Job 37 1

Job 37:1 kjv

At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Job 37:1 nkjv

"At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.

Job 37:1 niv

"At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.

Job 37:1 esv

"At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.

Job 37:1 nlt

"My heart pounds as I think of this.
It trembles within me.

Job 37 verses

Job 37 1 Meaning

Elihu expresses an intense, involuntary physiological and emotional reaction to contemplating God's majestic power, particularly as displayed in the phenomena of the natural world (as described in Job 36). His heart, symbolizing his deepest being, not only trembles with reverential awe and fear but is so profoundly moved that it feels as if it jumps or starts out of its natural place. This signifies the overwhelming, uncontainable impact of comprehending divine omnipotence and incomprehensibility on a human being.

Job 37 1 Context

Job chapter 37, specifically verse 1, opens Elihu’s final discourse, building on his previous arguments concerning God's justice, power, and wisdom (Job chapters 32-36). Having challenged the perspectives of Job and his three friends, Elihu shifts his focus from human suffering and wisdom to God’s absolute sovereignty and incomprehensibility. The preceding chapter, Job 36, meticulously details God's mighty acts in the natural world, particularly the formation and power of thunderstorms, rain, lightning, and ice, as evidence of His unfathomable control and majestic artistry. Elihu contends that these natural phenomena serve as direct manifestations of God's wisdom, and a profound testimony to His greatness, far beyond human ability to fully grasp. This verse serves as a transition, personalizing Elihu’s reaction to this awesome truth, and setting the stage for him to continue expounding on God's omnipotence demonstrated through weather, challenging Job and his companions to fully grasp who God is, implicitly preparing them for God's eventual direct intervention from the whirlwind. The historical context reflects a wisdom literature tradition where human finitude is contrasted with divine infinity, and reverent awe is promoted as the appropriate response to the Creator.

Job 37 1 Word analysis

• At this also (גַּם לָזֶה - gam lāzeh):

  • gam (also, even, moreover): Indicates a continuation or amplification of what has just been stated. Elihu is adding this intense personal reaction to his description of God's awesome natural acts. It connects his internal response to the external phenomena he has been detailing (e.g., God’s control of clouds, rain, thunder in Job 36:27-33).
  • lāzeh (at this, concerning this): Points specifically to the profound truths about God's power in nature that Elihu has just expounded. It signifies the immediate cause of his inner upheaval.

• my heart (לִבִּי - libbī):

  • levav (heart): In biblical Hebrew, the "heart" (לֵב/לֵבָב) is not merely the seat of emotion, but the core of a person’s being – encompassing intellect, will, conscience, and moral character. Elihu's reaction is holistic, not just emotional, but a deep response of his entire inner person to the immensity of God. It's the "thinking heart" or "mind."

• trembles (יֶחֱרַד - yeḥĕrad):

  • kharad (to tremble, quake, be afraid): This verb denotes a strong, often involuntary, physical shaking or quaking due to fear, awe, or agitation. It is used to describe a fearful reaction to a divine presence or warning (e.g., 1 Sam 13:7; Ps 119:120). It signifies a profound, unsettling fear combined with reverential awe, appropriate when confronted with absolute power.

• and leaps out of its place (וְיִתַּר מִמְּקוֹמוֹ - wəyittar miməqōmō):

  • yatar (to leap, jump, spring away): This Hiphal verb implies an energetic, startled movement. The imagery suggests such overwhelming force or fear that the heart cannot remain settled or contained within the body. It communicates extreme shock and agitation, as if one's very core is displaced by the grandeur witnessed. This is not a joyful leap but one caused by profound astonishment and apprehension.
  • miməqōmō (from its place): Reinforces the intensity of the reaction, illustrating a state of profound disturbance. The heart, the seat of life and thought, is so violently stirred that it feels as if it’s no longer contained. It highlights the disruptive and overwhelming nature of truly contemplating God's power.

• "At this also my heart trembles, and leaps out of its place": This phrase combines physical and psychological intensity, portraying a complete inner upheaval. Elihu is utterly overcome by the majesty he describes. This highlights human inadequacy and weakness when faced with God’s limitless power and mysterious ways. It functions as a polemic against any attempt to limit or define God's actions based solely on human understanding or perceived justice, as Job and his friends had done. It emphasizes the yir'ah (fear/awe) of God, which is a foundational concept in wisdom literature (Prov 1:7).

Job 37 1 Bonus section

Elihu's role as the younger, perhaps more Spirit-filled, mediator in the dialogue between Job and his three older friends is critical here. His response shifts the tone from theological debate to a personal, reverent encounter with divine majesty. He introduces a much-needed emphasis on God's glory and unknowable ways before God's own direct address from the whirlwind. The intensity of Elihu's reaction suggests that a true understanding of God's power should not merely lead to intellectual assent but to a profound, transformative sense of fear and humility, acknowledging the vast gulf between creature and Creator. This emphasis on "trembling" before God, in contrast to the theological disputes of Job's friends, foreshadows Job's own later humble submission when God finally speaks (Job 40:4-5, 42:5-6). Elihu prepares both Job and the reader for a God who transcends human comprehension and expectation, operating beyond simple reward and retribution.

Job 37 1 Commentary

Job 37:1 serves as Elihu's profound personal confession of awe and apprehension in the face of God’s absolute, mysterious power, specifically manifest in nature. This verse moves beyond Elihu’s intellectual arguments to express a deep, visceral reverence. His "heart" – his entire being – is depicted as being overwhelmed to the point of a physical, unsettling tremor and leap, unable to contain the impact of contemplating divine omnipotence.

This deep reaction underscores a crucial message in Elihu’s speech and, indeed, in the book of Job: God is incomprehensibly vast, and human wisdom is limited. Any attempt to neatly categorize or challenge God's ways based on human logic inevitably falls short. Elihu’s fear is not one of a terrified sinner hiding from judgment but rather a holy awe before an unfathomable Creator. It highlights that proper theology should lead to humble reverence, recognizing God’s sovereign control over even seemingly ordinary natural phenomena, which reveal His matchless power. This sets the stage for God's eventual appearance in a whirlwind, validating Elihu's emphasis on God's transcendent power and wisdom. It invites reflection on one's own reaction to God's manifested presence in the world.

• Examples:
  • Observing a colossal thunderstorm's power might make one feel small and overwhelmed, echoing Elihu’s reaction to God's might.
  • Stargazing at an immense, seemingly infinite cosmos could instill a similar sense of trembling awe at the Creator's grandeur.