Job 37 9

Job 37:9 kjv

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

Job 37:9 nkjv

From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north.

Job 37:9 niv

The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.

Job 37:9 esv

From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.

Job 37:9 nlt

The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
and the driving winds bring the cold.

Job 37 verses

Job 37 9 Meaning

Job 37:9 states that violent storms originate from the south, while piercing cold originates from the north. This verse, spoken by Elihu, serves to emphasize God's supreme power and absolute control over natural phenomena, demonstrating His unsearchable greatness and sovereignty through the awe-inspiring forces of nature.

Job 37 9 Context

Job 37:9 is part of Elihu's extensive monologue, spanning from Job 32 to 37. Elihu, the youngest of Job's companions, steps in after the three friends have exhausted their arguments and failed to bring Job to repentance or a right understanding of his suffering. Unlike the previous speakers, Elihu does not directly accuse Job of specific sins, but rather aims to justify God's actions and character. He emphasizes God's majesty, wisdom, justice, and unsearchable power, often drawing on observations from the natural world to illustrate these divine attributes.

In chapter 37 specifically, Elihu vividly describes the thunder, lightning, snow, rain, and cold to evoke a sense of awe and reverence for God's control over creation. He challenges Job (and implicitly the other friends) to consider the incomprehensible greatness of God, arguing that humans cannot fully grasp God's ways, particularly His meteorological control. This verse, with its depiction of storm from the south and cold from the north, contributes to Elihu's larger point: God orchestrates every aspect of nature with absolute sovereignty, demonstrating His might and wisdom to a world dependent on these forces. It sets the stage for God's own direct address to Job in chapters 38-41, which also relies heavily on creation as a testament to divine power and wisdom. Historically, in the ancient Near East, reliance on weather for agriculture made understanding and control of these forces a critical concern, often attributed to various deities. Elihu's discourse firmly attributes this control solely to YHWH, subtly challenging pagan beliefs.

Job 37 9 Word analysis

• Out of the south:

  • Hebrew: מִן־הַתֵּמָן (min-ha-Têymān)
  • תֵּמָן (Têymān) specifically refers to the southern direction or the region of Teman (Edom).
  • Significance: In the Ancient Near East, southerly winds were often associated with powerful, hot desert winds, or destructive storms from regions like the Red Sea. It denotes the source of the weather phenomenon. It signifies a distinct point of origin for the event.

• comes:

  • Hebrew: יָבוֹא (yā-vōw’)
  • From the root בּוֹא (bow), meaning "to come," "to go," "to enter."
  • Significance: Implies an active, purposeful movement. The storm is not random but "comes" forth, suggesting a directive force behind its origin.

• the storm:

  • Hebrew: סוּפָה (sūphāh)
  • Means "storm," "tempest," "whirlwind." Conveys intensity and often violent power.
  • Significance: Denotes a severe, powerful atmospheric disturbance. This isn't a gentle breeze but a strong, possibly destructive, manifestation of natural power, underscoring God's might.

• and out of the north:

  • Hebrew: וּמִזָּרִים (ū-mizārîm)
  • This is a less direct phrasing. The root is זָרָה (zara), meaning "to scatter," "to fan," "to winnow," "to disperse." So, literally "from the scatterings" or "from the dispersings." It's interpreted as "from the north" due to contextual parallelism and common meteorological patterns where cold disperses from northern regions. The direct Hebrew word for north (צָפוֹן, tsāfōwn) is not used here.
  • Significance: This poetic rendering emphasizes the effect of the cold—it is scattered, pervasive, spreading broadly, rather than being a concentrated force like a storm. It subtly links the source with the nature of the phenomenon. This phrasing also implicitly points to the cold, often perceived as coming from higher northern altitudes or the 'storehouses' God is said to control.

• the cold:

  • Hebrew: קָרָה (qārāh)
  • Means "cold," "ice," "frost."
  • Significance: Refers to the chilling elements of winter. It directly contrasts with the "storm" from the south, showing God's dominion over both warming, powerful forces and chilling, pervasive ones.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Out of the south comes the storm": This phrase establishes a directional origin for a powerful, often destructive, and immediate weather event. It points to a source of concentrated power and energy in the atmosphere.
  • "and out of the north the cold": This contrasting phrase introduces another direction linked to a different, yet equally significant, natural force—pervasive and chilling cold. The use of "scatterings" for north highlights the way cold can spread and permeate an area.
  • The pairing of these two phenomena from opposite cardinal directions comprehensively demonstrates God's sovereign authority over the full spectrum of atmospheric conditions, from violent tempests to chilling cold. This dualistic control underscores the totality of His dominion and the wisdom with which He orchestrates all natural laws.

Job 37 9 Bonus section

Elihu's choice of language in Job 37:9, particularly the use of "from the scatterings" (מִמְּזָרִים, mim'zarim) instead of a direct Hebrew word for "north," reveals a poetic and descriptive style. This highlights not just the direction, but the very nature of how the cold arrives and impacts the landscape—dispersing, spreading, and settling. This evocative phrasing suggests Elihu's careful consideration of divine action and its manifestation.

Furthermore, this verse stands as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding cultures in the Ancient Near East. Many pagan religions had gods specifically associated with weather phenomena (e.g., Baal as the storm god). By stating that the storm and the cold originate at the explicit command and under the sovereign control of YHWH, Elihu firmly rejects any shared authority over creation. It reinforces that YHWH alone is the orchestrator of all forces, asserting His uniqueness and supreme power, thus inspiring worship and reverence towards Him as the true and sole God. The regularity and predictability of these patterns, coupled with their often-overwhelming power, testify to an intelligent and mighty design.

Job 37 9 Commentary

Elihu’s description in Job 37:9 serves as a theological statement about the immense and unsearchable power of God. By noting that severe storms originate from the south and chilling cold from the north, he is not merely observing weather patterns; he is asserting that both the violent, concentrated power of a storm and the pervasive, often incapacitating cold are directly under God's command. This showcases God's comprehensive sovereignty over contrasting natural forces – heat versus cold, turbulence versus stillness, and localized impact versus widespread effect.

The imagery here humbles humanity, as no one can direct the paths of winds or determine the extent of the cold. It underscores human frailty and limited understanding in the face of divine omnipotence. For Elihu, these natural displays are not random occurrences but purposeful orchestrations by a God whose works are majestic and whose ways are beyond human comprehension, thus leading to reverence and submission. This discourse prepares Job for God's eventual appearance, demonstrating that even commonplace meteorological events are potent evidences of an all-powerful, wise Creator, thereby refuting any notion of randomness or chaotic forces governing the world apart from Him. This reinforces that all the elements "do His bidding" (Psa 148:8), highlighting God's constant, active rule over creation.