Job 38 31

Job 38:31 kjv

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

Job 38:31 nkjv

"Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?

Job 38:31 niv

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion's belt?

Job 38:31 esv

"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?

Job 38:31 nlt

"Can you direct the movement of the stars ?
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?

Job 38 verses

Job 38 31 Meaning

Job 38:31 is a rhetorical question posed by God to Job, emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty, control, and wisdom over the intricate workings of the universe and its natural laws, particularly those governing celestial bodies. It highlights the vast chasm between finite human knowledge and power, and God's infinite creative and sustaining might. God challenges Job to admit his inability to control the precise, predictable, and unchanging movements of these powerful constellations, thereby asserting His own unique role as the maintainer of cosmic order.

Job 38 31 Context

Job 38 marks the beginning of God's direct response to Job from the whirlwind. For 35 chapters, Job and his friends have debated the reasons for Job's suffering, largely focusing on human understanding of divine justice. God's speech is not a direct answer to Job's accusations or a vindication of Job, but rather a profound display of divine wisdom and power. Through a series of rhetorical questions, God confronts Job's presumption of knowledge, his challenge to divine justice, and his overall inability to comprehend the vastness and intricacy of creation. The questions in chapter 38 challenge Job on matters of natural phenomena—light, darkness, clouds, seas, ice, and finally, celestial bodies like the Pleiades and Orion—all things far beyond human control or even full comprehension. Verse 31 specifically serves to illustrate that if Job cannot even manipulate the most prominent constellations, how can he possibly presume to understand or question God's moral governance of the universe or His ways?

Job 38 31 Word analysis

• Can you bind (הֲ‍ֽתְקַשֵּׁר / ha-t'qaš·šêr): This is a rhetorical question, characteristic of God's discourse in Job 38-41, demanding an impossible affirmative answer from Job. The Hebrew verb signifies "to bind," "to fasten together," "to knot," or "to league." It directly challenges Job's ability to exert control over the fixed arrangements and movements of the cosmos.
• the chains of (מַעֲדַנּוֹת / ma'adannot): This noun typically refers to "bands," "bonds," or "fetters." While it can relate to luxury or delicate things, here it is used metaphorically to denote the unalterable laws or connections that govern the celestial bodies, ensuring their fixed and harmonious paths. These "chains" imply the immutable order that prevents chaos.
• the Pleiades? (כִּימָה / kîmāh): Refers to a specific cluster of seven stars (the "seven sisters") which is a very distinctive and observable constellation. In ancient times, the heliacal rising of the Pleiades (its first visible appearance before sunrise) marked the beginning of spring and was associated with pleasant, productive seasons, farming, and navigation. God's question asks if Job can alter their appearance, their precise grouping, or their fixed influence on earthly seasons.
• Or loosen (אוֹ תְפַתֵּחַ / o t'fattēaḥ): Another rhetorical challenge, forming a contrasting parallel with "bind." The verb means "to open," "to unfasten," "to set free," or "to dissolve." It questions Job's power to break or undo the natural laws.
• the cords of (מוּשְׁכוֹת / mūsh'ḵōwṯ): This term signifies "cords," "bands," "lines," or "drawing ropes." Like the "chains" of Pleiades, these "cords" symbolize the fixed, unchanging pathways or structures within the cosmos that maintain the constellations' ordered movement and appearance.
• Orion? (כְּסִיל / kə·sîl): This is a prominent constellation associated with winter. The Hebrew term can also mean "fool" or "giant," perhaps suggesting the constellation's robust appearance or its association with harsh, wild weather. The setting of Orion in autumn was traditionally linked to severe winter storms. God's question implies whether Job possesses the power to dismantle this constellation's fixed arrangement, alter its path, or mitigate its seasonal influence.

Words-group analysis:

• "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?": This phrase questions whether humanity has the power to restrict, alter, or halt the fixed and pleasant procession of the Pleiades. It implies the Pleiades are "bound" together, either by their appearance as a cluster or by their immutable place in the cosmos, under God's unbreakable laws. The pleasantness and regularity of their appearance signify divine providence in bringing beneficial seasons.
• "Or loosen the cords of Orion?": This contrasts with the first half, asking if Job can undo the fixed nature or release the power associated with the constellation Orion. Often associated with harsh, wintery conditions, Orion might be seen as "bound" in its structure and course, perhaps even embodying chaotic forces under divine control. The phrase queries Job's capacity to disrupt the natural laws governing this powerful constellation and its seasonal impact.
• Both parts underscore God's complete and sole control over the celestial bodies, their predictable movements, their intrinsic grouping ("chains," "cords"), and their seasonal effects. It’s not just creation that is at issue, but their ongoing sustentation in perfect order.

Job 38 31 Bonus section

The "chains" and "cords" are not meant literally as physical restraints but are poetic metaphors for the immutable, unchanging laws that God has imposed upon the cosmos. These laws ensure the precise orbits, groupings, and appearance of celestial bodies, preventing them from falling into disarray. This divine establishment of cosmic order, leading to predictable seasons and celestial phenomena, highlights not just God's power in creation, but His continuous, unwavering commitment to maintaining His established universe. This concept subtly stands in polemic opposition to ancient pagan beliefs that often deified the stars or viewed them as capricious entities; here, they are mere servants obedient to the Creator's will. The consistency of the Pleiades and Orion thus bears witness to a dependable and unchanging God.

Job 38 31 Commentary

Job 38:31 profoundly communicates God's matchless sovereignty and wisdom. By asking Job if he can control the unyielding motions of the Pleiades (symbolizing the arrival of pleasant spring and orderly systems) or loosen the fixed order of Orion (symbolizing fierce winter or unbridled power held in check), God demonstrates that cosmic operations are utterly beyond human capability or understanding. These constellations were anciently observed as reliable indicators of seasons, crop cycles, and navigation. Their fixed, predictable patterns spoke of a grand design and a supreme Sustainer. The verse serves to humble Job by juxtaposing his finite power with God's infinite, detailed control over creation. It reinforces that divine justice and governance are part of this grand, immutable, and complex order that humanity cannot grasp or alter. It is an invitation to Job to trust the incomprehensible yet perfectly ordered wisdom of God, rather than relying on his own limited intellect.