Job 37 3

Job 37:3 kjv

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

Job 37:3 nkjv

He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth.

Job 37:3 niv

He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.

Job 37:3 esv

Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.

Job 37:3 nlt

It rolls across the heavens,
and his lightning flashes in every direction.

Job 37 verses

Job 37 3 Meaning

Job 37:3 describes God's absolute and universal control over natural phenomena, specifically light manifesting as lightning. It proclaims that God sends His divine illumination across the entirety of the heavens, directing its reach to the outermost extremities of the earth. This declaration underscores His immeasurable power, omnipresence, and sovereign rule over all creation, demonstrating a might beyond human comprehension or challenge.

Job 37 3 Context

Job chapter 37 forms the concluding part of Elihu's final discourse (Job 32-37). Elihu seeks to articulate a comprehensive view of God's majesty, wisdom, and sovereign control, especially through His powerful manifestation in natural phenomena like storms, lightning, and thunder. This chapter focuses on the incomprehensible greatness of God, urging Job (and by extension, the reader) to humbly submit to Him rather than question His justice or methods. Elihu’s speech serves as a prelude to God’s direct address to Job in chapters 38-41, which also emphasizes God’s supreme power over creation. Historically and culturally, ancient Near Eastern peoples often attributed such natural occurrences to a pantheon of capricious deities. Elihu's description in Job 37:3, however, firmly anchors the control of lightning and universal reach to the one true God, YHWH, implicitly critiquing and providing a polemic against such polytheistic beliefs by demonstrating God's singular, absolute, and purposeful governance.

Job 37 3 Word analysis

• He unleashes / directs / sends it (יִשְׁלָחֶהָ - yishlāḥehā):

  • Hiphil imperfect of שָׁלַח (shalach), meaning "to send forth," "let go," "extend," or "unleash."
  • Signifies a deliberate, active, and intentional act. God is not merely allowing things to happen, but purposefully initiating and directing this powerful display. It conveys His direct and active agency.

• His lightning (וְאוֹרוֹ - wəʾōrōw):

  • From אוֹר (ʾōr), which fundamentally means "light," "radiance," "illumination."
  • While contextually referring to lightning flashes, the choice of ʾōr instead of a direct word for "thunderbolt" or "lightning bolt" emphasizes the visual aspect of a divine flash of light, perhaps hinting at God's glory or brilliance being made visible in the storm. It suggests purity and a radiant display rather than merely a destructive force, aligning with God being light.

• across the whole heaven (תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָיִם - taḥat kol-hashshāmāyim):

  • תַּחַת (taḥat): "under" or "beneath."
  • כָּל־ (kol): "all," "every," "the whole."
  • הַשָּׁמָיִם (hashshāmāyim): "the heavens" (plural, denoting the vast expanse above).
  • Emphasizes the complete and universal scope of God's domain. No part of the celestial realm is beyond His immediate control and reach.

• to the ends of the earth (עַל־קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ - ʿal-qətsēh hāʾāreṣ):

  • עַל־ (ʿal): "upon," "to," "at."
  • קְצֵה (qətsēh): "end," "edge," "border," "extremity."
  • הָאָרֶץ (hāʾāreṣ): "the earth."
  • Reinforces the all-encompassing nature of God's power, signifying that His command and presence are not limited by terrestrial boundaries. It encompasses every farthest point and region of the physical world.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He unleashes His lightning across the whole heaven": This phrase highlights God's purposeful and comprehensive control over atmospheric phenomena originating from above. The use of "unleashes" or "directs" shows His active hand, while "across the whole heaven" establishes the grand scale and reach of His immediate authority and action throughout the cosmic expanse visible to humans.

• "and sends it to the ends of the earth": This further extends the scope of God's sovereign command from the heavens downwards to every possible limit of the terrestrial world. It signifies that His power is not merely a distant force but one that actively permeates and influences every part of creation, demonstrating His omnipresent and omnipotent reach, leaving no corner untouched.

Job 37 3 Bonus section

The concept of "light" (ʾōr) being used for lightning might also subtly connect to the original act of creation in Gen 1:3 ("Let there be light"), emphasizing God's enduring power to call light into being and direct it. It suggests that even in a destructive or powerful natural display, there is an element of divine presence and purity. This verse serves as a powerful theological statement against any deistic view of creation, where God might be seen as having set the universe in motion but is no longer actively involved. Instead, Job 37:3 portrays an immanent and active God who continuously governs His creation with precise intent, reaching every last detail and every far-flung location.

Job 37 3 Commentary

Job 37:3 is a profound declaration of God's incomparable might and omnipresent sovereignty over creation. Elihu presents God as the absolute director of the cosmos, not merely allowing natural forces to exist, but actively governing them with purpose and intent. The description of lightning—described as "light"—being sent universally "under the whole heaven" and "to the ends of the earth" speaks volumes. It’s a divine manifestation that pierces the vastness of the heavens and impacts the remotest corners of the world, highlighting that nothing is beyond God's reach or command. This demonstrates God’s overwhelming glory and power, humbling man's limited understanding and reminding us that our comprehension of His ways will always fall short. Elihu's message is an call for Job, and for all believers, to cease questioning and instead respond with humility and reverent awe to a God whose power and wisdom are unsearchable and limitless, openly displayed in the most spectacular elements of His creation.