Job 38 33

Job 38:33 kjv

Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Job 38:33 nkjv

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

Job 38:33 niv

Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth?

Job 38:33 esv

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?

Job 38:33 nlt

Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?

Job 38 verses

Job 38 33 Meaning

Job 38:33 is part of God's overwhelming address to Job from the whirlwind, challenging Job's limited human understanding and knowledge in comparison to the divine omnipotence and wisdom displayed in creation. The verse asks whether Job possesses comprehension of the divinely ordained, immutable laws governing the celestial bodies, and if he has the power to implement or maintain their influence on the earth. It emphasizes humanity's ignorance and impotence concerning the vast and intricate cosmic order, contrasting it with God's absolute sovereignty as Creator and Sustainer.

Job 38 33 Context

Job 38 begins a lengthy section (chapters 38-41) where God finally responds to Job out of a whirlwind. For thirty-five chapters, Job and his friends debated the reasons for his suffering, often implying God was unjust or that Job lacked wisdom. Instead of explaining Job's suffering, God begins a profound rhetorical interrogation, presenting a series of questions that highlight His unparalleled power, wisdom, and sovereign control over creation. He contrasts His divine omnipotence with Job's limited human capacity and knowledge. Job 38:33 is one in a cascade of such questions regarding natural phenomena—light, clouds, rain, snow, ice, constellations, and the animal kingdom—all intended to humble Job and bring him to recognize the vast chasm between his finite understanding and the infinite wisdom of the Creator.

Job 38 33 Word analysis

• Do you know (הֲיָדַעְתָּ - ha-yādha'tā): This interrogative, "Do you know?", is a direct, emphatic challenge from God. It's rhetorical, expecting a "no" or an acknowledgement of ignorance, underscoring humanity's intellectual limitations concerning the cosmos.
• the ordinances (חֻקּוֹת - khuqqōth): Derived from the root "חָקַק" (ḥāqaq), meaning "to engrave" or "to enact." This word refers to established decrees, fixed statutes, or unchangeable laws. It implies not merely physical regularities but divinely appointed and maintained order, like cosmic legislation. It asserts that the universe operates not by chance or independent forces, but by God's set, unalterable rules.
• of the heavens (שָׁמָיִם - shāmāyim): This term denotes the celestial realm—the sky, the cosmic expanse where stars, planets, sun, and moon reside. In biblical cosmology, it often signifies God's dwelling place and the region subject to His direct rule. Here, it highlights the immense, observable, yet uncontrollable cosmic phenomena.
• Can you establish (תָשִׂים - tāśîm): From the verb "שׂוּם" (sûm), meaning "to put," "to place," "to set," "to appoint." This question asks if Job possesses the ability to implement or maintain these divine laws in any practical sense. It speaks of power and authority to ordain.
• their rule (מִשְׁטָרוֹ - mišṭārō): Derived from "שָׂרָה" (śārah), meaning "to rule" or "to have dominion." This term refers to the authority, government, or administration of the celestial order. It implies a precise, continuous governance that dictates their movement and effects. The suffix "וֹ" (o) makes it singular possessive ("its rule"), referring to the singular, unified "rule" or "dominion" of the collective heavens, which operates under one set of divine decrees.
• on the earth (בָּאָרֶץ - bā'āreṣ): This specifies the realm where the impact of these celestial "ordinances" and "rule" is felt and observed. The earth is subject to the movements and influences of the heavens (e.g., seasons, tides, day and night), demonstrating the heavens' appointed sway over terrestrial life.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "ordinances of the heavens": This phrase encapsulates the idea of fixed, immutable divine laws that govern the vast cosmic machinery. It refers to the consistent and predictable patterns of celestial bodies (e.g., orbits, stellar movements, solar cycles), all superintended by God's unyielding decrees. This implies a universe designed with inherent, complex order, challenging any notion of chaos or human ability to discern or alter these fundamental cosmic principles without divine revelation.
• "Can you establish their rule on the earth?": This is a direct challenge to Job's (and humanity's) capacity for control or influence. It questions if Job could impose, maintain, or even comprehend how the heavens exert their influence or dominion over the earth. This highlights human powerlessness over cosmic forces and effects (like weather patterns, seasonal changes, or gravitational pull), reinforcing God's sole and ultimate sovereignty over all creation, both celestial and terrestrial. It acts as a polemic against any pagan ideas that humans or idols could manipulate the cosmos through magic or rituals.

Job 38 33 Bonus section

This verse can be understood as an early foreshadowing of what we now refer to as natural laws or physical constants in science. The "ordinances of the heavens" can be seen as God's divine setting of the laws of physics and cosmology that govern celestial mechanics and their earthly interactions. God's ability to "establish their rule on the earth" highlights His continuous upholding and superintendence of these laws, rather than a mere initial act of creation followed by detachment. It reveals the foundational biblical truth that the predictability and order of the universe are not intrinsic properties of matter but are continually sustained by divine command and decree. The consistency of these ordinances is so profound that even God, in Jer 33:25-26, refers to them as a basis for the reliability of His own covenants.

Job 38 33 Commentary

Job 38:33 succinctly encapsulates the divine rhetorical strategy employed by God against Job. It is a profound demonstration of humanity's intellectual and operational limitations when confronted with the vast, intricate, and perfectly ordered cosmos. By asking Job if he comprehends the fixed laws governing the heavens or possesses the power to enforce their dominion on earth, God underscores the incomprehensible wisdom and unchallenged sovereignty by which He upholds the universe. This is a humbling assertion that cosmic phenomena are not arbitrary or susceptible to human intervention, but are subject to God’s unshakeable decrees alone. The question highlights that all of creation, from the highest stars to the humblest dust, operates under divine command, making any human critique of God’s management of the world—including Job's personal suffering—presumptuous and founded on ignorance. It urges humanity to bow in awe and submission to the omnipotent Creator, who maintains a consistent and unshakeable cosmic order.