Job 37 16

Job 37:16 kjv

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

Job 37:16 nkjv

Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

Job 37:16 niv

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

Job 37:16 esv

Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,

Job 37:16 nlt

Do you understand how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?

Job 37 verses

Job 37 16 Meaning

Job 37:16 is a rhetorical question posed by Elihu to Job, challenging Job's limited understanding of God's immense power and wisdom displayed in the natural world. Specifically, it points to the intricate and precise processes by which clouds are formed and sustained, marvels beyond human comprehension. The verse asserts that these natural phenomena are the "wondrous works" of God, who is "perfect in knowledge," contrasting His infinite wisdom with the finite understanding of humanity. It emphasizes God's comprehensive oversight and meticulous control over creation.

Job 37 16 Context

Job 37:16 is part of Elihu's final speech, spanning chapters 32-37, which immediately precedes God's appearance from the whirlwind. Elihu attempts to justify God's ways to Job and his friends, emphasizing God's omnipotence, righteousness, and inscrutable wisdom as manifested in nature, particularly severe weather. Chapter 37 focuses on the awesome display of God's power through thunder, lightning, snow, and rain. Elihu points to the sheer magnitude and precision of these phenomena as evidence of a powerful, wise God who works in ways beyond human comprehension. The rhetorical questions in verse 16, and indeed throughout Job 37, are designed to humble Job and underscore the vast chasm between human knowledge and divine knowledge, preparing Job for the direct confrontation with the Almighty in the subsequent chapters. For ancient agricultural societies, weather was an immediate and powerful determinant of life and death, reinforcing the profound awe associated with its control, attributing it directly to divine action rather than chance.

Job 37 16 Word analysis

• Do you know: This is a direct rhetorical question (Hebrew: הֲתֵדַע, hătēḏaʿ) designed not to elicit an answer, but to underscore human ignorance and highlight God's profound, unique understanding. It serves as a challenge, emphasizing the limits of Job's knowledge and, by extension, all human knowledge.

• the balancings: (Hebrew: תַּפְלִגּוֹת, taphlîḡōṯ). This unique term derives from the root פָּלַג (pālag), meaning "to divide," "to split," or "to distribute." In this context, it speaks to the precise arrangement, apportionment, or equilibrium of the clouds. It implies meticulous, ordered control and intricate design—the specific atmospheric conditions, water vapor density, and air currents that sustain clouds in the sky. This word points to an unseen, divine ordering force behind natural phenomena that might appear chaotic or random to the human eye.

• of the clouds: (Hebrew: עָב, ʿāv). This refers to the dense mass of water droplets suspended in the atmosphere. In the Bible, clouds often symbolize God's presence, majesty, power, and the mysteries of His divine operations (e.g., God appearing in a cloud, providing shade or rain). Here, they are specifically the subject of God's intricate control.

• the wondrous works: (Hebrew: פְּלָאִ֥ים, pĕlāʾîm). From the root פָּלָא (pālāʾ), meaning "to be extraordinary," "to be marvelous," "to be difficult to understand or perform." This term describes deeds or creations that are beyond human capacity to achieve, imitate, or fully comprehend. It points to God's miraculous power and creative genius that evoke awe and wonder.

• of him who is perfect in knowledge: (Hebrew: תְּמִ֣ים דֵּ֭עִים, təmîm dēʿîm). This is a descriptive phrase for God.

  • perfect: (Hebrew: תָּמִים, tāmîm). Implies completeness, flawlessness, blamelessness, or utter integrity. Applied to knowledge, it means God's knowledge is absolute, without defect, omission, or error.
  • in knowledge: (Hebrew: דֵּעִים, dēʿîm). Refers to understanding, wisdom, perception, and insight. Combined, "perfect in knowledge" asserts God's omniscience—He knows all things, exhaustively and perfectly, from all eternity, needing no instruction or learning. This attribute is foundational to His ability to create and sustain the universe with such precision.

• "balancings of the clouds": This phrase highlights the profound mystery of meteorological phenomena from an ancient perspective, now understood scientifically, yet still revealing God's intricate design. It speaks to atmospheric pressure, air currents, the water cycle, and specific atmospheric conditions that keep massive amounts of water suspended. It signifies an exquisite, divinely orchestrated equilibrium.

• "wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge": This connects God's omniscient nature directly to His omnipotence as revealed in creation. It asserts that His infinite knowledge is the source of His miraculous power. Only One with perfect knowledge could engineer such complex and astounding systems as the global climate. This phrase implies that God doesn't just know things, but His knowledge guides and underpins His actions in creating and sustaining the universe.

Job 37 16 Bonus section

The "balancings of the clouds" can be understood through modern scientific lenses (e.g., atmospheric physics, hydrodynamics), which, far from diminishing the wonder, reveal even more intricate levels of complexity and precision required for the Earth's climate system to function, continually affirming the infinite knowledge required to orchestrate such systems. Elihu’s question about the clouds points to the precise interdependency of various natural laws and forces (like air pressure, temperature, water density, wind currents) that sustain them. Without a perfectly orchestrated balance, precipitation would be chaotic or impossible, demonstrating divine care for a life-sustaining environment. Elihu, unlike Job's other friends, focuses not on Job's sin, but on God's sovereignty and wisdom as a corrective for Job's presumptuousness in questioning divine justice, preparing the ground for God's ultimate self-revelation.

Job 37 16 Commentary

Job 37:16 encapsulates Elihu's central argument: human suffering, incomprehensible as it may seem, originates from a God whose ways and wisdom are far beyond human comprehension. The rhetorical question concerning the "balancings of the clouds" serves as a microcosm for all of God's operations. The stability and predictability of atmospheric phenomena, crucial for life yet fundamentally mysterious to ancient people (and still containing complexities today), illustrate the divine ordering hand. It is an argument from design, not merely from power, but from intelligent, meticulous design. God's knowledge is not just extensive but "perfect," meaning flawless, complete, and the very foundation of His capacity to perform such "wondrous works." Elihu's aim is to humble Job by showing that if humans cannot grasp the visible complexities of the weather, how can they hope to fully understand the intricate moral and providential workings of God? This verse challenges human arrogance, encourages profound reverence, and directs focus toward the Creator as the sole source of ultimate wisdom and control.