Job 37 13

Job 37:13 kjv

He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

Job 37:13 nkjv

He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.

Job 37:13 niv

He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.

Job 37:13 esv

Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.

Job 37:13 nlt

He makes these things happen either to punish people
or to show his unfailing love.

Job 37 verses

Job 37 13 Meaning

Job 37:13 speaks of God's direct control over natural phenomena, specifically the meteorological events detailed in the preceding verses, asserting that these manifestations of divine power occur for one of three distinct purposes: as a means of correction or judgment, as a blessing to sustain His land and people, or as an expression of His profound steadfast love and mercy. Elihu, speaking on behalf of God's wisdom, presents these purposes as deliberate and sovereign actions.

Job 37 13 Context

Job 37:13 is part of Elihu's lengthy discourse, which begins in chapter 32 and concludes with chapter 37. Elihu, the youngest of Job's counselors, provides a perspective that distinguishes itself from the three friends who rigidly argue Job's suffering is solely due to his sin, and from Job's own complaints against God's apparent injustice. In chapters 36-37, Elihu focuses on God's immense power, wisdom, and majesty as revealed in the natural world, particularly through weather phenomena like clouds, lightning, thunder, snow, and rain. He paints a picture of God as an unsearchable, sovereign Lord who governs all of creation with purpose. Verse 13 serves as a summary of God's complex and diverse intentions behind His natural operations, emphasizing that His actions are never arbitrary but always purposeful, whether for judgment, sustenance, or a display of His covenantal love. This stands as a counter-argument to Job's accusations of God's indifference or arbitrary harshness.

Job 37 13 Word analysis

• He causes it to come (וַיַּשִּׁבֵהוּ - wayyaššîḇêhû): The pronoun "He" refers unmistakably to God. The verb "causes it to come" or "sends it back/forth" indicates an active, intentional sending. "It" refers implicitly to the storm, lightning, rain, and other natural phenomena described in Job 37:2-12. This highlights God's direct agency and control over creation, presenting Him as the orchestrator of natural forces, not a passive observer.
• whether for correction (לְשֵׁבֶט - lə·šê·ḇeṭ): The word shebet typically means "rod," "scepter," or "tribe." Here, in context of God's action, it implies a rod of discipline or punishment, hence "correction" or "chastisement." This purpose emphasizes God's role as a moral governor who uses natural events to call people to repentance or to administer justice for sin.
• or for His land (לְאַרְצֹו - lə·’ar·ṣōw): This phrase denotes God's providential care for the earth and its inhabitants. The Hebrew literally means "for His land." This purpose emphasizes nature as a means of sustenance and blessing, ensuring agricultural productivity, ecological balance, and life itself, directly contradicting the idea of God being solely a punisher.
• or for steadfast love (לְחֶסֶד - lə·ḥe·seḏ): The term hesed is profoundly significant in biblical theology. It is often translated as "lovingkindness," "mercy," "covenant loyalty," or "unfailing love." This purpose demonstrates that God's actions in nature can be a direct outflow of His gracious character and His commitment to His covenant with humanity. Even powerful displays like storms can ultimately manifest God's enduring grace, providing necessary elements for life.

• Purposeful Sending (He causes it to come... for...): This group of words underlines God's intentionality and sovereignty. His actions in nature are not random or undirected; they always serve a divine purpose. This counters any view of God as disengaged or chaotic.
• Correction, Provision, Steadfast Love: These three purposes encapsulate a spectrum of God's dealings with humanity: punitive/disciplinary, benevolent/sustaining, and gracious/merciful. They illustrate the multifaceted nature of divine wisdom and action, showing that God works in complex ways that often intertwine judgment, grace, and common blessings. This challenges simplistic human interpretations of God's ways.

Job 37 13 Bonus section

The three categories of divine purpose for natural events in Job 37:13 reflect the fundamental tension often explored in Wisdom Literature between divine inscrutability and divine justice/goodness. Elihu suggests that even when God's specific reason for an event is not apparent to humans, His actions are never aimless but serve a divine end consistent with His character. This tripartite purpose (punishment, blessing, grace) foreshadows the fuller revelation of God's nature throughout the Bible, particularly His interwoven attributes of holiness, justice, and mercy. The verse implicitly argues against pagan conceptions of nature as controlled by capricious deities or chaotic forces, firmly planting all natural phenomena under the purposeful hand of the one true God. This perspective encourages a deeper theological reflection on natural disasters or blessings, moving beyond simple cause-and-effect to consider God's overarching plans for correction, sustenance, and the demonstration of His unfailing covenant loyalty.

Job 37 13 Commentary

Job 37:13 is a powerful statement from Elihu on God's sovereignty over natural phenomena and the multifaceted reasons behind their occurrence. It encapsulates Elihu's central argument that God is great, majestic, and incomprehensible in His wisdom, and that His actions, even in the realm of nature, are purposeful. The three purposes listed – correction, provision for His land, and steadfast love – are not mutually exclusive but demonstrate the divine ability to achieve various outcomes through a single event. A powerful rain, for instance, might be a cleansing judgment for some, a life-giving blessing for crops for others, and for all, a demonstration of God's continuing faithfulness to His creation, an act of hesed. This verse counters both Job's accusation of arbitrary divine cruelty and the friends' narrow view of divine retribution. It invites humans to consider God's comprehensive control and intricate wisdom, reminding them that while His ways are beyond full human grasp (as reinforced by the impending divine address in Job 38), they are always just, good, and purposeful, ultimately reflecting His glory and the depths of His character. It is a call to humble adoration and trust in a God whose every action has profound significance.