Job 38 34

Job 38:34 kjv

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

Job 38:34 nkjv

"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?

Job 38:34 niv

"Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?

Job 38:34 esv

"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?

Job 38:34 nlt

"Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?

Job 38 verses

Job 38 34 Meaning

Job 38:34 is a rhetorical question posed by God to Job, challenging Job's ability and authority over the natural world. It underscores the vast chasm between human weakness and divine omnipotence, emphasizing that humans, even with their earnest requests or desperate cries, possess no inherent power to command or control elements of nature like clouds and rain. God alone holds sovereign dominion over the atmospheric phenomena, including the generation of clouds and the outpouring of rain, whether for sustenance or deluge.

Job 38 34 Context

Job 38:34 comes at a pivotal point in the book of Job, initiating God's first direct address to Job from a whirlwind (Job 38:1). After thirty-seven chapters of Job's laments and dialogues with his three friends, wherein they debated divine justice, human suffering, and God's ways, God finally speaks. Throughout the friends' speeches, Job had desired to plead his case before God and justify himself. God's questions in Job 38-39 are designed not for Job to answer, but to humble him by revealing the profound limits of his knowledge and power in contrast to God's boundless wisdom, omnipotence, and intricate control over creation. The specific challenge of controlling clouds and floods emphasizes Job's utter lack of dominion over nature, which is exclusively God's prerogative. This question follows God's demonstration of His power over the earth's foundations, the seas, light, and darkness, systematically challenging Job's capacity in every domain.

Job 38 34 Word analysis

• "Can you lift up your voice": (Hebrew: הֲתָרִים לָעָב קוֹלֶךָ - ha-tarim la'av qolekha).

  • הֲתָרִים (ha-tarim): This is a rhetorical interrogative ("Can you lift up?") formed with the interrogative prefix ha- attached to the verb tarim (from the root רוּם, rum, "to lift" or "raise"). The interrogative signals that the expected answer is a resounding "no." It highlights the impossibility of Job doing what is implied.
  • קוֹלֶךָ (qolekha): "your voice." In this context, "voice" goes beyond mere speech; it implies a command, an authoritative utterance. Just as God created and sustains by His voice (Ps 29:3-9), the question asks if Job's human voice possesses such a potent, commanding authority over the elements. The answer reinforces the unique nature of divine power, as human voices, no matter how loud or earnest, cannot dictate cosmic phenomena. This could also implicitly challenge any ancient Near Eastern belief in human or ritualistic magic to control weather.

• "to the clouds": (Hebrew: לָעָב - la'av).

  • לָעָב (la'av): "to the cloud" or "to the clouds." The singular "cloud" can represent the collective phenomenon of clouds. Clouds are visible manifestations of God's control over rain, storms, and even His presence (Exod 13:21-22). To command them signifies controlling the very sources of water for life or destruction, a power reserved solely for God. It directly counters any human aspiration to manipulate the atmospheric realm, whether through prayer interpreted as a command, or through pagan practices aimed at weather deities.

• "that floods of waters may cover you?": (Hebrew: וְשִׁפְעַת מַיִם תְּכַסֶּכָּה - v'shif'at mayim t'khaseka).

  • וְשִׁפְעַת (v'shif'at): "and abundance of," or "and multitude of." From שֶׁפַע (shefa') meaning "abundance," "plenty," or "multitude." This word intensifies the image: not just a light drizzle, but an overwhelming quantity of water, a deluge. It alludes to the sheer volume and destructive potential of such waters, similar to the Genesis flood (Gen 7:17-24).
  • מַיִם (mayim): "waters." A common biblical term, here referring specifically to rain and floodwaters.
  • תְּכַסֶּכָּה (t'khaseka): "it may cover you." From the verb כסה (kasah), "to cover," "conceal," or "overwhelm." This emphasizes the comprehensive and potentially destructive effect of such an outpouring. The question isn't just about initiating rain but controlling its intensity and outcome, to the point of being covered or overwhelmed by it. This further highlights Job's utter lack of control over even the consequences of his hypothetical command.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds": This phrase directly confronts Job's presumed ability to influence or command meteorological events. It challenges any human notion of control over the atmospheric domain, highlighting that rain, storms, and weather patterns are solely under divine administration. It also contrasts the ineffectualness of the human "voice" with the mighty and effective voice of God in creation and providence.
  • "that floods of waters may cover you?": This part illustrates the ultimate outcome and the scale of the proposed "command." It signifies a deluge, not merely rain, underscoring the immense power involved in controlling such a force of nature. It implicitly reminds Job of God's capacity for overwhelming judgment or sustenance through water, which humans can neither summon nor withstand without divine permission.

Job 38 34 Bonus section

The entire questioning session in Job 38-41 serves a specific pedagogical purpose. God isn't genuinely asking Job for information or seeking a response to His inquiries; rather, He is exposing Job's ignorance and demonstrating the immeasurable gap between divine knowledge/power and human limitations. This approach forces Job to confront the absurdity of questioning God's justice or wisdom from his finite perspective. The irony in the question "Can you lift up your voice..." is stark, especially when contrasted with the numerous biblical accounts where God's "voice" creates, sustains, or judges. The verse also implicitly challenges common ancient Near Eastern pagan beliefs where deities (like Baal) were associated with control over rain and storms. By asking Job if he can do what pagan gods were purported to do, God highlights that only Yahweh truly controls these elements, rendering any human attempt or pagan belief impotent. The "floods of waters" can evoke the powerful imagery of judgment and overwhelming forces (such as the Noahic flood), underscoring God's ultimate command over life and death through His mastery of nature.

Job 38 34 Commentary

Job 38:34 serves as a potent divine rebuke, designed to dismantle Job's human-centered perspective and remind him of his place as a created being. God's challenge is fundamentally about agency: does Job, or any human, possess the ultimate authority to dictate the behavior of creation? The answer is a resounding "no." Human voices, no matter how powerful in their own sphere, are powerless to command the elements. This control is God's exclusive prerogative, whether for bringing life-sustaining rain or overwhelming deluges. The verse emphasizes that even if humans were to cry out to the clouds, they would not merely cause rain, but unleash forces potentially beyond their ability to control, to the point of being consumed. This humbling truth leads to Job's eventual repentance (Job 42:1-6), recognizing God's absolute sovereignty and his own limited understanding.

• Example for Practical Usage: When faced with uncontrollable natural events (e.g., severe droughts or floods), this verse reminds believers that ultimate control rests with God, not human intervention or wisdom. It calls for humility, prayer, and trusting in God's providence, rather than relying on human solutions alone or questioning God's actions. It prompts reliance on God for provision and protection, as only He can "lift His voice to the clouds."