "to judge, rule, govern, contend." This term signifies divine authority and governance, not merely punitive judgment but God's sovereign administration of the world. It includes settling matters, establishing justice, and also holding people accountable.
• the peoples: Hebrew: עַמִּים (ammim). Plural of עַם (am), meaning "people, nation." This term emphasizes the universal scope of God's dominion, extending to all humanity, not exclusively to a chosen nation.
• He gives: Hebrew: נֹתֵן (no-ten). An active participle from the root נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give, grant, provide." The active participle emphasizes the continuous and ongoing nature of God's provision.
• food: Hebrew: לֶחֶם (lechem). Meaning: "bread, food, sustenance." It represents the basic necessities for life, highlighting God's role as the sustainer of all living things.
• in abundance: Hebrew: לְמַרְבֶּה (le-marbeh). Meaning: "for abundance, greatly, plentifully." It denotes not just minimal provision but overflowing, generous supply, indicating God's generosity and sufficiency.

• "For by these He judges the peoples": This phrase highlights God's use of natural forces as instruments of His sovereign governance. The natural world is not random; it is actively wielded by God to exert His rule over nations, which can involve discipline, correction, or establishing order.
• "He gives food in abundance": This parallel clause presents the contrasting but complementary aspect of God's control over nature. The same forces (like rain) that can bring judgment (e.g., floods, drought if withheld) are also the means by which God blesses and provides lavishly for all creation. This reflects God's common grace, providing for all humanity regardless of their righteousness.
• Combined understanding of the verse: The verse presents a theological paradox: the same natural powers wielded by God are instruments of both judgment and bountiful provision. This illustrates the incomprehensible wisdom and comprehensive power of God, who sovereignly governs all aspects of existence through creation itself.

Job 36 31 Bonus section

• Elihu's perspective provides a critical theological bridge, moving the discourse from the legalistic accusations of Job's three friends toward a focus on God's transcendent wisdom and the educational role of suffering, culminating in God's own direct address from the storm.
• The verse indirectly combats any belief that natural events are random, governed by capricious deities, or are purely mechanical processes without divine intervention. Instead, it posits a deeply involved and purposeful Creator who uses every aspect of His creation to enact His sovereign will.
• The concept of God's "common grace" is vividly presented: even those not in explicit covenant with God receive His provision and sustenance through the natural world He governs. The rain falls and food is produced "in abundance" for all peoples, highlighting God's universal beneficence.

Job 36 31 Commentary

Elihu's statement in Job 36:31 distills a profound truth about divine sovereignty: God's governance over all nations is intrinsically linked to His control over the natural world. The phenomena of storms, rain, thunder, and lightning, previously described in detail by Elihu, are not merely natural occurrences but are active agents through which God's will is executed. They serve a dual purpose: they can be instruments of His righteous judgment, bringing discipline or consequence upon the peoples, and simultaneously, they are the very means by which He abundantly sustains life. This demonstrates God's perfect balance of justice and mercy, illustrating His wisdom in using the created order to achieve His purposes. This dual operation, judgment and provision, is a testament to God's omnipotent rule, underscoring that His ways are multifaceted and beyond human reduction, thereby preparing Job and the audience for the coming divine revelation from the whirlwind.